– Case Study
Security Assessment and Penetration Testing for the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO)
The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) is a public entity established in 2010 under the Skills Development Act, responsible for overseeing the development, accreditation, assessment, and certification of occupational qualifications in South Africa.
It manages the Occupational Qualifications Sub-Framework (OQSF), ensuring training providers deliver quality programmes that prepare learners for skilled professions. As a national body working with multiple education and training partners, QCTO depends on secure digital systems to protect sensitive information, maintain operational integrity, and uphold trust in its processes.
To strengthen its cybersecurity posture and proactively identify potential vulnerabilities, QCTO partnered with Liyatech Solutions to conduct a comprehensive Security Assessment and Penetration Testing programme.
“Liyatech’s cybersecurity assessment provided valuable insight into the strength of our digital systems. Their professional approach and thorough testing helped us better understand potential risks and the steps required to strengthen our security environment.”
– Tafadzwa Ramhewa, IT Director, Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO)
Background
The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations plays a central role in South Africa’s skills development framework. The organisation oversees the design, accreditation, and certification of occupational qualifications across multiple sectors, ensuring that learners gain practical, work-ready competencies aligned with industry needs.
By working with training providers, employers, and government partners, QCTO contributes to building a skilled workforce capable of supporting national economic growth.
Because of the organisation’s critical role and the sensitive information, it manages and maintains strong cybersecurity practices is essential for safeguarding systems, processes, and stakeholder trust.
“At Liyatech, we believe security is about more than technology — it is about protecting people, information, and trust. Our mission is to help organisations understand their risks and build stronger, more resilient digital environments.”
– Prince Siboze, Operations Manager, Liyatech Solutions
Security Strategy
Liyatech collaborated with QCTO to design a structured cybersecurity evaluation approach focused on identifying vulnerabilities and strengthening system resilience.
The strategy focused on:
•Identifying and prioritising vulnerabilities based on potential impact
•Providing actionable recommendations for improving security controls
•Conducting a comprehensive security review of the digital environment
•Simulating controlled cyber-attack scenarios through penetration testing
By performing these assessments, QCTO gained valuable insights into potential risks and opportunities to strengthen its cybersecurity posture.
Strengthening Cyber Resilience
The engagement enabled QCTO to gain a clearer understanding of its cybersecurity environment and the measures required to strengthen its protection strategies.
Through security assessments and penetration testing, the organisation was able to:
•Strengthen defense against potential cyber threats
•Evaluate the effectiveness of existing security measures
•Identify potential vulnerabilities within its digital infrastructure
•Improve organisational awareness around cybersecurity risks
With these insights in place, QCTO is better positioned to protect its systems, safeguard sensitive information, and maintain the integrity of its operations.
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