DT March Issue 2021

Page No. 14

MAIDEN WD_BLACK CUP 2021 ESPORTS TOURNAMENT CONCLUDED SUCCESSFULLY

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M A R CH

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V O L U ME 12

Happy

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P AGE - 36

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CONTENT VO L- 12, ISS UE -03, M A RCH 2 0 2 1

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LAPPY CORNER

Lenovo Launches Yoga 6 Laptop Powered By AMD Ryzen Processor

Publisher & Editor : Rajeev Ranjan Executive Editor : Jyoti Janda Assistant Content Manager : Jai Prakash Consulting Art Direction : Vikas Sharma Visualiser : Akriti Arora

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CHANNEL CONNECT

Graphic Designer : Shubham Tomar Editdesk : Shilpa Baghel

A Happy Channel Drives Exponential Growth for Micron

Production Head : Rajiv Singh Marketing Executive : Balvinder Singh Circulation: Ashok & Raju Editorial & Marketing Office

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INTERVIEW

“Our Customers In India Can Be Assured That They Are Working In A Safe Environment, Even At Home” Mr. Sunil Sharma, Managing Director Sales, Sophos India & SAARC 16

FACE TO FACE

“Our Channel Partners Play A Very Important Role In Our Business Expansion In India” Mr. Purshottam Bhatia, Head of Sales, Consumer Solutions, Kaspersky 18

EXCLUSIVE CHAT

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Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, is prohibited. Every possible care has been taken to print this magazine as the content have been sourced from in house writers, as well from other reliable sources including freelancers and content writers. We can not be held responsible for any mistakes or errors. We do not take responsibility for its absolute accuracy.

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“We Have Strengthened Our Portfolio To Meet The Burgeoning Demands Of The Hybrid Workforce” Mr. Manish Singh, General Manager, Tata Teleservices Ltd. 24

EXCLUSIVE INTERACTION

“We Look Forward To Enabling Our Customer With Innovative & Feature Rich Networking Products” Mr. Sanket Kulkarni, VP – Channel Sales, D-Link (India) Limited.

FORM IV DIGITAL TERMINAL (Monthly- New Delhi) RNI REGD No: DELENG/2010/31992 Statement about ownership and other particulars about newspaper DIGITAL TERMINAL to be published in the first issue every year after the last day of February 1. Place of publication: S-560, 2nd Floor, School Block, Shakarpur, Delhi-110092 2. Periodicity of its Publication: Monthly 3. Printer’s Name: Rajeev Ranjan Nationality: India Address: S-560, 2nd Floor, School Block, Shakarpur, Delhi-110092 4. Publisher’s Name: Rajeev Ranjan Nationality: Indian Address: S-560, 2nd Floor, School Block, Shakarpur, Delhi-110092 5. Editor’s Name: Brajesh Kumar Nationality: Indian Address: S-560, 2nd Floor, School Block, Shakarpur, Delhi-110092 6. Name and Addresses of individuals who own the newspaper and partners or shareholders holding More than one per cent of the total capital.

I, Rajeev Ranjan, hereby declare that the particulars given above are trueto the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date: March 2021 Rajeev Ranjan Signature of Publisher

LAPPY CORNER

LENOVO LAUNCHES YOGA 6 LAPTOP POWERED BY AMD RYZEN PROCESSOR This thin-and-light laptop delivers advanced performance at an incredible speed with its 8-core design, AMD RyzenTM 4000 Series mobile processors, uninterrupted productivity, confidently open multiple apps and run heavy tasks seamlessly. The Yoga 6 also offers ultra-fast connectivity of WiFi 6, up to 16GB DDR4 memory, and 1TB SSD PCle M.2 of storage.

Lenovo announced the launch of the AMD-powered Yoga 6 in India. This firstgen consumer convertible laptop sports a unique hybrid design of metal and softtouch materials wrapped in striking blue fabric.

users can enjoy uninterrupted productivity, confidently open multiple apps and run heavy tasks seamlessly. The Yoga 6 also offers ultra-fast connectivity of WiFi 6, up to 16GB DDR4 memory, and 1TB SSD PCle M.2 of storage.

DRESSED TO IMPRESS

SMARTER CONVENIENCE

Yoga 6 is a 2-in-1 laptop featuring a fabric-wrapped luxurious textile cover in Abyss Blue, which has also been treated with a fire and stain-resistant finish to keep the device durable and resilient in any environment. This versatile device is lightweight at 1.32kg, and it features subtly rounded edges designed to feel comfortable in the hands. Its 360-degree hinge has been engineered to provide stability as users transition from tablet to laptop mode and back. It also allows intuitive navigation on the screen with the Lenovo digital pen that supports up to 4,096-level pressure sensitivity while browsing, sketching, streaming and creating.

This 2-in-1 machine is equipped with an adjustable 2-level backlit keyboard and enhanced security features such as a built-in fingerprint reader and TrueBlock webcam privacy shutter. It also provides optimized battery life with Lenovo Q-Control powered

by Lenovo Intelligent Thermal Solution 4.0, which provides three AI-enhanced power profiles to extend battery life and boost performance. The device also supports Alexa voice assistance, now featuring an improved UI and expanded features.

SHAILENDRA KATYAL – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CONSUMER PCSD, LENOVO INDIA SAID, “Our design

conscious Yoga consumers believe that technology should add purposeful value to their lives and to make it free of poor battery life, lacklustre entertainment quality, and security concerns. It is our passion to build smarter PCs with unique style elements and craftsmanship, that can adapt to these innovative consumers’ needs and keep them connected and motivated. With the blue fabric-wrapped Yoga 6, we aim to up the ante in the market and show how one machine can be a perfect blend of premium experience and powerful technology - which is something that millennials have always looked for in a premium device.”

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY Yoga 6 laptop is now available for pre-order on Lenovo Official website at the price of INR 86,990. It will go on sale on 10th March across the Lenovo website, Amazon and Flipkart, and will be available across offline retail channels later.

ENTERTAINMENT ON THE GO Though the Yoga 6 sports a compact 13.3-inch display, it has a vibrant Full HD touchscreen display at 300 nits brightness with backlit keyboard and four-sided razor thin borders. Thanks to the built-in AMD Radeon™ graphics, the graphics computing units are further optimised over previous generation Vega graphics with boosted speeds (up to 59% faster performance per core), providing stellar gaming experience on-the-go. The front-facing stereo speakers optimized with Dolby Atmos® add another smooth detailing to the laptop, with premium quality audio and immersive entertainment.

LIGHTNING-FAST POWERHOUSE This thin-and-light laptop delivers advanced performance at an incredible speed with its 8-core design, and the top-performing AMD RyzenTM 4000 Series mobile processors. With a 60 WHr battery promising up to 18 hours of battery life, 6

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CHANNEL CONNECT

A HAPPY CHANNEL DRIVES EXPONENTIAL GROWTH FOR MICRON

Micron is one of the most prominent storage solution brands in India and is rapidly moving on the ship of success. Micron has achieved very good growth and market share in a very short time, which amazed the other players in the market. Micron and its sub-brand Crucial have brought a range of very reliable and costeffective storage solutions that organizations across India are deploying on a large scale. The success of Micron is largely attributed to its channel partners as they have built up a large consumer base for Micron, going against all odds and competition in the market. In addition to the products and services provided by an organization, the foundation of the success of an organization are also its channel partners who face all the risks of the market and through all efforts create sufficient growth opportunities for the organization. Micron’s channel infrastructure across the Indian subcontinent is so strong and agile that Micron can rely upon its partners to bet big on the next-gen technologies.

Ever since Micron entered the Indian market, it paved the way for growth for its channel 8

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community. Micron not only improved the quality of its products and services to maintain its dominance in the Indian market, but further strengthened its market strategy with its channel partners. Channel partners have always been considered an integral part of a brand and Micron understands this aspect very well, due to which it never lets its channel partners feel any pressure. Storage partners see huge potential in SSD business as SSDs are becoming popular among consumers whether we talk of end consumers or large enterprises. Micron is thriving upon this big shift in the storage space and working closely with its channel partners across India to capitalize on the emerging opportunities. To delve deeper into Micron’s relationships with channel partners, DT spoke exclusively to its major channel partners located in large markets such as Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Kolkata. These markets hold a special place in Micron’s strategy due to their extreme importance. This particular story will help you understand how Micron works with its partners and what they really think about their engagement with Micron. www.digitalterminal.in

CHANNEL CONNECT

“SATA SSD AND RAM OFFERED BY MICRON ARE DOING EXTREMELY WELL” MANISH LUNIA, DIRECTOR ,SHREE COMPUTERS SALES PVT LTD Micron is one of the largest storage solutions providers in the Indian market and has built a large network of channel partners across India. Since its entry into the Indian market, the brand is emphasizing on keeping its channel partners happy by providing proper support to them on each and every front. DT spoke to Micron’s one of the key channel partners in the Kolkata region to know what do they think about Micron’s journey and the support provided to them. We exclusively talked to Mr. Manish Lunia, Director, Shree Computers Sales Private Limited.

Commenting on their overall journey with Micron and its performance across the region, Manish Lunia said, “We are overwhelmed with the performance of Micron in the region as Micron has achieved quite good momentum within a short time span. The customers are very satisfied with all the products available in the market. Especially SATA SSD and RAM offered by Micron are doing extremely well in the market and these products always remain in demand which shows how Micron is

growing. Moreover, the brand has been offering good service support to its customers which plays a very crucial role in the success of any brand. All such aspects have led Micron to gain a competitive edge over other brands and gain footholds in the market. Micron has a good reputation in this region and all customers trust Micron very much.”

