INSIDE
| The World CIO 200 Summit
PA G E S 5 2 VOLUME 11 | AUGUST 2023
ISSUE 01
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CONVERGE & THRIVE THE HYBRID WORK REVOLUTION
In a world where technology redefines the boundaries of possibility, the way we work is undergoing a revolution.
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Navigating Collaboration in the New Normal Welcome to the August issue of Enterprise Channels MEA!
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hrough this August issue, we aim to dive deep into the concept of hybrid work – an intricate dance between the physical and virtual realms – and its profound impact on collaboration. In a world that’s constantly evolving, we find ourselves at the threshold of a new era in the way we work – the era of hybrid work and collaboration. It is with immense pleasure that we welcome you to the pages of this magazine dedicated to exploring and understanding this groundbreaking shift. The traditional boundaries of the workplace have been redrawn, and the lines between office desks and home study tables have blurred. As we navigate this transformative journey together, it’s crucial to reflect on the ways in which our work lives are changing, and more importantly, how we can harness the opportunities that lie ahead. We are also thrilled to give you a sneak peek into an upcoming event that holds immense significance in the world of technology and leadership – the World CIO 200 Grand Finale. Set against the stunning backdrop of Baku, Azerbaijan, this event promises to be a convergence of visionary minds and cutting-edge ideas. The World CIO 200 Grand Finale is not just a celebration of technological innovation, but a testament to the power of collaboration and global connectivity. As CIOs and tech leaders from around the world prepare to gather in Baku, the stage is set for an exchange of insights, strategies, and experiences that have the potential to shape the future of business and technology. Anticipating the future, GEC Media Group along with Enterprise Channels MEA express their excitement in revealing the upcoming 4th CPCA Conclave scheduled for November. This highly regarded occasion is poised to occur across the UAE and KSA, projecting to draw an impressive assembly of more than 1000 channel partners from both nations. The event presents an unparalleled chance for resellers, system integrators, and distributors to converge, fostering lucrative collaborations that pave the way for mutual success. Welcome to the age of hybrid work and collaboration – where innovation meets tradition, and where the possibilities are as limitless as the human spirit.
Happy reading!
R O N A K S A M A N TA R AY ro n a k @ g e c m e d i a g ro u p . c o m
PUBLISHER TUSHAR SAHOO TUSHAR@GECMEDIAGROUP.COM CO-FOUNDER & CEO RONAK SAMANTARAY RONAK@GECMEDIAGROUP.COM GLOBAL HEAD, CONTENT AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES ANUSHREE DIXIT ANUSHREE@GECMEDIAGROUP.COM ASSISTANT EDITOR REHISHA PE REHISHA@GECMEDIAGROUP.COM GROUP SALES HEAD RICHA S RICHA@GECMEDIAGROUP.COM PROJECT LEAD JENNEFER LORRAINE MENDOZA JENNEFER@GECMEDIAGROUP.COM SALES AND ADVERTISING RONAK SAMANTARAY RONAK@GECMEDIAGROUP.COM PH: + 971 555 120 490 DIGITAL TEAM IT MANAGER VIJAY BAKSHI PRODUCTION, CIRCULATION, SUBSCRIPTIONS INFO@GECMEDIAGROUP.COM CREATIVE LEAD AJAY ARYA SENIOR DESIGNER MADAN SINGH DESIGNED BY
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August 2023
volume 11
issue 01
contents 34-36
COVER STORY
BEST PRACTICES TO MANAGE & ENGAGE
REMOTE WORKFORCES 06-08
VIEWPOINT
20-21
The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 Indonesia edition
EVENTS
28-31
CHANNEL 32-33
REAL LIFE
09-11
The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 Kuwait edition
12-14
The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 KSA edition
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R OA D S H OW
15-16
22-24
The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 Hongkong & Vietnam edition
The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 Qatar edition
17-19
25-26
The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 Singapore edition
The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 Oman edition
38-39
PRODUCT 40-45
GUEST COLUMN 49-50
EXECUTIVE MOVEMENTS
VIEWPOINT
Wissam Acra, Regional Sales Director Genetec
Bridging the consumption gap : a guide for systems integrators Security systems represent a significant investment, yet many security teams still only use a small percentage of their physical security systems’ capabilities. When users aren’t tapping into the full power of the solution they bought, they aren’t realizing their full return on investment. This creates a consumption gap.
awareness of the technology’s full capabilities, and despite a willingness to learn, there are few options for training. Often, it can simply be they are not aware of the benefits of their system or are too busy with day-to-day and urgent tasks to learn other features.
U
Bridging the consumption gap
nderstandably, systems integrators are primarily focused on installation— delivering reliable solutions that meet customers’ security goals to ensure their long-term success. However, engagement can go beyond deployment. Closing the consumption gap can be a strategic way how organizations across the region can differentiate themselves from competitors. The deeper you understand your customer’s business, the better advice you’re able to offer—and the stronger partnership you form.
Why do consumption gaps exist? For customers, finding the time to learn multiple capabilities of a security system can be time consuming. There are many reasons why customers may not be taking full advantage of the features available to them in their security platform. They may feel overwhelmed by a steep learning curve after deployment and might delay diving into the additional system features. Sometimes, there might be a lack of
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Systems are designed to cater to diverse use cases and expand market appeal, but the objective isn’t to make everyone use all features. It is important to guide customers toward the features and functionality that best meet their needs. This involves minimizing friction in their daily operations, solving specific business issues, and tackling their crucial challenges. Customers may not implement all features immediately, so it’s beneficial to propose a gradual system and process evolution plan. A customized training approach can maximize their investment value. Additionally, some manufacturers offer learning management tools for customers to learn at their own pace, enabling them to expand their system understanding according to their bandwidth and derive more benefits from it.
