activities undertaken in the organization.

3.0 CONNECTIVITY ISSUES

This aims at ensure that all connectivity is in working order. This is broken down into: -

3.1 Internet availability and CIVICON Site Connectivity

This is the checking of internet availability within Kibarani and all civicon sites. This is to ensure that all users can access the internet to execute their tasks.

User logs onto the computer and goes to the COMMAND PROMPT.

From there the user PINGS any widely used website and checks response.

For CIVICON sites, each site has a PUBLIC IP address that is PINGED

Internet website / CIVICON Site IP address e.g. google.com

Inputs Processes Outputs

Go to Command Initiate a ping process to a website /1. Internet is live

Prompt civicon site.2. Sites are up and running

If there are any time-outs, the ISP iscontacted to resolve the situation.ISPs are: MTN –Kibarani and Kampal Komsol for Congo sites SAFARICOM for Kwale

3.2 CIVICON Website Reachability

This is to confirm that the civicon website can be accessed on the internet. The site is widely used by Business Development Department for marketing CIVICON.

Log on to a computer and open the browser. From the browser’s type

www.civicongroup.com

The website is hosted on the internet by Dotsavvy

The website should be displayed on the monitor. If Website is down, make a call to host

Inputs ProcessesLogon to a browser on Type www.civicongroup.com

the computerbrowser. If website can’t be reached acall the host to resolve.

Call Host to resolve the website issue

3.3 Internet Utilisation

This process aims to ascertain that the bandwidth assigned to the company is the actual that we are receiving plus making sure that there is no miss-use of the internet by users. This is a process that utilises two tools; namely: -

1. ISP provided bandwidth monitor 2. Cyberoam Reports for internal utilisation

1.SP provided bandwidth monitor

This is a tool provided by the ISP to check how the company is utilising the allocated bandwidth. This simply shows the total incoming and outgoing traffic.

Log on to a computer and open

ISP provided link onthe browser. From the

browser’sthe internet

bandwidth monitor address.

Bandwidth Utilsation should display. If utilisation is FULL check CYBEROAM, if not but speeds are slow contact ISP

Call ISP to resolve speed issues

Inputs Processes OutputsLogon to a browser on

Type ISP provided link for the bandwidth

1.

Bandwidth Monitor should

the computermonitor on browser, input username and display.

password.2. Good net experience

2. Cyberoam Reports for internal utilisation

This is a tool is hosted on the Cyberoam firewall. The main aim of this firewall is to provide controls for user’s not to miss-use the internet whilst at the same time provide reporting mechanisms for how the internet resource is being used.

Log on to a computer and open the browser. Type the firewall’sIP address on browser; input user ID and password to access Reports.

Configures Firewall IP which is reachable via the internet.

Bandwidth Utilsation should display. If any abnormal usage is noted the offending user is cautioned

Call user and caution on

acceptable usage.

Inputs Processes OutputsLogon to a browser on Type firewall IP for the reports on

1. Utlisation reports should

the computerbrowser, input username and password. display

2. Good net experience

VOIP and Office Extensions

Specific activities undertaken during attachment:During my attachment at Civicon limited company I had several activities that I was assigned

to do which were:

Checking Servers are working smothly Check Mail Server To check Antivirus Server To Back-Up any lost data Issuance of Hardware Items Issuance of E-Mail Address Creation of Distribution Lists Returning of Computer Resources Troubleshooting Process Maintenance.

Skills and competencies gained:

In my two months of attachment at CIvicon limited of Kenya, I gained a lot of skills, albeit

minor challenges at first, but it was worth the effort since I learned a lot from the

management, staff, customers and the organization as a whole. I gained among several others

the following key skills and experiences:

4.2 Check Mail ServerI used to test the connection to your mail server. When an email is sent or received using a third party application, the information is sent across a specific route called a port. If the port being used is blocked, either by a firewall or your Internet Service Provider (ISP), information cannot be sent. The default port for receiving email (POP3) is 110. The default port for sending email (SMTP) is 25. If you are having trouble sending and/or receiving email, we recommend you test each applicable port to see if it’s being blocked.

4.3 Virtual MachinesAt civicon a virtual machine (VM) is used emulate many activities. Virtual machines operate based on the computer architecture and functions of a real or hypothetical computer.

4.4 Antivirus ServerMailScan is the world's most advanced Real-Time Anti-Virus and Anti-Spam solution for Mail Servers. MailScan safeguards organizations against Virus, Worm, Trojan and many other malware breeds with futuristic and proactive technologies. Employing an array of intelligent filters, MailScan offers complete protection against Viruses. Therefore all the threats I was deleting them in order to provide free space.

4.5 Back-Up Process

DNS Made Easy’s back-up email service provides access to three (3) additional enterprise email server clusters for complete email redundancy.

If mail server cannot be reached, then your email is sent to DNS Made Easy’s Enterprise Back-up email servers. Once it reaches the servers, it remains in queue and we continually

reattempt delivery of the mail to your primary mail server. When your primary server is back online, the queued mail is instantly delivered to your mail server. DNS Made Easy will keep attempting to deliver mail to your server for 14 days or until it responds.

4.6 Setting up new user in windows 2008 active directory.

I used to join all new laptops and desktop to the main domain for them to be able to use our E-mails.

5.1 Issuance of Hardware ItemsHardware items are issued in the IT department after an MRN has been araised and ordered. All IT items are delivered in the IT department and we allocate the item to the responsible personnel ordered for.