Manish Lunia.

“We have been working with Micron since it entered the Indian market and we have seen Micron growing year over year. We have been closely working with Micron and we are proud to have Micron in our portfolio as it helps us too in growing at a good pace. The national distributors of Micron like RP tech India and Balaji are well supportive and help us on every front. We would also like to mention the sales team including Mr. Piyush Munjal and Mr. Parminder Pal Singh Kalra who always support us and provide all the assistance. Apart from this, Micron has also appointed a local representative in Kolkata to accelerate the growth and eliminate the barriers.

It is indeed a good step towards strengthening its position here” added

Shree Computers is a well-known name in the Kolkata region and has been serving the market with a wide product portfolio. Mr. Manish Lunia says, “Our business has grown as we have been witnessing increased demand for storage solutions. We cater to almost 250 partners who are quite happy with the response and demand they are getting from the local market. We have multiple brands in our portfolio but since we started to sell Micron’s products, we have seen upto 25% increase in our business. Thereby, we always feel overjoyed while selling Micron’s product to our customers. We are very keen to take this association ahead and build a strong relation with Micron.”

“THE OVERALL DISTRIBUTION INFRASTRUCTURE OF MICRON IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE” MR. MANISH, PARTNER AT MICRO PERIPHERALS & DISTRIBUTION

Mumbai is one of the biggest markets for Micron as it generates massive demand for storage products. Micron’s key channel partner Micro Peripherals & Distribution serves this demand and provides good business to Micron. DT talked to Mr. Manish, Partners at Micro www.digitalterminal.in

Peripherals & Distribution to know about their business and their overall experience while selling its storage products.

While talking to DT, Manish, partner at Micro Peripherals & Distribution said,

“We are working for more than 2 years with Micron and we are very happy with our association. The product range which Micron offers such as SATA SSD and RAM is very good in quality and cost-effective as well.

We have seen quite good demand for MARCH 2021

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CHANNEL CONNECT

these products in the market as the data being generated has gained pace.

We do business only in Mumbai and we cater to more than 600 resellers.

We sell only storage products and being in the storage domain, we better understand the requirements of customers. Micron’s industryleading products are well equipped with the best technology for a great PC performance. The major demand for Micron SSDs and RAM comes from System Integrators, resellers and

corporates.”

“Micron’s national distributor RP tech and Balaji have been very supportive. They help us with the timely delivery products in demand and also support in managing enough inventory. The Overall distribution infrastructure of Micron is really impressive. The sales team always

works as a supporting hand and never let us feel the challenge at any point.

We are very thankful to the sales team for always supporting us on different fronts,” commented by Manish.

“WE ARE OVERWHELMED BY SUCH REMARKABLE GROWTH AND WISH TO CONTINUE THIS GROWTH MOMENTUM WITH MICRON” SHANKAR RAM PATEL, DIRECTOR, ANANDIT INFOTECH INDIA PVT. LTD.

Micron has a stronghold on the Indian storage market and especially in Bengaluru as it is an IT hub. Micron works very aggressively with its regional channel partners based in Bengaluru to cater to the huge demand.

Many big IT companies have their headquarters in Bengaluru and a lot of MNCs operate from there only.

Bengaluru is also known as the silicon valley of India thereby it generates big demand for IT products and provides growth opportunities to the tech brands who offer innovative and excellent products. In order to get insights into the performance of Micron’s products in Bengaluru, DT exclusively talked to Mr. Shankar Ram Patel, Director, Anandit Infotech India Pvt. Ltd. Elaborating about their relation and business with Micron, Shankar Ram Patel, Director, Anandit Infotech India Pvt. Ltd said, “We have been working with Micron for the last five years and in this entire journey, we are very much satisfied with the growth we 10

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have achieved. Since we started the business with Micron, we saw a huge spike in our daily sales for storage products. Bengaluru has always been a top market for the market players and it also leads to great competition among them. But Micron has overcome this challenge through its cutting-edge storage solutions and we see good demand for its products. We have a strong business across South India and over the time we would only see the demand rising as we have a great brand Micron on board to fulfil these demands.”

“Moreover, the product quality of Microns products are very good. We do not get any complaints regarding any product and we have happy customers.

Although Service support is a big factor in the growth of any brand and Micron provides good service support to its customers if they face any issue. The service support is exceptional and it helps in retaining customers which contributes a lot to brand reputation in the market. Our customers who purchase Micron’s storage products like SSDs or RAM always come back to us and tell us about the experience.”

“Micron’s national distributor RP tech helps us with the proper inventory on time. The products always remain available to us despite huge demand.

We have not experienced any delay in the supply chain and the overall distribution infrastructure of Micron is totally amazing. The most demand we get is for SATA SSD and RAM from our corporate customers, system integrators, content creators, gamers and etc. Demand is not just limited to only a particular consumer base but all types of customers choose Micron’s product. It exemplifies what Micron has achieved. About 3 crore of our business come only from Micron. Although, the demand in the lockdown period gone low but since the market has opened, we are seeing an increased demand which has covered all our losses. Also, the sales team of Micron and the local representative provide us sufficient support on all the levels that inspire us to work more efficiently. We are overwhelmed by such remarkable growth and wish to continue this business relationship with Micron for a long time ahead” added by Shankar Ram Patel.

www.digitalterminal.in

CHANNEL CONNECT

“WE ARE ABLE TO SELL GOOD NUMBERS OF CRUCIAL SSDS” SANJAY KUMAR GUPTA, DIRECTOR, AVS INFOTECH

Micron’s dominance in the Indian storage solutions market has amazed all the market players especially in the last few years as Micron has further accelerated its growth. The wide presence across the Indian market has helped the brand to achieve big targets.

AVS Infotech, one of the key channel partners of Micron in Delhi has been selling its storage solutions for last one year. DT spoke to Sanjay Kumar Gupta, Director, AVS Infotech to know about how is Micron doing in Delhi and their overall experience in the last one year.

Sanjay Kumar Gupta, Director, AVS Infotech said, “We have been associated with Micron for last 1 year and we have been witnessing quite good demand for Micron’s storage products. We do business across Delhi-NCR and cater to more than 1000

resellers. The demand for Microns’ SATA SSD and RAM has been swiftly increasing which has helped us grow at a rapid pace. Our customer base has increased since we started selling Micron storage products and we want to take this association ahead. The overall response from customers regarding the product quality is great and we don’t see any quality issues.

It boosts our confidence and we are very happy to sell Micron’s products.

Also, on the supply front, the national distributors like RP tech and Balaji support us very well.”

“We at AVS Infotech deal only in the storage products and display solutions.

Whereas in storage products, we only sell Micron due to the huge demand and great product quality. Our sales have been increasing at a good rate

and we are able to sell good numbers of Crucial SSDs. Considering the growth which we have achieved so far, we are expecting four times growth in the business from Micron products by this year. Out of our overall revenue, we get 10% of the revenue from selling Micron products. And it’s a great figure as we don’t sell any other brand. The channel policy of Micron is commendable and they support us in meeting all the requirements,” added by Sanjay.

GAMERS CORNER

ACER UNVEILS NITRO 5 GAMING LAPTOP WITH NVIDIA RTX 3060 GRAPHICS CARD IN INDIA Acer India unveiled its much-awaited Nitro 5 gaming laptop with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card in India. The latest Nitro 5 comes with a 10th Gen Intel Core processor that enables immersive gaming experiences with the ability to play AAA titles easily. The laptop packs an RBGbacklit keyboard, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, and upto 32GB RAM for incredibly fast performance with state-ofthe-art cooling using CoolBoost technology.

Nitro 5 allows users to enjoy their favorite games in exceptional detail with a 15.6inch Full HD IPS display that boasts up to a 144Hz high refresh rate and 3 ms (milliseconds) response time for an ultrasmooth gaming experience. With DTS: X® Ultra, sounds are clear and can be delivered in a 3D spatial soundscape, allowing you to hear where your opponents are coming from with pinpoint precision. Nitro 5 adopt Killer™ Ethernet E2600 to prioritize gameplay and effortlessly stream Intel wireless Wi-Fi 6 www.digitalterminal.in

with 2x2 MU-MIMO technology.

Sudhir Goel, Chief Business Officer, Acer India said, “With the new Nitro 5 gaming laptop using the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, we are entering a new era of high-performance gaming. Our Nitro 5 gaming laptop range has been a huge success in the Indian market and provides the perfect stepping stone to competitive e-sports.

The close collaboration between Acer and NVIDIA has resulted in a laptop which has the performance, design, cooling and portability which is unmatched at this price point and we are excited to bring this to the Indian market.”

Control over the game world with the combined power of a 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 processor and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™

3060 graphics card. Nitro 5 allows gamers to configure their laptops for maximum speed and massive storage with two slots for M.2 PCIe SSDs, up to 2TB HDD and up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM. Nitro 5 featuring NVIDIA GeForce® RTX™ 3060 is available from Rs 89,999.

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INTERVIEW

“OUR CUSTOMERS IN INDIA CAN BE ASSURED THAT THEY ARE WORKING IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, EVEN AT HOME” Cybersecurity has been one of the top concerns for organizations as keeping the IT infrastructure secure remains a key priority for businesses. COVID-19 accelerated the digital transformation process for many organizations as businesses have adapted to the new normal. Consequently, cybercriminals are capitalizing on the opportunities and posing serious threats that result in big data loss. Sophos, a leading provider of security solutions emphasizing for creating a secure digital environment for organizations. Rajeev Ranjan, Editor, Digital Terminal held an interaction with SUNIL SHARMA, MANAGING DIRECTOR SALES, SOPHOS INDIA & SAARC. Sunil Sharma spoke about the increasing cyber threats, their growth plans and solution offerings for organizations. Read below the excerpts: RAJEEV: HOW DO YOU SEE THE SURGE IN CYBERATTACKS IN PARTICULARLY ON LARGE ENTERPRISES? HOW DO CISOS NEED TO WORK TOWARDS ELIMINATING SUCH CHALLENGES? SUNIL SHARMA: While the world

is still battling with the health and economic threats posed by the pandemic, cyber criminals around the world have capitalized on this crisis.