Simplifying deployment With the right software partners, systems integrators can focus on solving customer problems, not reactively troubleshooting issues. Look for manufacturers who offer good support systems for integrators. This
includes not only quality technical support but also configuration and training services you can build on. Look for partners that offer tools and consultation services you can use to complement your value-added services, either to spend less time on the basics or for specialized expertise on complex projects. If the end user interface is easy to use but changes on the back end are difficult, the resulting friction can contribute to the widening consumption gap. It becomes timeconsuming to upgrade or modify the system, making customers hesitant to implement changes. Configuration should be painless. If the system has a solid graphical user interface, you’ll be able to interact with the software in a fluid and intuitive way. When the system is intuitive for both you and your customers, you spend less time on setup and training and can invest more attention in value-added activities. A consumption gap could be a sign that technological innovation is outpacing people’s ability to implement them in their day-to-day lives. You can work with your customers to simplify the adoption of the innovations so they can more easily implement them and realize the full value of their investment. By reviewing opportunities to bridge the consumption gap for your customers, you increase the likelihood of growing and renewing your system and service contracts and building relationships as a trusted partner
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VIEWPOINT
Does MFA solve the threat of account takeover? Jim Downey, Senior Product Marketing Manager F5
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egardless of its weaknesses, MFA is a significant step forward because passwordonly authentication has clearly failed. We humans simply cannot remember long strings of characters, so, we take shortcuts, choosing simple, predictable passwords and reusing passwords across applications, all of which have led to many security breaches. However, with the failure of passwords and the adoption of MFA, we have seen a rise in attacks against MFA such as:
Real-time phishing proxies In a real-time phishing proxy (RTPP) attack, fraudsters use phishing messages to fool users into visiting an attacker-controlled site that looks like a trusted site, enticing the user to enter their credentials and approve the second factor authentication request, whether that is an SMS message or a push notification. The RTPP forwards the credentials to the target app and gains access.
MFA bombing In MFA bombing attacks, the attacker tricks the target into giving them their authentication code by sending multiple fraudulent requests for the code. This works best against authenticator
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For criminals trying to conduct account takeover fraud via credential stuffing, multifactor authentication (MFA) adds hurdles, but attackers have discovered ways to bypass MFA. Enterprises therefore need to take additional measures to bolster the security of MFA, including bot mitigation and the monitoring of contextual risk.
apps that rely on push notifications because the user can so easily make the flood of requests stop through the press of a button. Attackers sometimes combine MFA bombing with social engineering to encourage users to accept the push notification and grant access.
Biometric spoofing Attackers have even bypassed biometric authentication. After all, we leave our fingerprints all over the place, on nearly every smooth surface we touch, where they can be collected and replicated using anything from a 3D printer to gummy bear ingredients. Security researchers have also demonstrated the spoofing of facial and voice recognition as well as iris scanning. While vendors have developed anti-spoofing techniques such as liveness checks to detect bypass attempts, any given biometric device might become vulnerable as attackers advance the state of the art.
SIM swapping SIM swapping involves fraudsters exploiting the ability of service providers to transfer a phone number to another device. The fraudster gathers personal information on the victim and then social engineers a support person to transfer the victim’s phone number to the fraudster’s SIM. With control over the victim’s phone service, the fraudster receives the text messages intended for the user, which allows them to intercept one-time passwords (OTPs) and bypass MFA.
Bolstering MFA security As MFA is a significant improvement over password-only authentication, it is here to stay, so cybersecurity practitioners must address its vulnerabilities. A good way to start is by mitigating bots. Exploiting password reuse, attackers deploy bots to test stolen credentials against logins, a technique defined by OWASP as credential stuffing, which gets them past the first factor in MFA. Attackers also use bots in RTPP attacks to forward OTPs to the target site before they expire. MFA bombing likewise is an automated attack that depends on bots. Another way to mitigate the vulnerabilities of MFA is to consider contextual risk. Contextual risk can be determined by the user’s IP address, ISP, location, time of day, device, functionality accessed, and behavior, all of which can be used to calculate a risk score as a user moves through an application. The higher the score, the stricter the authentication requirements, which might culminate in disabling an account.
Next steps We are certain to see more proclamations of the death of passwords, along with more hype that new MFA techniques will make authentication secure once and for all, but there will remain ways for determined attackers to bypass new implementations, requiring that you continue to analyze and mitigate the vulnerabilities of MFA
EVENTS
The World CIO 200 Summit 2023
Kuwait edition
The World CIO 200 Summit Kuwait edition honored top IT leaders with the World CIO 200 Awards on 1st August at Millennium Hotel and Convention Centre, Kuwait. The event was successful with the presence of top IT leaders who made the event more engaging and effective. Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Jai Kumar, Project Specialist, GEC Media Group. He shared the success story of World CIO 200 roadshow in every country and the vision of World CIO 200 Summit which is a great opportunity to develop and enhance leadership qualities of every IT leader. The event follows the theme of ‘Rise of the power’. The World CIO 200 2023 roadshow is designed to help IT leaders develop and enhance the qualities of leadership, power, vision and focus. Mohammed Alqahtani, IT Manager, Kuwait Fire Force kicked off the event with his country inaugural keynote. Dinesh Varadharajan,
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Chief Product Officer, Kissflow shared his perspective on the growing importance of technology and the emerging technologies that are predicted to be disruptive in the near future. The event became more engaging and interesting through a thought-provoking panel discussion by some influential panelists.