5.2 Issuance of E-Mail AddressI was also exposed to create and issue E-mail addresses to all new employees. The technique we used to create E-mails ,we used Firstname.secondname of the new employer,this a way for us to easily remember.

5.3 Creation of Distribution ListsI also used to create a distribution list for sharing of files purposes in all departments.

5.4 Returning of Computer ResourcesWe were also responsible to return any IT item purchased that has damage to the suppliers.

Troubleshooting ProcessIf a laptops or a desktop has some problems I used to fix the problem by troubleshoot it and make it alive again.

Maintenance.All the desktops in Civicon I used to Services and maintenance every weekends. This was to

ensure that by Monday a fresh week all the desktops are working normally and correctly.

Areas that I applied my knowledge and skills

Multimedia and graphics

The company is interested on the drawing of civil engineering work ,so I really applied may

skills on graphics to assist on that.

Team player

Team work skill I acquired as a student’s leader in JKUAT enabled me to easily form and

perform my duties in various activities in the ICT department.

Strategy for utilization of contacts attained

Career guidance

Seek for direction and advice on how to deal with things and most important on how to put

what I have learned in school to practice through people like a supervisor who have been

working for a long time thereby having the much needed experience and the in the industry

that I can learn from.

Future employment

When offered an employment opportunity, the attachment period, skills and networking

acquired would offer me a competitive leverage currently or upon completion of studies at

JKUAT

Professional Networking

Contact and networks with other professionals and people I got to form partnership in a

business idea that I have or seek financial advice on the best venture for investment.

Career path advisors/ guardians

I can seek career and entrepreneurial advice and guidance from the acquired contacts during

the internship period and beyond at the Civicon limited Kibarani branch.

Analysis and observations.

Civicon limited of Kenya has a hierarchical organization structure of leadership whereby most

decisions have to be made by management level staff unlike most modern organizations that

are adapting flat organization structures.

On communication, Civicon limited has a high-quality intranet system where all departments

are networked to ensure each and every staff has a full awareness of every single business

transaction taking place in the organization.

Civicon limited has tried to provide ample work environment and sufficient technical

appliances where you find every staff is allocated a work station, communication. The

computers are all protected from viruses to prevent loss of data and information that can

jeopardize the company as a whole.

Critiques.

The control mechanisms and fraud prevention procedures tend to be less effective yet they

unnecessarily slow down service delivery when some transactions have to be approved by a

specified management level staff. This in turn inconveniences the customers and the revenue

generated over a specific period that would otherwise been received if the services were

offered more efficiently.

The industry under which the Company operates requires modern skills in staff and innovative

business processes.

Civicon limited has instituted various reform initiatives to mitigate the impact of these

challenges and this strategic plan has identified specific strategies to address the key

challenges. The Company has identified a clear vision, a set of core values and identified the

key area of focus to guide their operations, by rebranding. The Company has also restructure

its management organization and leadership in recent times a structure that is implemented

would offer solution to some institutional challenges at some level of operations and

management.

At a personal level, being on attachment in the Company poised some challenges ranging

from the attachment period being relatively shorter than the Company anticipated thus I dint

get to fully learn from every department or aspect of the some operations in the sector.

Problems encountered.

Connection from internet service provider(ISP).

When internet connectivity has gone down the ICT department has to communicate with the provider

and if the provider fail to reconnect the internet on time all the company internet fails to work.

Access and usage with Microsoft dynamic exchange.

The service and maintenance of Microsoft dynamic exchange is done periodically when the need

arrives and the specialist has to come from Civicon limited Nairobi branch.

Due to the shorter period that I spent in the Company I was introduced to Microsoft dynamic exchange

but I did not get it full because my period was short, so I encountered some problems on grasping the

concepts.

Recommendations.

During my internship, I would articulate that the Civicon limited of Kenya is an organization

which putting all it take to realize its vision and mission thus doing very well to pull off its

goals and ensuring there is complete satisfaction to all stakeholders. However I would

recommend that Civicon should be organizing more of team building exercises outside to its

staff as a whole rather than as a department in order to bring the staff closer that is the staff

and the interns they attach. Also introduction of job rotation especially in the back office

sections of every department which is involved with most of the core operations of the

company. As well get a clear understanding of the company services and products offered by

Civicon, and also understand the organization as a whole from the grassroots and appreciate

fellow employee’s contribution to the company.

Job rotation would give the staff time to re-examine what they have achieved so far, share

personal experiences and ideas, learn to be together and be on the knowhow and appreciate

the importance of team work.

From my experience, I can recommend the Civicon internship program to everyone who

would like to experience such an organization that has a highly demanding and competitive

work environment.

Summary and conclusion.

Internship is a key segment of the learning at higher education level and more emphasis

should be put on it as a mandatory requirement to all students, it would suffice to extend the

duration to offer more time to get industry and trade exposure, however arrangements as to

placements to organizations that offer such opportunities sought to be reviewed to be

convenient and conducive to all the parties involved: the interns, the organizations offering

internship and JKUAT.

My internship at Civicon limited at Kibarani was a worthwhile experience and provided me

with some perspectives that I did not come across during my studies back at the university. I

also have to stress that my Civicon contributed greatly in assisting me during my attachment

there. I did observe that teamwork played quite a massive role in attaining the company’s

mandates. It was equally important for me as the ability to work independently but the goal

must be to find a way to combine it in the right way. It has been a great journey through the

internship program and I am thankful for each and every one who did even the slightest of

things to aid my stay there especially my industry-based supervisor. It has been an honor.