As a result we have witnessed a huge surge in cyberattacks across the globe.

Organizations of all sizes, including large enterprises, are vulnerable if they don’t take proper care of cybersecurity. As surprising as it may sound, in the last year India was amongst the top 3 countries impacted with ransomware. With growing digitization, businesses irrespective of their size should always be prepared for cyberattacks.

To defend against these attack trends, CISOs should have following in their cybersecurity posture: 1. Next-gen security solutions that provide layered security to prevent threats and unwanted software from infecting their devices and networks 12

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2. A managed service that continuously monitors environments for organizations that don’t have a security team

security of what organizations put in the cloud is the responsibility of them and not the cloud provider.

3. Cybersecurity awareness within organizations (i.e., phishing awareness training)

Sophos products are designed for cloud generation and well equipped to provide a secured digital transformation journey to all kinds of organizations. A range of Sophos security solutions protect all kinds of infrastructure, whether running in the cloud, on-premises, or in a co-location facility. Multi-cloud security monitoring, analytics, and compliance automation called Sophos Cloud Optix, which is an agentless SAAS based service that provides security monitoring, compliance, security monitoring, and DevSecOps processes. Intercept X for server that provides auto scaling workload security to protect against malware and ransomware. Sophos Next-gen firewall, providing all-in-one protection against advanced threats.

RAJEEV: HOW IS SOPHOS GEARING UP TO PROVIDE A SAFE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT TO ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS INDIA IN THE YEAR 2021?

SUNIL SHARMA: Today, cloud adoption has become an integral part of the digital transformation process, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic made remote working the new normal and accelerated the digital transformation process for many organizations. Businesses have understood the importance cloud in enabling working and doing business from anywhere.

While cloud enables digital transformation, cybersecurity makes the digital transformation secured.

Organizations should understand that security of cloud infrastructure is a shared responsibility where cloud provider takes care of security of the cloud. However, the

RAJEEV: WHICH KEY VERTICALS WILL BE ON TOP PRIORITY FOR YOU IN 2021 AND WHY? SUNIL SHARMA: While businesses continue to adapt to the new normal in 2021, cybersecurity has emerged www.digitalterminal.in

INTERVIEW

as a crucial tactic for organisations and institutes to secure themselves.

Businesses of all types and all sizes with insufficient cybersecurity infrastructure will be vulnerable to the looming threats of data theft and cybercrime. Sophos’s next-generation solutions and services are well equipped to provide next-generation cybersecurity to organizations of all types and sizes.

RAJEEV: THE NEW EMERGING SEGMENTS (WFH & LFH) HAVE BEEN TARGETED ON A LARGE LEVEL BY CYBERCRIMINALS AND IT MIGHT CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE AS WELL. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS TO CATER TO THESE TWO SEGMENTS WITH YOUR SECURITY SOLUTIONS? SUNIL SHARMA: Sophos has always

been prepared for the reality of a remote workforce. Our solutions were designed to protect endpoints, data and infrastructure, regardless of location.

While the cybersecurity landscape may have changed with multiple endpoints, customers are still fully protected as our entire product and services portfolio has many options that organisations are taking advantage of, including remote ethernet devices (we call them RED), VPN from home, virtual firewalls, and, of course, server and firewalling from the cloud.

Sophos synchronized security, designed to predict and adapt to attacks using artificial intelligence and easily managed from a single cloud based platform works just as well from home as it does in the office. Our customers in India can be assured that they are working in a safe environment, even at home.

SUNIL SHARMA: In 2021, we aim to continue working closely with our partners to reinforce their belief in our vision of protecting people and enterprises from cybercrime.

We will continue to do this by developing powerful and intuitive products and services and grow them by protecting our joint customers across every vertical and size.

As part of our growth strategy we aim to delve deeper in developing our channel networks.

Program, which helps partners have a clear growth path with Sophos. The program supports partners as they upsell and cross-sell across Sophos’ nextgeneration product portfolio. We are also going to continue the momentum we have seen for Sophos MSP Connect in the region.

Partners who are committed to Sophos will see a clear growth path with us.

We will continue to focus on our Sophos Global Partner

RAJEEV: WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT CHANNEL STRENGTH AND ENGAGEMENT PLANS TO SUPPORT THEM? ARE YOU PLANNING TO ADD MORE CHANNEL PARTNERS IN THE YEAR 2021?

www.digitalterminal.in

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ESPORTS ARENA SMARTPHONE SHELF

MAIDEN WD_BLACK CUP 2021 ESPORTS TOURNAMENT CONCLUDED SUCCESSFULLY Western Digital partnered with AMD Ryzen for this amazing gaming tournament which gave us the best gaming team. The tournament was live-streamed on The Esports Club’s YouTube channel and got an amazing response from the viewers. The grand finale was watched by over 2.5 Lakh viewers which is a huge number.

Western Digital announced the winner of its maiden WD_Black Cup 2021 14day long eSports tournament on March 21st. Global Esports, one of the teams that participated in this mega eSports tournament emerged as the winner. Over 128 teams participated in WD_Black Cup from across India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Team Mahi secured the runnerup position in this tournament. The grand finale witnessed a deadly battle between the finalist Team Mahi and team Global Esports.

Throughout the eSports gaming tournament, both teams played really well and showed the exceptional display of their gaming skills. Team Godlike Esports secured the 2nd runner-up position whereas other teams like The RAD Syndicate, Reckoning Esports, and team QQQ secured 3rd, 4th and 5th positions respectively. The pool prize of WD_Black Cup eSports tournament was set to INR 4,00,000 and got distributed among the above mentioned teams as per their position.

WD_Black Cup was a 14-day intense eSports tournament and got the participation from the best teams. This gaming tournament was based on the Valorant game which is a top-class highend game. With the successful conclusion of WD_Black Cup 2021, the gaming ecosystem in India has definitely got a boost as global teams have participated in this tournament and the homegrown

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teams got a golden chance to interact and compete with them. The underdog teams had a golden chance to play and prove their talent against some of the most renowned gaming squads.

JAGANATHAN CHELLIAH, MARKETING DIRECTOR, INDIA, WESTERN DIGITAL, SAID, “With the WD_ BLACK Cup we wish to bring the eco-system together to promote the gaming community and celebrate the innovations in the space with a full throttle experience.

We see an increasing traction towards PC gaming that allows gamers to express their creativity and provides them with an opportunity to learn.

The next-gen gamers demand top-tier performance and gaming experience.”

The Indian eSports industry has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years due to surge in the content as well as growing eSports infrastructure. The gaming enthusiasts in India have been taking advantage of the growing landscape and continues to take part in the eSports tournament that help them grow. This grand gaming

marathon has provided a big and muchneeded platform to gamers who were seeking to get exposure.

The WD_Black Cup tournament saw amazing competition since day 1 and all the gaming teams put huge efforts to qualify for the big stages. But only the best teams could make it to the Semifinals and Finals. Notably, Team Global Esports who emerged as the winner displayed awesome gameplay throughout the tournament.

Western Digital partnered with AMD Ryzen for this amazing gaming tournament which gave us the best gaming team. The tournament was livestreamed on The Esports Club’s YouTube channel and got an amazing response from the viewers. The grand finale was watched by over 2.5 Lakh viewers which is a huge number.

MUKESH BAJPAI, INDIA MARKETING HEAD, AMD, SAID, “The esports boom is driving incredible impetus for the gaming industry in India. The growth has led to gaming become more mainstream, www.digitalterminal.in

ESPORTS ARENA

CONGRATULATIONS

WINNER TEAM GLOBAL ESPORTS

aspirational and accessible with lucrative opportunities for passionate gamers.

Gaming has been a key focus for AMD. From designing CPUs and GPUs for high end desktops and consoles to now sleek ultrathin and gaming notebooks, we have always understood and delivered to the changing needs of gamers.”

Indeed the eSports culture across India has seen some good time so far but if we look at the gaming in China and South Korea, it’s huge. However, India is also steadily progressing in this arena to get noticed at global eSports map.

FIRST RUNNER UP TEAM MAHI

gameplay experience and adapt to the evolving gaming landscape led by the next generation of consoles.

In the post-covid era, WD_BLACK Cup eSports tournament became one of the best platforms for gamers to enable them to showcase their gaming skills. This tournament has witnessed top gaming enthusiasts who have come from across India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. PC gaming is no more a luxury and gaming is not just a hobby instead it has become a career for new-age gamers. Western Digital has taken a very key step towards promoting the gaming culture among the young generation.

The Prize pool for WD_Black Cup 2021 was Rs. 4,00,000 and it was given to the top 6 teams. Team Global Esports got a cash prize of Rs. 2,00,000 for earning the top spot. Team Mahi which was named 1st runner up received a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000 whereas team Godlike Esports won 50,000 cash prize. On the other hand, remaining teams like The RAD Syndicate, Reckoning Esports, and team QQQ were given a cash prize of Rs. 25,000, 15,000 and 10,000 respectively.

WD_Black Cup provided a prolific opportunity to the gaming enthusiasts for marking their presence on the global level and get good exposure in the gaming community.