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Dr. Thalaya Alfozan, IT Director/ IT Consultant, Kuwait Ministry of Finance Manoj Ramachandran, Group CIO, Al Babtain Group of Companies Anis Mattur, Group Head of IT,
ALHASAWI GROUP and Adiy Al-Nakhal -IT Infrastructure Manager-Ali Alghanim Sons Automotive Co. Moderated by: Basil Al-Suwaidan, CISM, SSCP, CDPSE Al-Suwaidan-General Manager – Information Security, Privacy and AntiFraud Department-KIB
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Husain A ALNakkas, CIO, National Assembly of Kuwait, Imran Anwar, ICT Manager, Alghanim Healthcare Ekrami Sedhom-Infrastructure Manager-
ACE Hardware Mohammed Alqahtani-IT ManagerKuwait Fire Force Moderated by: Kamal Eldesouky-Group IT Director- United Real Estate (URC) The World CIO 200 Summit Kuwait edition honored 29 top IT leaders with World CIO 200 Awards in Legend, Master, Leader and NextGen CIO categories. The event was successful by the support of the sponsors and also made the event as an unforgettable experience for all the attendees. Partners of the eventl Kissflow l ZERO&ONE l
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The World CIO 200 Summit 2023
KSA edition On 2nd August 2023, Saudi Arabia witnessed an overwhelming crowd of tech leaders at Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, Saudi Arabia. It was a prestigious gathering of IT leaders and professionals from various industries. The event aimed to foster collaboration, exchange knowledge, and recognize outstanding contributions in the IT sector. Attendees enjoyed a day filled with insightful panel discussions, engaging speaking sessions, and culminated with the prestigious World CIO 200 Awards ceremony. Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Anushree Dixit, Global Head - Content & Strategic Alliances, Global CIO Forum. She shared the vision of The World CIO 200 Summit which is designed to explore the latest advancements, trends, and opportunities in the IT domain. The event followed the theme of ‘Rise of the power’. The World CIO 200 2023 roadshow is designed to help IT leaders develop and enhance the qualities of leadership, power, vision and focus. Dr. Maher Aldukheil, VP of Technology and Digital Transformation, Hail Health Cluster kicked off the event with his country inaugural keynote. Renowned industry experts delivered keynotes and presentations on cutting-edge technologies and strategies. Ali El Kontar, Founder & CEO, Zero&One shared his vision on ‘The Art of Possible’.
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Michael C., Synology Sales Head, APAC & MEA Region spoke about ‘Empowering Business Resilience: Three Steps to Effective Data Protection’ in an interesting tech talk session. Omar Elsawi, Territory Manager KSA Egypt Levant Kuwait – Collaboration, Barco spoke about ‘The Evolution of Meetings and Meeting Rooms in the Post-COVID Era’. Abhimanyu Choudhary, Co-Founder, Xoxoday spoke about how Xoxoday is making every day a rewarding day with their unique digital rewards and loyalty program. Dinesh Varadharajan, Chief Product Officer, Kissflow shared his vision on the technological trends that are reshaping businesses and industries. CAAS, the technology revolutionary platform that has been formed with the purpose of delivering technology-enabled solutions at a better price and great quality by subject matter experts themselves, was also highlighted by the organizers of CAAS from different countries. Jayakumar Mohanachandran, Research-as-a-Service, Chief Research Officer, I am CAAS spoke about the Research-as-a-service arm of CaaS and how it is all set to disrupt the research and market study landscape. Mohammed Mahnashi, I am CAAS Saudi Arabia shared his vision on CaaS’ outreach and establishment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Expert panels discussed current trends, challenges, and future prospects in IT.
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‘Rise of the Power’ Jayesh Maganlal, CIO, ROSHN l Suhail Akhtar, Chief Information Office, AlKifah Contracting l Aamir Khalid Pirzada, CIO, National Metal Manufacturing and Casting Company (Maadaniyah) l Anas Mosa, IT Director, Public Investment Fund (PIF) Moderated by: Jayakumar Mohanachandran, Chief Research Officer, I am CAAS l
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Fadwa AlBawardi, Founder & CEO, FSAB Consulting Office: Digital Transformation & Strategic Planning Consultation Reem Alattas, Digital Transformation Expert, SAP Ahmed AlZahrani, Director of Health Technology Development, Ministry
of National Guard Health Affairs (MNG-HA) l Mohammed Al Shobani, CIO, SAICO Insurance Moderated by: Dr Ismaeel Almakrami, Director, Ministry of Health Saudi Arabia The event culminated with the prestigious World CIO 200 Awards ceremony, recognizing top IT leaders for their exemplary contributions. The success of the IT Summit was made possible by the valuable support and
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contributions from the following partners:
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BARCO MindfireTechnologies PAESSLER PRTG
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Xoxoday
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Finesse
GLOBAL STRATEGIC PARTNERS OPX Technology CAAS The World CIO 200 Summit KSA edition proved to be a resounding success, uniting IT leaders, fostering knowledge exchange, and recognizing outstanding contributions in the field. The event’s impact is expected to resonate throughout the IT industry for months to come
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The World CIO 200 Summit 2023
Hongkong & Vietnam edition
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he World CIO 200 Summit 2023 Hongkong & Vietnam edition brought together many prominent CIOs, IT leaders, and technology enthusiasts for an unparalleled experience in shaping the digital future. The virtual event happened on 5th August was a great success with insightful discussions and networking opportunities that left a lasting impact on the attendees. With the theme “Rise of the Power” the World CIO 200 Summit 2023 focuses on exploring the transformative potential of emerging technologies and how they can drive innovation across industries. The event featured a lineup of keynote speakers, interactive panel discussions and winners. Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Malavika Shanker, President SEA, GEC Media Group. She shared the vision of World CIO 200 roadshow which brings together top minds from the IT industry to
share knowledge and shape the future of technology. Manoj Saxena, Chairman, RosettaNet Singapore GS1 Digital standards consortium kicked off the event with his keynote on Global CIO Forum, I am CaaS. Aaron Lee, Chief Technology Officer, YF Life Insurance delivered his country inaugural keynote on Hong Kong and Rizwan Khan, Partner, Acclime Vietnam, delivered his country inaugural keynote on Vietnam. Engaging panel discussion examined the challenges and opportunities presented by disruptive technologies. The leaders and industry experts shared their insights, strategies, and success stories, providing guidance to the audience.