Western Digital has been a pioneer in gaming storage solutions and with the launch of its recent WD_BLACK extended SSD portfolio, the brand is all geared up to help Esports gamers enhance their www.digitalterminal.in

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FACE TO FACE

“OUR CHANNEL PARTNERS PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR BUSINESS EXPANSION IN INDIA”

Mr. Purshottam Bhatia, Head of Sales, Consumer Solutions, Kaspersky

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The increasing cyber incidents in post-COVID era posing big challenges for organizations.

Such incidents have compelled organizations to re-evaluate their cybersecurity infrastructure and adopt effective measures to support their digital transformation journey. Moreover, the hybrid workplace model is proving to be a challenge for organizations in keeping their digital assets secure and provide a safe work environment to the employees.

Kaspersky is the one of the leading cybersecurity solution provider and has been supporting the businesses in their digital journey.

In an effort to get insights upon the current cybersecurity scenario, product strategy and channel plans, Rajeev Ranjan, Editor, Digital Terminal held an exclusive interaction with Mr. Purshottam Bhatia, Head of Sales, Consumer Solutions, Kaspersky. Read below the excerpts:

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FACE TO FACE

RAJEEV: IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT ARE THE KEY FACTORS HELPING CYBER CRIMINALS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC? PURSHOTTAM BHATIA: In our opinion, the

major impact of the increased cybercrime activities was felt by large enterprises, SMBs and their employees. Companies in India were not at all prepared for a situation where 90% of their staff was working remotely from their houses, and outside the company’s secure network. This sudden shift in the work culture gave the cybercriminals multiple opportunities to exploit their targets through various Covid19 related scams, phishing emails, ransomware, DDoS and even zero-day attacks.

Lack of awareness amongst the staff and end users in general also helped cybercriminals in targeting their preys much easily.

Prior to the pandemic, having a security solution installed in the devices of an online user was not taken very seriously. However, as the pandemic struck, people were forced to increase their online activities/ transactions and in some cases even had to do their official work on their personal devices.

These changes made installation of a security solution on every device a necessity.

RAJEEV: WORK FROM HOME IS THE NEW NORMAL IN TODAY’S TIME SO WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS TO EMPOWER THE REMOTE WORKERS WITH INDUSTRY-LEADING SECURITY SOLUTIONS? PURSHOTTAM BHATIA: When the work from home culture came in, companies big and small realized that their employees were not completely prepared for the work shift and lacked cybersecurity awareness in most cases. This is where we provided our expertise and services to these enterprises by helping them training their staff online according to their cyber maturity. Our Kaspersky Automated Security Awareness platform made it really easy for organizations to set up remote cybersecurity training for their employees.

This not only keeps employees informed about the latest threats, but also teaches them how to resist those threats. What’s more, the manager has control over the process and can set up the training program remotely. The lessons are created by specialists in the field of education and psychology, who made the material both catchy and memorable.

The other problem that the enterprises and employees faced during the initial months of work from home was employees using their personal devices for their official work, in most cases the personal devices used by the staff were not even protected by an anti-virus, this was a huge concern for enterprises

and the sensitive data that could be stolen from the personal devices due to the lack of protection. Our team at Kaspersky, understood this problem and we guided the companies in achieving complete security by re-evaluating their endpoint solutions, enterprise network security framework as well as security policies for their employees.

RAJEEV: HOW DO YOU SEE THE REQUIREMENT OF SECURITY SOLUTIONS FOR LFH/ COMMON CUSTOMER SEGMENT? WHAT ARE YOUR SOLUTIONS WHICH CAN SECURE THEIR DIGITAL JOURNEY? PURSHOTTAM BHATIA: Security awareness,

and demand for security solutions in the Indian market has seen a boost in the Covid19 era. The main reason for this increase in demand is the transition from physical activities into activities being carried out online. The current scenario pushes each and every member of a family have at least one or more device for their online activities.

Online banking, e-learning, online shopping and working from home have become some of the most important tasks that need absolute security from the cybercriminals. All consumers may not have the same security needs, hence it is important for them to understand their usage and thus decide their security solutions.

Other security solutions like Kaspersky Internet Security for PC and android provide premium security to the consumers from threats like malware, trojans, scanning malicious files, stalkerware, web-skimming, and online phishing attacks. Kaspersky Anti-virus, Internet Security and Total Security solutions are now available with a free edition of Kaspersky Password Manager.

RAJEEV: HOW DO YOU SEE THE ROLE OF YOUR CHANNEL PARTNERS IN BOOSTING THE COMPANY’S GROWTH IN THE COMING MONTHS? PURSHOTTAM BHATIA: Our channel partners play a very important role in our business expansion globally as well as in India. Kaspersky being a channel centric company, our business plans are majorly dependent on our partners support. In the past 6-8 months we have doubled our partner trainings and pushed our partners to achieve specializations in their field of interest. This in our opinion is a very important step in order to keep the partners updated on the ever-evolving threat landscape and help them identify the consumer’s security needs and provide solutions accordingly. The guidance and expertise provided to our B2B and B2C customers by our partners in association with our team is much appreciated and helps create brand trust and loyalty amongst our

consumers.

Our B2C Distributor Supertron Electronics has been working really hard in targeting the remotest areas and tier 2 and tier 3 cities to provide our solutions and meet the security needs of the consumers in these regions.

Ingram Micro on the other hand has been working with us closely and has been helping us in strengthening our hold over the B2B market, as well as targeting SMEs in tier 2 and tier 3 cities to help them build a stronger security framework with our solutions.

Our channel strategy for the next 6 months would include: Many more rigorous partner trainings, expanding our partner ecosystem, introducing new partner programmes, rewards and incentives, encouraging our regional distributors and partners to expand their business digitally through Kaspersky’s Force 1.0 app and promote contactless delivery. We are simultaneously working along with our Regional distributors to tap and onboard new resellers, we intend to increase width and depth of channel distribution network.

RAJEEV: WHAT IS YOUR GO TO MARKET STRATEGY AND BUSINESS EXPANSION PLANS FOR THE CONSUMER SEGMENT IN Q2 2021?

PURSHOTTAM BHATIA: Our go to market plan

for the consumer segment includes increasing cyber awareness and maturity amongst the consumers by sharing information on the ongoing threat landscape with them via media, blogs, social media platforms, etc. We believe that an increase in cyber maturity amongst our consumers is imperative for them to fight against the evolving threats.

We also plan to continue our in-depth training sessions with our partners and regional resellers on the types of attacks that are targeted at individual online users and how our products and services can be deployed by them in order to secure themselves from these growing online attacks.

Going forward we plan to announce our strategic partnerships with other major institutions and organisations in order to secure the consumer segment. These plans would be announced in Q2 and we look forward to spreading great awareness and grow our business through these strategic associations.

We also plan to launch aggressive retail channel schemes and consumer offers to ensure that we cater to last mile and increase profitability of channel partners. We have aggressive plans to execute which will be focused on Visibility, Availability and Consistency for our brand Kaspersky.

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EXCLUSIVE CHAT

“WE HAVE STRENGTHENED OUR PORTFOLIO TO MEET THE BURGEONING DEMANDS OF THE HYBRID WORKFORCE” In the past one year, organizations have started embracing digital transformation very rapidly. The adoption of next-gen technology solutions has also increased across the sectors. The hybrid work model compelled the organizations to invest in digital tools for greater productivity. Tata Teleservices is one of the leading technology solution providers and has helped organizations in challenging time with its advanced solution offerings. Rajeev Ranjan, Editor, Digital Terminal recently interacted with Manish Singh, General Manager, Tata Teleservices Ltd. Mr. Manish elaborated on the latest tech trends, their solution offerings and growth plans for the Indian market. Read below the excerpts: RAJEEV: HOW DID TATA TELE BUSINESS SERVICES SUPPORT THEIR CUSTOMERS DURING THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHEN THERE WAS HUGE CHALLENGE DUE TO PANDEMIC? MANISH SINGH: Being one of the country’s leading technology enabler, at Tata Tele Business Services (TTBS) we ensured that our customers had uninterrupted services during the pandemic and provided them with innovative solutions that helped them maintain business continuity and growth. During the last few months, we had stepped up to the responsibility of an ‘Essential Service Provider’ to streamline our business continuity plans to cater to the evolving business needs. All our efforts were focused to maintain network connectivity and deliver services to our customers while adhering to the Government guidelines.

We have strengthened our portfolio of services such as Cloud-based Connectivity solutions, Collaboration solutions, IoT, Data Management and Cybersecurity solutions across industry segments that ensured connectivity and collaboration amongst teams to meet the burgeoning demands of the hybrid workforce.

Mr. Manish Singh, General Manager, Tata Teleservices Ltd. 18

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RAJEEV: WHAT NEW TREND / ADOPwww.digitalterminal.in

EXCLUSIVE CHAT

TION YOU HAVE SEEN INTO COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY DUE TO WORK FROM HOME/ LEARN FROM HOME MODEL?

ERS, HOW DO YOU WORK TO CONTRIBUTE TO ENABLING THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION JOURNEY SIMPLE FOR ENTERPRISE/SMBS?

MANISH SINGH: With India becoming one of the largest market for ‘work from home’, digital transformation has started to progress rapidly. Enterprises are investing in digital tools and ecosystem to adapt to this contemporary disruptive business environment.

MANISH SINGH: TTBS has a progressive approach of partnering SMBs in the capacity of a technology enabler/ subject matter expert that provides them with differentiated ICT solutions. Enterprises / SMB customers want advanced ICT solutions, which are easy to deploy, scalable and are available in an asset/ capex light model. It is our endeavour to use our deep customer relationships to develop products and solutions that enable our customers to compete and win in their respective business segments.