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Dr. Andy Luk, Head of Digital Transformation and Insights, HK Express Airways
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Darron Sun, Head of Information Technology, Hong Kong Housing Society l Stephen Leung, Head of IT, The Bank of East Asia Limited Moderated by: Dr Toa Charm, Founding Chairman, Data Literacy Association Limited The summit recognized outstanding achievements in the IT sector by presenting prestigious World CIO 200 awards to l
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deserving CIOs and IT leaders for their contributions to the IT industry. The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 was made possible through the generous support of the sponsors,
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TechnePlus Rosettanet Data Literacy Association
Global Strategic Partners: OPX technology CAAS Global CIO Forum is always thrilled with the resounding success of the World CIO 200 Summit 2023 roadshow. The roadshow will continue in the remaining countries and will culminate in a grand finale at Baku, Azerbaijan from 17th to 19th September
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The World CIO 200 Summit 2023
Singapore edition ika Shanker, President SEA, GEC Media Group. She shared the vision of The highly anticipated World CIO 200 Summit, Singapore Edition, happened on August 7, 2023, at Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Singapore, with resounding success, bringing together esteemed Chief Information Officers (CIOs), IT leaders, tech experts, and industry visionaries from all over the country. The event aimed to foster knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration within the technology and digital transformation landscape. The event provided a platform for keynote presentations, interactive panel sessions and award ceremony. Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Malavika Shanker, President SEA, GEC Media Group. She shared her vision on ‘Exploring the Journey of the Global CIO Forum in South East Asia: Unveiling the Future Roadmap’. Ronak Samantaray, CEO & Co-Founder, Global CIO Forum made the event more engaging by sharing his views on ‘Charting the Path:
Navigating the Global CIO Forum Journey – From CIO 200 in 50 Countries to the 2023 Edition in Baku’. He shared the vision of The World CIO 200 Summit that facilitated an atmosphere of meaningful connections, networking, and collaboration and recognizes the remarkable contributions of the IT leaders to their industry. The industry leaders shared their insights and experiences in leading digital transformations and driving innovation in their respective organizations. Manoj Saxena, Chairman, RosettaNet spoke on the topic ‘Journey Thus far: Global CIO Forum & RosettaNet GS1 Digital Standards Consortium’. Loh Sin Yong, Director, Trade Trust (IMDA) made a Sneak Preview of TradeTrust cross border Program in the event. Arivuvel Ramu, CEO, Inypay shared his vision on the topic ‘Journey of CIO to CEO’. Distinguished panelists engaged in stimulating discussions on emerging technologies and the role of the CIOs in the emerging market.
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Panel discussion: ‘Rise of the Power’ Khalid Nizami, Regional Leader IT and Digital Transformation, Ecolabs l Arvind Mathur, CIO, Kellogg Asia Pacific l Juliana Chua, Sr. Director, Group Digital Technology (Global), EssilorLuxottica l Supriya Patwardhan, Executive Vice President, DHL Group, IT Services, DHL Moderated by: Vinay Awasthi, SVP and Managing Director, Greater Asia. HP The summit culminated in a prestigious l
awards ceremony honoring exceptional CIOs who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and strategic vision in their respective domains. The success of the World CIO 200 Summit, Singapore Edition, would not have been possible without the invaluable support of the sponsors.
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GLOBAL STRATEGIC PARTNERS: CAAS OPX TECHNOLOGY The World CIO 200 Summit Singapore Edition, marked a pivotal moment in the technology industry’s journey, encouraging IT leaders and CIOs
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The World CIO 200 Summit 2023
Indonesia edition
The prestigious World CIO 200 Summit 2023 Indonesia Edition concluded on 8th August, leaving an indelible mark on the technology landscape. The event brought together an exclusive gathering of CIOs, technology leaders, and industry experts from across Indonesia and beyond, fostering knowledge exchange, innovation, and collaboration. Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Ronak Samantaray, Co-Founder & CEO, GEC Media Group. He shared his vision of The World CIO 200 Summit which is a great opportunity to connect and network with peers, collaborators, and potential partners. The summit follows the theme of ‘Rise of the Power’ highlighting the critical role of IT leaders in driving business growth and development in the digital age. The discussions and connections made during the summit are expected to inspire new strategies and initiatives that will drive digital transformation in the country and beyond. Setiaji Setiaji, Chief of Digital Transformation Office, Ministry of Health of Republic Indonesia kicked off the event with his country inaugural keynote. Engaging panel discussion provided a platform for in-depth
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conversations on cutting-edge technologies, trends, and strategies shaping the future of IT.
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Edmund Situmorang, Group Chief Technology Officer, PT. Asian Bulk Logistics Hendy Harianto, CIO and Head of Business Process Transformation, Meratus Group Ichwan Peryana, Co-Founder & Director, Pinjam Modal (PT Finansial Integrasi Teknologi) Ashish Mathur, Sr. Vice President, PT VFirst Komunikasi Indonesia
Moderated by: Ronak SamantarayCo-Founder & CEO-GEC Media Group The event also recognized exemplary CIOs and technology leaders through the prestigious World CIO 200 Awards. The success of the World CIO 200 Summit Indonesia Edition would not have been possible without the generous support of the sponsors.