IoT, AI and Cloud technologies along with security overlay, being scalable solutions have witnessed a massive boost, driven by new use cases to accelerate automation of processes and systems.

RAJEEV: WHAT ACCORDING TO YOU IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION SOLUTIONS FOR COMPANIES IN INDIA IN THE NEW NORMAL? HOW DOES TATA TELESERVICES HELP SUCH COMPANIES IN HAVING AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION? MANISH SINGH: One of the biggest challenge faced by the enterprises in the new normal is the unavailability of continuous connectivity and collaboration, guaranteed up-time with fully delivered SLAs along with cost affordability.

Having an experience of over two decades, we at Tata Tele Business Services have developed solutions basis consumer engagements that enable enterprises to DO BIG in their respective business segments. Most of our solutions are backed by SLAs with 99.5% uptime backed by our robust 24*7 managed services. Our solution experts approach MSMEs via various sessions along with our Channel partners on Business continuity Enterprise solutions. We have demonstrated on how to mitigate current challenges by accessing Data, Voice and ICS from various access points ie home or wherever user is; without compromising on security.

RAJEEV: BEING ONE OF THE LEADING COMMUNICATION SERVICE PROVID-

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In a market disrupted by price wars our strategic focus has been on increasing the business value offered by our solutions rather than playing the price game.

Best-Fit Solutions, Life Cycle channel management approach along with Customer Centric culture has helped us becoming a preferred partner for SMBs. RAJEEV: WHAT WILL BE YOUR KEY FOCUS PRODUCT/SEGMENT AMONG YOUR LARGE PORTFOLIOS? WHAT WILL BE YOUR GO-TO-MARKET STRATEGY FOR THESE PRODUCTS? MANISH SINGH: Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped the business environments with digital-tech capabilities taking prominence for business survival and growth. Digital agility has become a critical factor for the workforce to communicate and collaborate in the new normal of hybrid working. At vices (TTBS), our growth plans are centred on strengthening our portfolio of services especially in the areas of SaaS, IaaS, IoT and cloud while at the same time enhancing our network and sales reach/ capability to cover as much of the SMB footprint as possible.

As the Hybrid-work culture model is becoming a sustained practice by many organizations and to address this growing demand, we have strengthened our suite of ‘Work from anywhere’ solu-

tions. The recently launched Smartflo is a comprehensive and future ready cloud communication suite that enable businesses to communicate with their customers anytime, anywhere in a secured manner across various platforms and touch points.

Our focus will also be on other solutions like “Hosted IVR” that allow enterprises to quickly set up distributed call centres an enable agents to work from home.

Others like hosted PBX, audio and web conferencing solutions, international bridging services ensure connectivity and collaboration amongst teams spread geographically across the globe.

We also have strengthened Cybersecurity portfolio to provide a world class Cloud Content Security Platform (CCSP) to offer email security, web security, next generation firewall, endpoint security and multi-factor authentication (MFA) Security Services.

These solutions allow uninterrupted connectivity between all stakeholders, internally within employees and externally with customers and vendors across platforms and touch points.

RAJEEV: WHAT IS THE FUTURE EXPANSION PLAN FOR YOU? CAN WE SEE THE EXPANSION OF PARTNER NETWORK IN CERTAIN AREAS TO BOOST YOUR PRODUCT REACH? MANISH SINGH: Our focus area would be to strengthen our portfolio of services especially in the areas of SaaS, IaaS, IoT and cloud. We would also be continuously enhancing our fibre network, deploying the latest IT tools and building business applications across the industry segments that we serve.

Our Channel network has been an important contributor to our business growth. Having one of the largest channel network in 60 cities across the country, we have the right mix of best partners to serve different industrial segments. We would continue to scale up our channel network in every part of the addressable market wherever SMEs are based.

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TECH LEAK

RELIANCE TO LAUNCH JIOBOOK BUDGET LAPTOP FOR INDIAN CUSTOMERS In recent times, the demand for cost-effective PCs/laptops has increased exponentially due to the work from home and learn from home segments.

Leading PC brands have capitalized on this opportunity but the demand has surged in recent times which opens up new huge avenues for new players as well. As per the industry sources, Reliance Jio is working on a low-budget 4G laptop called ‘JioBook’ which might launch soon. Reliance is trying to step upon the dominance of leading brands by bringing JioBook to steal their customer base.

The JioBook will definitely be a good choice for those customers who are seeking to buy a budget laptop for their office work or studies. However, the price and specifications are not out yet but as per the industry sources, the lap-

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top will boast an array of promising features.

Out of all other features, the JioBook will be featuring Snapdragon 665 processor to support quality computing. The reports stated that the laptop will have 4G LTE connectivity to Reliance Jio’s 4G network. Moreover, the reports further say that JioBook’s display will have a 1366×768 screen resolution for HD viewing experience. It is reported that JioBook will run on the Android operating system and will carry Jio apps such as JioStore and JioMeet.

As per the sources, Reliance Jio has

joined hands with Bluebank Communication technology, a China-based company that will help Jio to develop JioBook. Bluebank Communication is an engineering company and develops software and mobile devices for third parties. However, the laptop is still in the development phase and likely to come out by the end of this year.

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RETAIL BUZZ

ACER OPENS INDIA’S BIGGEST EXPERIENCE STORE IN BENGALURU ACER IS PLANNING TO OPEN OVER 200 STORES IN INDIA BY THIS YEAR WITH PRODUCT EXPERIENCE ZONES, HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF AND MULTIPLE OWNERSHIP SCHEMES LIKE NO COST EMI, LONG-TERM WARRANTY AND ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE PROTECTION ALONG WITH A RANGE OF EXCITING OFFERS. laptops to air-purifiers.

Acer India launched India’s biggest swanky new Flagship Acer Mall experience store in Koramangala, Bengaluru.

The store is part of the brand’s retail strategy to allow its customers to experience the entire array of product portfolios with dedicated gaming, lifestyle and all other product segments. Store also features the extraordinary Predator Thronos gaming cave for the ultimate immersive gaming experience.

The store offers premium retail experience as well as exceptional service to its customers with complete demo zones and dedicated gaming experience center. The world class Acer Mall experience center offers consumers the option to interact and get a firsthand feel of some of the most advanced PC and lifestyle products ranging from 22

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SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION, MR. SUDHIR GOEL, CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER, ACER INDIA SAID, “The launch of the Flagship Acer Experience Store is a step towards our long-term commitment to the Indian market where we offer our consumers an opportunity to physically experience our products and make an informed purchase decision. With this our retail expansion journey will be propelled with an endeavour to bring in the bestin-class products to our customers and grow Acer community across India through our retail presence.”

ownership schemes like No Cost EMI, long-term warranty and accidental damage protection along with a range of exciting offers. As a brand Acer is moving towards a lifestyle technology company offering a range of products which helps consumers live a healthier, smarter and more connected life.

The store was inaugurated by Mr. Sudhir Goel, Chief Business Officer, Acer India, Mr. Jeganath, Chief Sales Officer, and Mr. Alok Dubey, Chief Finance Officer, Acer India and Mr. Sanjeev Mehtani, Country Manager, Sales, Acer India.

Acer is planning to open over 200 stores in India by this year with product experience zones, highly trained staff and multiple www.digitalterminal.in

EXCLUSIVE INTERACTION

“WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENABLING OUR CUSTOMER WITH INNOVATIVE & FEATURE RICH NETWORKING PRODUCTS” The Indian networking solution industry has seen tremendous growth in the last year as the adoption of networking devices has dramatically increased across the country. However, the last year was quite challenging but the market players are witnessing an accelerated growth due to a rapid surge in the demand for networking solutions. D-Link is one of the top networking solution providers and keeps on bringing cutting-edge products for its customers. In order to know further about the latest trends, market landscape, channel engagement plans and product strategy, Rajeev Ranjan held exclusive interaction with MR. SANKET KULKARNI, VP – CHANNEL SALES, D-LINK (INDIA) LIMITED. Read below the excerpts: RAJEEV: HOW HAS BEEN THE YEAR 2020 FOR D-LINK BUSINESS IN INDIA? HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO SUPPORT CUSTOMERS & PARTNERS DURING THE LOCKDOWN? SANKET KULKARNI: We are all very aware of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on people and economies globally. While the first quarter of FY 2020-21 was impacted we still managed to deliver steady growth.

While the world is still battling a major pandemic, we are also going through a digital revolution which has led to increased penetration of broadband throughout the country. At present, there is a tremendous increase in the adoption of connected devices with increased awareness about network connectivity. Further emerging trends like Digital transactions, eCommerce, IoT and automated homes have all accelerated the growth of the networking business. So overall business at D-Link remains competitive, and we are optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead.

Year 2020 has been an edifying experience with some valuable lessons learned. In this tremendous journey, channel partners have been our constant companions and biggest cheerleaders supporting us from strength to strength. We at D-Link have always valued channel partners as an integral part of our business ecosystem. As a result, channel engagement was a top priority 24

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throughout the year with regular virtual training programs, incentive schemes being offered that enabled them to grow & flourish.

RAJEEV: WHAT IS YOUR STRENGTH AS A LEADER IN THE COMPETITIVE INDIAN NETWORKING MARKET? WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU SEE IN THE INDIAN MARKET IN THE POST-COVID ERA? SANKET KULKARNI: We have been in the business of connecting people, businesses, and cities with our innovative networking solutions and technology for over three decades. Our widespread loyal customer base across all sectors is a testament to our brand credibility. Also, D-Link’s distribution and channel network with over 500 dealers and 5,000 resellers is one of its core strengths. Most of our distributors have been associated with us for more than 15 years and continue to be our key propagators. Further D-Link provides best-in-class support infrastructure be it an individual or large enterprise. All this has led to D-Link being a trusted & most preferred networking brand in the country.

Last year has been challenging & demanding both. While the world continues to battle this pandemic, it is crucial that we move on & acclimatize ourselves to this uncertain scenario. In fact a lot has changed with technology has taken precedence in our day-to-day

activities. Today we truly live in a digital world with minimal human interaction.

This has resulted in increased adoption of connectivity solutions at both consumer-level & enterprises. Post-Covid era we can see very good momentum across various product categories like Wireless, Switching, Structure cabling and Surveillance. Overall the opportunity in the networking space is humongous & we look forward to enabling our customers with innovative & feature-rich networking products/ solutions.

RAJEEV: WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO PARTNERS AS THE MARKET HAS STARTED RESPONDING AFTER A CHALLENGING PREVIOUS YEAR? SANKET KULKARNI: Much has changed in the last one year, and now we are getting accustomed to the new normal - be it virtual classrooms, Home office, Online shopping, Digital payments and much more. Technology & more specifically internet has been a key enabler in helping millions of people to stay connected through this most trying phase of human history. So, the silver lining in the cloud is that the current crisis has accelerated digitization, with increased demand for high-speed connectivity devices. Partners in a networking business can certainly reap benefits.

For any business to succeed Agility & Adaptability is the key.

RAJEEV: PLEASE TELL ME ABOUT www.digitalterminal.in

EXCLUSIVE INTERACTION

YOUR LATEST OFFERINGS FOR THE WI-FI ROUTER SEGMENT. HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO BRING THE SMART WI-FI 6 ROUTERS AT AFFORDABLE PRICE POINT? SANKET KULKARNI: We have always led the Wireless segment in India with innovation which is evident in our product offering. Last year we introduced a host of ground-breaking products like COVR Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi systems, Home security cameras, a range of AC routers, IoT products, etc. which were widely accepted by consumers.

Very recently we have introduced a new line up of EXO Routers with Wi-Fi 6 features. Considering the current pandemic situation that has brought about a radical change in the way we function, and Work from Home has become the new normal. So digital engagements have taken over and demand for connectivity devices is on surge. Also, Modern households today have multiple devices that are connected to the network throughout the day. In such a situation our new EXO Routers with Wi-Fi 6 features are engineered to perfectly meet the demands of the modern-day household. Our Wi-Fi 6 range is available at a affordable price point with partners and customers already sharing great feedback on product performance.

ogy playing a crucial role. The current situation led to increased demand for connectivity solutions, especially wireless. We foresee huge opportunities in the Wireless domain, and growth in security solutions is also on the card. So, we will continue to focus on the Wi-Fi segment with innovative products in the pipeline.

Further, there is tremendous traction in the surveillance domain and expanding our surveillance solutions will be a top priority for us.

MR. SANKET KULKARNI, VP – CHANNEL SALES, D-LINK (INDIA) LTD.

RAJEEV: WHAT IS THE UPCOMING PRODUCT PLAN FOR THE INDIAN MARKET? WHICH ALL PRODUCT CATEGORIES ARE ON YOUR PRIORITY LIST? SANKET KULKARNI: As the mentioned earlier world is going through a major transformation with technolwww.digitalterminal.in

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BIG BYTE

HP BUYS KINGSTON’S GAMING ACCESSORIES BRAND HYPERX FOR $425 MILLION HP has built a large and growing global gaming portfolio in recent years, led by its OMEN brand and a world-class ecosystem of hardware, software, content, and services. Adding HyperX to HP’s broader gaming ecosystem will deliver innovative new experiences across everything gamers see, hear, and touch.

HP announced a definitive agreement to acquire HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company. The acquisition supports HP’s strategy to drive growth in its Personal Systems business, where gaming and peripherals are attractive segments. HyperX’s award-winning product portfolio spans a range of gaming peripherals, including headsets, keyboards, mice, mouse pads, USB microphones, and console accessories.

Under the terms of the agreement, HP will pay $425 million, subject to customary working capital and other adjustments, to acquire HyperX’s gaming peripherals portfolio. Kingston will retain the DRAM, flash, and SSD products for gamers and enthusiasts. The acquisition is expected to be accretive on a non-GAAP basis to HP in the first full year following closing. The transaction is expected to close in calendar Q2 2021, pending regulatory review and other customary closing conditions.

PC gaming continues to be one of the most

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popular forms of video gaming, with the PC hardware industry anticipated to be worth $70 billion by 2023. The global peripherals market is expected to grow to $12.2 billion by 2024, with gaming peripherals representing a disproportionate share of this growth.

“HyperX is a leader in peripherals whose technology is trusted by gamers around the world and we’re thrilled to welcome their outstanding team to the HP family,” said Enrique Lores, President and CEO, HP Inc. “We continue to advance our leadership in Personal Systems by modernizing compute experiences and expanding into valuable adjacencies. We see significant opportunities in the large and growing peripherals market, and the addition of HyperX to our portfolio will drive new sources of innovation and growth for our business.”

“HyperX products are designed to meet the most rigorous demands of all gamers – from casual to the most hardcore – giving them a winning edge and helping them

stay on top of their game,” said John Tu, Co-founder and CEO, Kingston. “Both of our companies thrive because we focus on our employees and share the same core values and culture. David Sun (Co-founder and COO) and I saw the possibilities for the HyperX business and its employees and we both realized that this change brings a brighter future for HyperX.” HP has built a large and growing global gaming portfolio in recent years, led by its OMEN brand and a world-class ecosystem of hardware, software, content, and services. The company continues to push progression in gaming with powerful devices like the OMEN 15 gaming laptop and the HP Pavilion Gaming 16 laptop. Beyond devices, HP is driving software innovation with OMEN Gaming Hub, a destination for players to connect, customize, and explore their gear and games. Adding HyperX to HP’s broader gaming ecosystem will deliver innovative new experiences across everything gamers see, hear, and touch.

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BRAND FOCUS

VAIO ANNOUNCES WORLD’S FIRST CONTOURED CARBON FIBER LAPTOP The new VAIO®Z designed for today’s mobile computing needs. The VAIO®Z offers incredible power through 11th Gen Intel® Core™ processors and new Intel® integrated graphics on its 14-inch, high-def 4k LCD panel.

VAIO is the first company in the world to successfully mass produce a 3-D molded, carbon fiber laptop with the Uni-direction carbon fiber. Using technology only previously available to the car racing industry, molded carbon fiber makes the new VAIO®Z lighter at just under 1kg^. Moreover, with all around carbon fiber protection, the VAIO®Z offers exceptional toughness, and its turbo charged with unprecedented speed. In fact, the new VAIO®Z features the same powerful processing speed previously only found in the PCs of the most demanding fields.

Although previously gaining popularity, mobile computing has never been more essential. With more professionals and students having to work and collaborate remotely these days, their mobile computing needs have increased. Of course, there are inherent risks with mobility as seen with mobile phone usage, for example. Everyone is well acquainted with the challenge of keeping mobile devices from getting damaged and now, more so with laptops. Both have become indispensable investments that make work, learning and connecting socially possible. So, when they are damaged, it can disrupt users’ needs.

The new VAIO®Z was designed for today’s mobile computing needs. The VAIO®Z’s lighter yet more durable design makes mobility less cumbersome, more practical and safer for work and learning needs.

No more having to carry a heavy laptop www.digitalterminal.in

from place to place or even room to room.

No more worrying that this valued work partner and learning tool will get damaged, and no more worrying about securing your privacy. The VAIO®Z offers incredible power through 11th Gen Intel® Core™ processors and new Intel® integrated graphics on its 14-inch, high-def 4k LCD panel.

Additional features include crystal clear sound with Dolby Audio speakers. No more struggling to hear teammates or teachers on video conferencing calls. Camera shutter and mic mute shortcuts for privacy, 180-degree open/close screen for easy collaboration and increased battery life to keep you connected for hours. Plus, the VAIO®Z will get to know you. It is VAIO User Sensing engineering combines human sensing technology and biometrics to make the VAIO®Z a truly personal experience.

The VAIO®Z uses face authentication to log you in when you are seated before it, and it keeps you logged as long as you are seated in front of it. No more having to remember your password or worrying someone will use it. When you are away, it locks automatically to secure your privacy.

Kaoru Hayashi, Director, Vice President and Head of PC Business at VAIO Corporation proudly states, “It is with great pleasure that we introduce VAIO®Z to the world.

With over a decade of relentless carbon fiber research, VAIO has succeeded in creating and mass producing the world’s first 3D molded full carbon chassis for laptop PCs.

VAIO has developed a unique process of working with carbon fiber to achieve beautifully contoured lines and the flexible molding of carbon fiber, that was previously difficult to mass produce. The achievement of harnessing carbon fiber’s full potential of lightness and durability is both revolutionary and evolutionary as we continue looking ahead. With this evolution, the new VAIO®Z offers exceptional performance, lightness, endurance, now with true ruggedness, and without compromise, all converging into one elegant design. With VAIO®Z as our flagship model, we hope it is the start of VAIO’s future array of laptop PC developments.

We also want to use this proud moment to share VAIO’s redefined mission. Like VAIO®Z, we have reshaped our mission statement to show our commitment to our technical ingenuity that is deeply engrained in our DNA. Therefore, our renewed mission statement is “Illuminate your spirit with VAIO. Accelerating innovation through design and technology.”