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The World CIO 200 Summit 2023
Qatar edition The World CIO 200 Summit Qatar edition held on 14th August at Dusit Doha, Qatar was an incredible gathering of tech enthusiasts, industry experts, and visionaries, all came together to explore the latest trends and innovations in the world of Information Technology. The summit showcased some of the most groundbreaking innovations in the IT landscape. Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Jai Kumar, Project Specialist, GEC Media Group. He shared the aim of The World CIO 200 Summit which identifies the latest trends in the IT industry and recognizes like-minded technology heads and their groundbreaking innovations in the IT landscape. The event followed the theme of ‘Rise of the power’. The World CIO
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200 2023 roadshow is designed to help IT leaders develop and enhance the qualities of leadership, power, vision and focus. Renowned thought leaders and industry experts made the event thought-provoking and inspirational, shedding light on the challenges faced by the industry through the panel discussions and speaking sessions. Sriram Ganeshan, Associate Director EMEA, Kissflow spoke about the growing importance of technologies that have the potential to reshape industries and improve lives. Venkatesh Mahadevan, Founding Member, CAAS, addressed the delegates at the Qatar edition of the World CIO 200 Summit 2023 and spoke about the amazing journey and vision of CAAS, since its launch in Bangkok in 2022.
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Magdy Mansour, GM IT, Senyar (Doha Cables) Ali Awkal, Director of Information Technology, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts Nagi Reddy Bommareddy, ERP Program Manager & IT Manager, Q Ceramic/
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Uniceramic Qatar Moderated by: Chander Raina, Head of IT&T, Grand Regency Doha
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Kashif Fateh Dad, Al Faisal Holding, CIO Muhammad Qasim, Head of Information Technology, Lals Group
Moderated by: Kishore Chawla, Head of IT & InfoSec Audit, Commercial Bank of Qatar Global CIO Forum honored the winners of The World CIO 200 Awards for their unwavering commitment and contribution to the industry. The platinum partner, Kissflow played a pivotal role in making The World CIO 200 Summit Qatar edition a resounding success
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The World CIO 200 Summit 2023
Oman edition The World CIO 200 Summit Oman edition happened on August 17th at Hormuz Grand Muscat, A Radisson Collection Hotel, Oman, brought together some of the brightest minds in the tech industry, fostering knowledge exchange, collaboration, and celebrating achievements. The event provided an unparalleled platform for networking and relationship-building. Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Jai Kumar, Project Specialist, GEC Media Group. He shared the aim of The World CIO 200 Summit which identifies the technological advancement and thought leadership, recognizes like-minded technology heads and their groundbreaking innovations in the IT landscape. The event follows the theme of ‘Rise of the power’. The World CIO 200 2023 roadshow is designed to help IT leaders develop and enhance the qualities of leadership, power, vision and focus. The industry leaders engaged in thought-provoking panel discussions and speaking sessions that delved into the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the digital landscape.
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Dr. Salim Al-Shuaili-Director, AI & DTMinistry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology - Oman kicked off the event with his country inaugural keynote. Sujay Patil, Regional Sales Director MEA, Kissflow shared his vision on the topic ‘ERP Orchestration With The Power Of Low-Code & No-Code’.
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Amjid Ali, CIO-Al Ansari Trading
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Enterprise LLC Hanan Al-Salmi-Change management lead for government digital transformation program-Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology - Oman Khalid Al-Hoqani-Head IT Department-Alizz Islamic Bank Thuraya Al-Harthi-Acting Director, Government Digital Services Unified Portal-Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information
Technology - Oman Moderated by: Abdullah Al Barwani - CISO- Omantel Global CIO Forum honored the winners of The World CIO 200 Awards for their exceptional contribution to the entire tech industry. The platinum partner, Kissflow played a pivotal role in making The World CIO 200 Summit Oman edition a resounding success
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Dynatrace expands Davis AI engine to enable hypermodal artificial intelligence Dynatrace announced it is expanding its Davis AI engine to create the industry’s first hypermodal artificial intelligence, converging fact-based, predictive- and causal-AI insights with new generative-AI capabilities. The expanded Davis AI will boost productivity across business, development, security, and operations teams by delivering generative-AI recommendations fueled by precise context from predictive- and causal-AI techniques that reflect the unique attributes of each organization’s hybrid and multicloud ecosystem. It will also simplify and accelerate tasks, such as creating automations and dashboards, to enable people to focus on higher-value activities for faster, better, and more secure innovation. Artificial intelligence is transforming business. Generative AI has the potential to boost productivity across all functions. As it is probabilistic by nature, its value depends on the quality of its training data and user prompts. Generative AI is already proving to be useful in broadening the accessibility of operations
insights to new personas and speeding workflows for users of observability solutions. However, when combined with other forms of AI, generative AI has the potential for additional notable impact. For instance, leveraging other
forms of AI to feed generative AI with more than just user inputs can deliver more value for customers and help maximize the value of generative AI for business, development, security, and operations use cases.
Proofpoint identifies new malware called WikiLoader Proofpoint researchers identified a new malware call WikiLoader. It was first identified in December 2022 being delivered by TA544, an actor that typically uses Ursnif malware to target organizations. WikiLoader is a sophisticated downloader with the objective of installing a second malware payload. The malware contains interesting evasion techniques and custom implementation of code designed to make detection and analysis challenging. WikiLoader was likely developed as a malware that can be rented out to select cybercriminal threat actors. Based on the observed use by multiple threat actors, Proofpoint anticipates this malware will likely be used by other threat actors, especially those operating as initial access brokers. Proofpoint researchers discovered at least eight campaigns distributing WikiLoader since December 2022. Campaigns began with emails containing either Microsoft Excel attachments, Microsoft OneNote attachments, or PDF
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attachments. Proofpoint has observed WikiLoader distributed by at least two threat actors, TA544 and TA551. While most cybercriminal threat actors have pivoted away from macro enabled documents as vehicles for malware delivery, TA544 has continued to use them in attack chains, including to deliver WikiLoader. The first campaign in Proofpoint data distributing WikiLoader was observed on 27 December 2022 followed by an updated version of the threat used in a campaign on 8 February 2023. Proofpoint researchers observed a high-volume malicious email campaign targeting companies which began with emails containing a Microsoft Excel attachment spoofing the Italian Revenue Agency. The Microsoft Excel attachments contained characteristic VBA macros which, if enabled by the recipient, would download and execute a new unidentified downloader that Proofpoint researchers eventually dubbed WikiLoader. This campaign was attributed to TA544.
Selena Larson
CHANNEL
NetApp announces renewal of co-engineering partnership with DreamWorks Animation NetApp announced renewal of strategic alliance and co-engineering partnership with DreamWorks Animation. NetApp will remain DreamWorks’ preferred cloud data services provider, and with the support of NetApp solutions, both on-premises and in the cloud, the studio will continue to evolve its hybrid cloud environment to ensure enhanced productivity, flexibility, and agility. With the release of its latest animated feature Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken, DreamWorks Animation marks more than 25 years pushing the boundaries of both animation and the technologies they use to bring innovative films to global audiences. From the very beginning, NetApp has provided the studio with cutting-edge solutions to
manage its ever-increasing production demands and data complexity. Additionally, NetApp’s co-engineering partnership with DreamWorks brings together engineers from both organizations to solve real-world engineering problems focused on optimizing workflows in a hybrid cloud environment, while decreasing latency. Together, NetApp and DreamWorks Animation work together to continually evolve the tools and techniques needed to raise the bar of visual storytelling for each film at the studio. NetApp provides DreamWorks Animation with innovative technologies to manage the massive amount of data generated in production, while balancing data storage performance, flexibility, and cost.
Gabrielle-Boko-CMO-at-NetApp
Forcepoint partners with AWS to host Data-first SASE platform services in UAE Cybersecurity leader Forcepoint announced it has formed an alliance with Amazon Web Services to open a new data center in Dubai as part of the continued expansion of its Data-first SASE platform services in the Middle East. Forcepoint’s Data-first SASE approach to cloud-delivered security and connectivity focuses on protecting data everywhere. Organisations worldwide can simplify their transition from legacy point security products to cloud-delivered security by embracing SASE platforms such as Forcepoint ONE. The new Forcepoint UAE data center will play a pivotal role in providing access to scalable, highly available, and resilient cloud services to accelerate the region’s digital transformation and advance intelligent cloud adoption of businesses. The expansion reinforces Forcepoint’s commitment to helping
advance digital transformation and security in the region, in line with the UAE’s National Cybersecurity Strategy. As AWS launched in the UAE last year, the team is committed to deploying the most advanced cloud technologies and achieving the highest level of security, in line with the ‘UAE Digital Economy Strategy’ which seeks to double the contribution of the digital economy to the UAE’s gross domestic product from 9.7% as of April 2022 to 19.4F% within 10 years. It also seeks to enhance the position of the UAE as a hub for digital economy in the region and globally. AWS uses advanced technology infrastructure, which enhances cloud capabilities and continues to propel businesses such as Forcepoint to enhance digital transformation in the region, continuing to contribute to sustainable economic diversification and development.
Samer Diya,Vice President of Sales Emerging Markets, Forcepoint
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Fujitsu selects Alluvio Aternity as key technology for its Intelligent Automation Platform Riverbed announced that Fujitsu has selected Alluvio Aternity, as a key technology for its Intelligent Automation Platform. IAP is a Fujitsu initiative to deliver a core automation engine underpinning Fujitsu’s offerings such as End User Services, Service Desk and Enterprise Cyber Security. Integrating three core technologies: Alluvio Aternity, Amelia, and OpsRamp, IAP creates a platform which will provide Fujitsu customers an improved user experience. Fujitsu selected Alluvio Aternity, part of the Alluvio Unified Observability portfolio from Riverbed, as the standard Digital Experience Management (DEM) solution of IAP because it provided a complete view of the digital experience by bringing together metrics from
devices, applications, and the network all into a single view dashboard. This real-time insight into what end-users experience allows quick troubleshooting of challenges, and ultimately enables a better user experience for employees and end customers. From the start, Riverbed was a compelling partner to work with. Their collaboration and innovation have enabled Fujitsu to better serve our customers. Their shared goal is to make this value available to every end-user computing (EUC) and service desk engagement to reduce operational costs, deliver innovation and provide a platform for customer value expansion. Further, Riverbed is closely aligned with Fujitsu’s core company and sustainability initiatives being deployed globally.
Alex Thurber, Senior Vice President, Global Partners and Alliances
Veeam integrating Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 with newly launched Microsoft 365 Backup Veeam Software, announced it is integrating Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 with newly launched Microsoft 365 Backup via their backup APIs to bring customers and partners new capabilities for backup, recovery, ransomware protection and business continuity. Veeam plans to utilize this integration to deliver new innovations and experiences to Microsoft customers that need the very best data protection and ransomware recovery to keep their businesses running. Today, Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 is the leader in Microsoft 365 backup and is being used to protect more than 15 million users. This adoption reflects customers’ shared responsibility to own and protect their critical Microsoft 365 data, eliminating the risk of losing Microsoft 365 data, including Microsoft Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business and Microsoft Teams. Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 provides the lowest recovery point objectives (RPO), the broadest set of recovery options, and the flexibility to back up Microsoft 365 data to any location. The addition of support for Microsoft 365 Backup will expand those industry-leading capabilities and will be available to all Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 customers when it’s available. Work on the integration between Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 and Microsoft 365 Backup via their backup APIs is underway, with general availability of our updated offering expected within 90 days of the Microsoft 365 Backup service being available.