Our vision is to make VAIO PCs a valued partner to customers who, like VAIO, are the world’s innovators, creators, and relentless leaders in their fields. It is our hope that our VAIO PCs become an enduring presence that inspires our customers as they forge ahead to meet and exceed their goals no matter the challenge.

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PRODUCT REVIEW: AVITA ESSENTIAL AVITA ESSENTIAL LAPTOP DESIGN AVITA Essential is a quite modern and stylish laptop like the other models being offered by AVITA. The laptop seems to be an attention driver as its design and texture is really unique. The laptop comes in a cloth texture design and has a plastic body so it is slightly lightweight. Its actual weight is 1.37 Kgs which is not so heavy and allows you to carry it easily anywhere. However, the AVITA Essential is a budget-friendly laptop but due to its slim and unique design, it will give you premium laptop feel.

Apart from its design, there is nothing to see except the connectivity ports that are given on the backside of the laptop. It is to make this laptop free from tangled wires on the left and right sides. AVITA Essential laptop has one jack to power the laptop, 2 USB 3.0 Type-A ports, one full-size HDMI port, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There are two 0.8W speakers underneath the laptop which are provided on either side to make a balance for a good audio output.

KEYBOARD FOR COMFORTABLE TYPING AVITA Essential laptop comes with a big keyboard which allows you more comfort while typing. The typing speed gets enhanced with a full-size keyboard and makes the typing experience even better. The keys of the laptop are designed in a way to provide a perfect gripping. Apart from it, the touchpad of the laptop is a little bigger than the usual size.

ANTI-GLARE DISPLAY WITH NARROW BEZELS Today most of the budget category laptops don’t come with a narrow bezel display and carry the conventional display with thick bezels. But AVITA has gone an extra mile to provide a great viewing experience to its users by bringing a laptop with 4mm thin bezels.

This is an anti-glare display so it doesn’t fend-off the quality of the content when we watch anything from side 28

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angles. Also, the display has 1920 x 1080 resolution to support HD content.

However, the screen is not so much brighter and vibrant which disappoints to an extent.

The 2MP webcam has been given near the keyboard because of the narrow bezels. This angle is a little disappointing because it might not show the face correctly and you will have bit disappointment while being in a virtual meeting or doing video chat.

AVITA ESSENTIAL SPECIFICATIONS AND PERFORMANCE The laptop falls under the budget category but it doesn’t make any impact on its performance as the laptop is packed with some good features. AVITA Essential comes with an Intel Celeron N4020 processor. Also, the laptop has Intel UHD graphics inside so it will let you have a smooth user experience. AVITA Essential comes with a 3200mAh battery and AVITA commits upto 6 hours of backup. During our review, we got around 2-3 hours of battery support which is not so bad. The laptop runs on Windows 10 Home for a smooth and secure user experience.

As far as storage is concerned, AVITA

Essential has something great to offer.

The laptop comes with 4G DDR4 RAM and 256GB M.2 SSD. Due to the inbuilt SSD, the performance of the laptop has got a boost and we don’t see any lagging issues on the device. Moreover, the boot time of the laptop is nearly 10 seconds which is great.

AVITA ESSENTIAL PRICE MRP of AVITA Essential is INR 27,790 and it is available in three color variants, Matt White, Matt Black, and Concrete Grey. Pricing may differ depending on purchase platform.

DT VERDICT AVITA has done a quite good job as AVITA Essential is really a nice laptop under budget. It is one of the ideal laptops for budget-conscious consumers who don’t want to spend much and want good features. The design of the laptop is really outstanding and it won’t let you feel that it is a budget category laptop. Also, the performance is good according to the features given on the laptop. People who are working from home and students who are learning from home can once consider this laptop for their daily work.

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NEW ARRIVALS DAIWA SMART TV

Daiwa launches two new screen sizes for the Alexa built-in Smart TVs – 32 inches (80 cm) and 39 inches (98 cm), making the entertainment experience beyond basic. The Daiwa Smart TVs opens up a whole new world of entertainment with ‘The Big Wall UI’ that brings direct access to 25,00,000+ hours of content and official apps, including Disney+, Hotstar, Zee5, Sony Liv, Zee5, Voot, along with a Movie Box app that comes with thousands of movie options in different genres & languages for viewers. Powered with Android 8.0 version and A35 Quad core processor, the Daiwa Smart TV is equipped with 1GB RAM and 8GB ROM for storage. It comes with versatile connectivity options which includes - 3 HDMI and 2 USB ports along with Bluetooth for audio devices and EShare for screen mirroring. Daiwa D32S7B (80cm) and D40HDRS (98cm) TVs are priced for Rs. 15,990/- and 21,990/respectively.

SANDISK EXTREME PORTABLE SSDS

Western Digital Corp announced the launch of two new SanDisk portable SSDs that offer nearly 2x the speed over previous generations. The SanDisk www.digitalterminal.in

Extreme® and SanDisk Extreme PRO® portable SSDs are purpose-built to keep up with today’s high-quality content demands. Professional photographers, videographers and enthusiasts capture and keep life’s best moments every day and they need reliable solutions that perform on the move at astonishing speeds. The flagship SanDisk Extreme PRO portable SSD features a forged aluminum chassis made to stay cool under the pressure of a heavy workload and a durable silicone design to withstand the rigors of production. The drives also help keep content safe with password protection and an upgrade to 256-bit AES hardware encryption. The new drives are compatible with PC and Mac computers. In addition to moving content to a PC or laptop, the new products also now allow users to back up mobile content quickly and easily thanks to compatibility with a range of USB Type-C™ smartphones.

AMD RADEON RX 6700 XT GRAPHICS CARD

AMD introduced the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics card, providing exceptional performance, stunningly vivid visuals and advanced software features to redefine 1440p resolution gaming. AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics cards harness breakthrough AMD RDNA 2 gaming architecture, 96MB of high-performance AMD Infinity Cache, 12GB of high-speed GDDR6 memory, AMD Smart Access Memory, and other advanced technologies to meet the everincreasing demands of modern games.

Delivering up to 2X higher gaming performance in select titles with amazing new features compared to the current installed base of older-

generation graphics cards and providing more than 165 FPS in select esports titles, the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics card pushes the limits of gaming by enabling incredible, highrefresh 1440p performance and breathtaking visual fidelity. The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics card is built on 7nm process technology and AMD RDNA 2 gaming architecture, designed to deliver the optimal combination of performance and power efficiency.

ASUS GRAPHICS CARDS

The AMD Radeon™ RX 6900 XT and Radeon RX 6800 series graphics cards have infatuated high-end gaming enthusiasts since their launch, and ASUS has unleashed its power with several custom designs that deliver exceptional performance, acoustics and overclocking potential. Now, ASUS bringing those same characteristics to mainstream gamers with custom Radeon™ RX 6700 XT graphics cards.

Whether you want the uncompromising performance and cooling capabilities of ROG Strix, the durable and dependable power of TUF Gaming, or the compatibility and flexibility of our Dual cooler, there’s an ASUS Radeon™ RX 6700 XT graphics card that’s tailor-made for your PC. The ROG Strix Radeon™ RX 6700 XT graphics card boasts an extroverted style that wraps up all of our latest innovations for aircooled graphics cards. The TUF Gaming Radeon™ RX 6700 XT graphics card exudes quiet competence with a new industrial design. The ASUS Radeon™ RX 6700 XT melds performance and simplicity like no other. Leveraging advanced cooling technologies derived from flagship graphics cards, the Dual opts for substance over style, the perfect choice for a well-balanced build.

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FEATURE STORY

COVID-19 VACCINATION: INCREASING CYBERATTACKS HAMPERS VACCINE MANUFACTURERS The Chinese cyber attackers have recently attacked the IT systems of Indian COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers. India is currently the largest producer of the COVID-19 vaccine and is supplying this to major countries across world. The business rivalry between Indian and Chinese manufacturers are well known fact now. The recent attack evidence shows how they tried to affect the supply chain of the vaccine manufacturing companies within India. As per the reports, Bharat Biotech and the Serum Institute of India (SII) were two companies whose IT systems were attacked by Chinese hackers. These two companies are the largest manufacturer of COVID-19 vaccine in India and are supplying vaccines to other parts of world as well.

The Chinese hackers have found vulnerabilities in the IT systems of Indian vaccine manufacturing companies thereby they have opened cyberattacks on them. Currently, India is selling or gifting the vaccines to a large part of the world and China is seeking to get an advantage over India’s dominance in this relief initiative. Prior to this in the year 2020, there were numbers of cyberattacks reported on the COVID-19 vaccine research institutes and China was stated to be involved in this. To know opinion of the cybersecurity companies regarding these incidents, DT spoke two of industry players in the cybersecurity domain. They elaborated upon the key aspects related to the reported incidents and how it is impacting the nationwide vaccination drive in India. Read below the excerpts.

“THREAT ACTORS HAVE BEEN CLEVERLY TARGETING ORGANIZATIONS WHO CANNOT AFFORD DOWNTIME” SURGE IN CYBERATTACKS ON INDIAN VACCINE MAKERS Before the IT revolution took place, each and every individual was custodian of their own data. However, with the progress in technology in the healthcare sector across the world, IT solution providers, employed by the hospitals, have become the guardian of their information. This gives rise to a major vulnerability to be exploited. The critical and sensitive nature of information available to be stolen only amplifies the damage that can be done by a cyber-attack! GOVIND RAMMAURTHY, MD & CEO, MICROWORLD GROUP OF COMPANIES SAID, “Healthcare in India was the 2nd most attacked sector after banking and financial services last year.