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VMware announces advancements in Carbon Black XDR strategy VMware announced advancements in its Carbon Black Extended Detection and Response strategy focused on cloud native applications. Cloud Native Detection and Response provides VMware Carbon Black customers with unified visibility, security, and control in highly dynamic and complex modern application environments. Containers and Kubernetes have become synonymous with the modern application transformation as organizations increasingly adopt multi-cloud and hybrid technology infrastructures. However, the growth in cloud native architectures and containers also expands an organization’s attack surface. As Security Operations Center (SOC) teams are tasked with learning the complexities of cloud native environments, they also are challenged with containers running in production with
limited-to-no security coverage, disparate tools that create gaps in coverage, and limited visibility into the different layers of these applications. VMware Carbon Black’s new CNDR capabilities expand its leading XDR solution and are designed to deliver enhanced threat detection for containers and Kubernetes within a single, unified platform. These enhancements aim to deliver runtime protection for Linux containers to provide a scalable approach for protecting applications from emerging threats and helping eliminate blind spots for attackers to exploit. In order for security teams to keep up, it’s critical that organizations have security visibility and control that spans the entire application lifecycle and does not require them to be experts in containers and Kubernetes.
With advanced CNDR solution, VMware Carbon Black is the only partner that delivers threat detection and response from a single console across endpoints, workloads, and containers.
VAST Data releases transformative data computing platform
Renen Hallak, CEO at VAST Data
VAST Data, the data platform company for the AI era, has unveiled the full vision for the company by introducing a transformative data computing platform designed to be the foundation of AI-assisted discovery. The VAST Data Platform is VAST’s global data infrastructure offering, unifying storage, database and virtualized compute engine services in a scalable system that was built from the ground up for the future of AI. While generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) have introduced the world to the early capabilities of artificial intelligence, LLMs are limited to performing routine tasks like business reporting or reciting information that is already known. The true promise of AI will be realized when machines can recreate the process of discovery by capturing, synthesizing and learning from data – achieving a level of specialization that used to take decades in a matter of days. The era of AI-driven discovery will accelerate humanity’s quest to solve its biggest challenges. AI can help industries find treatments for disease and cancers, forge new paths to tackle climate change, pioneer revolutionary approaches to agriculture, and uncover new fields of science and mathematics that the world has not yet even considered. As such, enterprises are increasingly turning their focus to AI applications, and while organizations can stitch together technologies from disparate public or private cloud offerings, customers require a data platform that simplifies the data management and processing experience into one unified stack. Today’s existing data platforms have become popular for global enterprises, dramatically reducing infrastructure deployment complexity for business intelligence and reporting applications, but are not built to meet the needs of new deep learning applications.
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REAL LIFE
SAP and Google Cloud collaborate with Kuwaiti government to facilitate digital transformation As senior Kuwaiti government officials, business leaders and other strategic thinkers were joined by the German ambassador for SAP Discovery Day held in the capital recently, discussions focused on initiatives to develop local technological talent, transform businesses in the cloud, build resilient supply chains, and create sustainable enterprises to support Kuwait’s future digital economy. Among the many developments highlighted at the event was how SAP and Google Cloud are collaborating, with the support of the Kuwaiti government, to facilitate companies’ digital transformations. With the launch of Google Cloud’s local data center announced this year, Kuwaiti businesses will be able to adopt either of SAP’s acceleration programs – RISE with SAP or GROW with SAP – to facilitate their move to the fast, secure, reliable and clean Google Cloud platform. This approach will enable companies to benefit from the
comprehensive range of SAP cloud solutions that include automatically updated programs with embedded emerging technologies such as AI and automation, as well as sustainability metrics and data analytics. Dr Ammar Alhusaini, Acting Director
General of the Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT), also participated in the panel discussion, highlighting how collaboration between the public and private sectors could accelerate the pace of digital transformation in Kuwait.
e& enterprise partners with Informatica to implement Intelligent Data Management Cloud
e& enterprise announced formalisation of partnership with Informatica, a globally recognised leader in data management. Through this partnership, e& enterprise has proven its proficiency in implementing Informatica’s cutting-edge Intelligent Data Management Cloud platform and solutions, resulting in substantial advantages for businesses. The partnership aims to empower
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government entities and private corporations in the UAE by leveraging the power of data to enhance operational efficiency and drive digital transformation efforts. Alberto Araque, CEO, e& enterprise IoT & AI, said: “This recognition is a significant milestone that is a true testimony to the expertise built within our teams in data, analytics and technology consulting. At e&
enterprise, we have constantly strived to establish a robust data and Artificial Intelligence ecosystem to cater to our enterprise customers in the domains of data modernisation, advanced analytics, and the implementation of AI-enabled solutions. The collaboration combines Informatica’s exceptional cloud data management solutions with e& enterprise’s extensive industry knowledge, specialised solutions, and expertise in systems integration and services, enabling organisations in the UAE to achieve datadriven digital transformation outcomes. Data modernisation is rapidly becoming an essential driver for businesses across industries. It facilitates seamless access, processing, and analysis of vast amounts of data, enabling organisations to make data-driven decisions. Data modernisation boosts operational efficiency, enhances customer experiences, informs business strategy, and can potentially lead to revenue growth.
REAL LIFE
AWS, Microsoft, Alibaba, Google, Huawei, ranked by Gartner in global IaaS market The worldwide infrastructure as a service market grew 29.7% in 2022, to total $120.3 billion, up from $92.8 billion in 2021, according to Gartner. Amazon retained the No. 1 position in the IaaS market in 2022, followed by Microsoft, Alibaba, Google and Huawei. Microsoft followed in the No. 2 position with 21.5% share, reaching over $25 billion in IaaS public cloud revenue in 2022. Microsoft’s software-first strategy continued to support its IaaS growth as customers required more cloud capacity to support automation, advanced analytics and digital workplace capabilities. Alibaba Group again held the No. 3 position with 7.7% market share, although with modest 2.4% year over year growth. While Alibaba continued to lead the IaaS market in China, its
limited potential for expansion across global markets has slowed growth, driving its recent decision to spin off its Alibaba Cloud business into a separate entity. Google saw the highest growth rate of the top five IaaS vendors, growing 41% in 2022 to reach over $9 billion in revenue. Google’s increased investment in sovereign cloud and expanded sales and marketing partner programs helped to broaden its customer base and drive additional IaaS revenue. Huawei rounded out the top five IaaS vendors with 4.4% market share and $5.2 billion in revenue for 2022. Since its 2020 pivot to an increased focus on cloud, Huawei has been steadily growing its IaaS revenue in China and emerging markets.