Due to the supply chain focus around new ways to tackle COVID – 19, over the last year, these initiatives have put pharma and healthcare organizations in the crosshairs of cybercriminals. Threat

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actors have been cleverly targeting organizations who cannot afford downtime due to critical supply chain and medical efforts being put in.”

GOVIND RAMMAURTHY FURTHER ADDED, “Consequently, India was the 2nd most digitally attacked nation in Asia last year. Whether to support the research for the COVID vaccine or to produce protective medical wearables, many organizations were exposed to the frontlines for the first time. Cyber-attackers noticed how the pandemic affected the current critical infrastructure and given the slower response rate of the healthcare sector, they became easier targets.”

IMPACTS ON COVID VACCINATION DRIVE The increasing cyber-attacks on Indian health-tech industry are posing big challenge for the vaccination drive across India. Commenting on the impact of cyberattacks, GOVIND RAMMAURTHY SAID, “The constant threats have surely slowed down the process of vaccination drive and attackers, without a doubt, would try their best to prolong the process as much as possible. This would give them time to prey on the fear of the masses and capitalize on the vulnerabilities of organizations for further monetary benefits.”

PLANS TO FOLLOW FOR AVOIDING

SUCH CYBER INCIDENTS The organizations that are being targeted have been lacking on the front of cybersecurity and it led them to fall prey to cyberattacks. For staying ahead of the security issues, GOVIND RAMMAURTHY SAID, “The resilience of the global healthcare industry shall be continued to be tested even post the COVID-19 crisis. Even though no organization can claim to remain immune to a cyber-attack, there are various measures that can be taken to reduce the chances of falling for a security incident. Hence, we suggest organizations in the healthcare sector take the following actions – A) Prepare a clear incident response plan – Organizations need to check if they are prepared for a ransomware attack or any

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FEATURE STORY

other kind of security breach. Does the organization have any relationship with an incident response or digital response providers?

B) Strengthen the efforts for Vulnerability Management on critical technologies and platforms – The ongoing crisis is a very good time to perform scanning, analysis, and testing for vulnerabilities in the environment.

It will answer some vital questions like – does the organization have a holistic approach to identifying, analyzing, remediating, and tracking weaknesses across the environment?

C) Avoid Strategic surprises by performing deep dark web searches – Does the healthcare organization know what is being discussed about them on hacker forums and across the dark web?

How many of their employees’ login and password credentials have been compromised in third-party breaches that could be used to penetrate their network? Answers to such questions can help the security professionals within the organization prepare a strategy to mitigate any potential risks.

D) Ensure that restricted access controls and mechanisms are implemented – Organizations need to double-check if they have sufficiently restricted access to systems, networks, applications, and data. Have multifactor authentication (MFA/2FA), privileged access management (PAM), and other critical identity and access management (IAM) controls reviewed and validated. These steps will restrict any unauthorized entry to their sensitive data.

E) Apply a Zero-Trust approach to the security strategy - In zero-trust architecture, users must prove their identities to access specific data resources. This approach takes user error out of the equation and reduces the ability of threats such as ransomware to move from one server to another.

F) Cybersecurity Training for all employees - Most successful cyberattacks use email-based approaches on users to gain a foothold.

Security awareness training is critical and must evolve to deal with the new landscape. Security must move beyond www.digitalterminal.in

the traditional network perimeter and into the user’s space with the shift in operations due to the pandemic.

“ANY BREACH CAN LEAD TO PANIC AND CAUSE DELAY IN THE NATIONWIDE COVID VACCINATION DRIVE” INCREASING CYBERATTACKS TO AFFECT COVID VACCINATION DRIVE India is working aggressively towards completely eliminating the COVID-19 pandemic hence it is producing the vaccines on huge level. But the cyber incidents are becoming a challenge in this journey. SONIT JAIN, CEO, GAJSHIELD INFOTECH SAID, “There has been a massive surge in attacks, since last April on Indian vaccine makers. India has at the fore front of manufacturing of Covid vaccines and is also the world leader in pharmaceutical industry, it is a direct attack to weaken the competitive edge that India has. We will continue to see a rise in attacks through phishing, ransomware and directed attacks against the Indian Pharmaceutical. Any breach can lead to panic and cause delay in the nationwide COVID vaccination drive.”

HOW TO PREVENT SUCH CYBERATTACKS? “Health-tech companies need to be vigilant and proactive to prevent the security breaches caused by external as well as internal threats actors. A failure to keep data security measures updated, can prove disastrous for drug companies in several ways. The issues that can stem from weak or incoherent cyber protection can lead to not only compromise of intellectual property, but also breach of patient data, which could be disastrous for consumer. It is advised that pharmaceutical companies be extra careful with this data to maintain consumer relationships and avoid litigation” COMMENTED SONIT JAIN. SONIT JAIN FURTHER ADDED,

“Cyber attackers often find it easy to use vulnerable employees and use them to compromise systems and get access to confidential data.

These threat vectors can then move laterally within an organisation without being discovered. With the pandemic, online communication channels have increased exponentially without physical verification and validation of data. This weakness is often used as the first step to data compromise. Unintentional leak is also on rise when work from home has become the new culture. Pharmaceutical companies, especially, have a lot to lose if their confidential medicinal ingredients and formulation processes are exposed in the public domain.”

In order to strengthen the cybersecurity infrastructure and avoid security breaches, SONIT JAIN SAID, “To sort this out, a few measures could be taken by the management. Firstly, the higherlevel employees at any organisation must know about the prevailing issues within their subordinate ranks and ensure that proper training programs are conducted. It is vital for the pharmaceutical company to play safe with regards to keeping their secret details hidden from the public view. It is the job of the cybersecurity team to ensure that the confidential details of the drug manufacturer are protected at all times. Data is the new oil and data security should be a key component in all decision making of such enterprises. The ongoing pandemic and the vaccination have resulted in pharmaceutical companies being the centre of all state actors. These drug makers possess vast amounts of essential information, the threat of cyber-attacks and the consequences due to it, makes it vital that these organisation adopt extensive measures for keeping their data secure.”

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NEWS IN BRIEF

INTEX SUCCESSFULLY CELEBRATED 25TH ANNIVERSARY ACROSS INDIA

VAIO ANNOUNCED TO OFFER 24*7 SERVICE SUPPORT TO ITS CUSTOMERS IN INDIA

Intex celebrated its 25th anniversary on 14th February 2021 at its offices across India. The company was founded on 14th February, 1996 by Mr Narendra Bansal, CMD with just one product – Ethernet card and has since grown to have the widest range of products in the categories it operates in.

Presently the company sells its products through its channel partners across country & E-commerce platforms and has millions of happy customers enjoying its products.

The company prides itself on having made its products available to 150 million Indians, staying true to its vision of ‘improving the lives of the people’. Intex currently employs over 1000 people in various offices and manufacturing units and a dedicated workforce is tirelessly working towards Making in India and atmanirbhar bharat. Commemorating the occasion, the anniversary logo was unveiled along with the tagline #BiggerBetterEdgier. The company intends to use these elements in all its communication throughout the anniversary year.

VAIO introduces its customer care helpline in India. Reassuring patrons of its proactive approach and round the clock services, VAIO’s customer support is a toll-free helpline (1800-103-9635) and will be available 24x7 at the convenience of the clients pan India. The latest toll-free support initiative indicates the relentless efforts of VAIO to connect with its customers and presents a helpful front to cater to its customers to resolve all concerns related to maintenance and product information. Tending to software as well as hardware glitches, the laptop-owners can now directly reach out to the customer support and smoothly sail through any mild/grave issues in context to the VAIO models. Leveling up the tech-game in the country and offering modern-day digital collaboration with technology, VAIO is retracing its way back and creating an upward spiral of growth for itself while inspiring others in the same league.

ACER ALL SET TO HOST APAC PREDATOR LEAGUE 2020/21 IN APRIL

League 2020 Grand Finals are the first ones to claim a slot for this year’s tournament, while the remaining will be filled by other teams invited by Acer. Altogether, these teams will battle head-to-head to take home the coveted APAC Predator League shield. A sum of US$400,000 is pooled across the competitions of the APAC Predator League 2020/21.

Acer announced the Asia Pacific (APAC) Predator League 2020/21 will be held from April 6-11, 2021. Fans who were left on the edge due to the 2020 league’s postponement have something to look forward to as teams across the Asia Pacific will finally battle it out in an online-only tournament.

The teams who qualified for APAC Predator 32

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QUALCOMM LAUNCHES ‘SNAPDRAGON SOUND’ TO OFFER SUPERIOR SOUND EXPERIENCE

Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd. announced Qualcomm® Snapdragon Sound™ technology, an optimized chain of audio innovations and software designed to provide seamless, immersive audio in, and across, devices including smartphones, wireless earbuds, and headsets. Snapdragon Sound is designed to provide a superior sound experience for consumers while listening to streaming music, communicating on the phone, or wirelessly gaming. To coincide with this launch, Amazon Music and Qualcomm Technologies also announced a curated Snapdragon Sound Playlist. To solve end-to-end latency challenges, Snapdragon Sound can support Bluetooth latencies as low as 89 milliseconds (45% lower than a leading competitor) for more immersive gaming and a better video watching experience. For those who prefer listening directly from the mobile device, Snapdragon Sound incorporates the Qualcomm Aqstic™ DAC, designed to support formats of up to 384kHz 32-bit PCM and DSD with ultra-low THD+N. All ticket holders of the postponed APAC Predator League 2020 Grand Finals will be compensated in full while VIP ticket buyers are guaranteed of Predator League souvenirs as a token of appreciation for their patience and support.

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