Sid Nag, VP Analyst at Gartner
Atos and Dynatrace expand partnership to Middle East to equip organizations Atos, a global leader in digital transformation announced an expansion of its strategic partnership with Dynatrace, the leader in unified observability and security, to deliver advanced digital performance management solutions to customers in the Middle East (ME) region. Combining strengths in digital transformation, innovation and sustainability, both companies aim to create customer value by providing capabilities that deliver autonomous operations for digital experiences as the region accelerates its economic diversification agenda. In addition, Atos holds Dynatrace partner certifications covering AIOps, Intelligent Observability, and ITSM/ITOM, easing the process to develop integrated digital applications that prioritize performance, round-the-clock availability, and customeremployee experience. Focusing on the partnership with Dynatrace, Atos’ deep knowledge in cloud computing, provision of decarbonization solutions, and a strong network can be aptly leveraged to meet end-toend customers’ demands in the ME region and maximize joint customer outreach. Extending the longstanding partnership
between Atos and Dynatrace creates an opportunity for organizations to invest in solutions that can build and sustain market and customer relevance. The comprehensiveness of the Dynatrace Platform can simplify IT
complexities and create an agile environment that increases operational competency, ultimately elevating contribution to their respective national digitization agendas and meeting evolving customer needs.
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COVER STORY
Best practices to manage & engage
REMOTE WORKFORCES In an era defined by technological advancements and shifting workplace dynamics, the concept of work has undergone a remarkable transformation. One of the most significant shifts has been the rise of remote work, a trend that gained unprecedented momentum in recent times.
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COVER STORY
Enterprises should be attentive to emerging trends that can optimize their hybrid workforce management
Sam Tayan Head of METAP Zoom
What are some of the key emerging trends that enterprises should be aware of in order to optimize their hybrid workforce management? What best practices and strategies would you recommend for enterprises to effectively manage and engage remote workforces? In order to effectively manage and engage remote workforces, enterprises should consider implementing several best recommended practices and strategies. Firstly, embracing video communication as a central pillar of their communication strategy is crucial. Video enables higher engagement, stronger relationships, and faster decision-making among remote teams. Platforms like ours, with their video-first approach, can facilitate seamless virtual interactions, allowing employees to connect face-to-face despite physical distances. Additionally, creating a virtual coworking environment can replicate the spontaneous conversations and collaborative ideations that often occur in an in-person office setting. This helps maintain a sense of engagement and connection among remote employees. Furthermore, providing the necessary technology and tools for remote collaboration is essential. Our video conferencing solutions can help companies equip huddle and conference rooms with video-enabled technology, ensuring that remote employees can participate in meetings with the same level of interaction as their in-office counterparts.
Enterprises should be attentive to emerging trends that can optimize their hybrid workforce management. The shift towards video as a primary mode of communication highlights the need for platforms that prioritize video-centric interactions and increased productivity among remote and on-site teams. The trend of video-enabling diverse workspaces, from huddle rooms to larger conference areas, emphasizes the importance of providing video communication technology across all settings. Partnering with technology providers to deploy solutions ensures that both remote and in-person participants have equal access to meetings and discussions, promoting equitable communication experiences for all. Integrating AI and intelligent communications can also enhance workforce management. Prioritizing pragmatic AI solutions, as exemplified by our approach, can lead to better audio quality, real-time transcription, and valuable insights from meeting data. As hybrid work becomes more prominent, creating cohesive digital environments that facilitate collaboration and minimize disruptions is essential. By aligning strategies with these emerging trends and leveraging tools that enhance engagement, seamless communication, and user experiences, enterprises can effectively navigate the complexities of managing hybrid workforces and drive productivity and innovation across their organization.
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How can organizations address the challenges posed by connectivity issues, bandwidth limitations, and potential network disruptions that hybrid workers may encounter across different regions? Creating a reliable framework for collaboration in the face of diverse network conditions is a critical concern. This is given rise to a number of new solutions. Notably, technologies for HD video and screen sharing have incorporated sophisticated coding and compression techniques. This technology ensures the quality of text and graphics while offering features such as sharing videos with native audio and mirroring iPhone screens during meetings. A standout approach is the Adaptive Layer Technology which adapts to fluctuating network conditions and bandwidth constraints. Adaptive technology maintains optimal video quality even for participants with limited bandwidth. While the video for the affected participant may adapt or temporarily pause, others continue to experience a seamless video and screen sharing experience. This real-time adjustment to network conditions optimizes video streams for various environments.
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Focusing on video quality, leveraging adaptive technologies, and refining infrastructure create an environment where remote workers can collaborate smoothly, regardless of their location or network challenges.
How can features and functionalities be tailored to cater specifically to the needs of enterprises and their hybrid workforces? Strategically aligning features with the requirements of enterprises in the hybrid work landscape is essential, particularly concerning connectivity, security, and productivity. Security is a central consideration for enterprises. Implementing end-to-end encryption for meetings is a significant step in protecting sensitive information. Heightened meeting controls and data privacy features foster trust, ensuring the confidentiality and security of communications. Moreover, meeting the demand for large-scale meetings and webinars involves
enhancing the capacity to engage a substantial number of participants. Advanced features like webinar registration, audience engagement tools, and analytics contribute to creating immersive virtual events. Additionally, recognizing the need for control and management, comprehensive admin portals empower IT teams to manage users, configure security settings, enforce policies, and monitor meeting activity. These administrative controls enable enterprises to uphold security standards and optimize remote work environments effectively. Acknowledging the diversity of tools used by enterprises, seamless integration with various third-party platforms streamlines workflows. Whether it's project management tools, CRMs, or collaboration platforms, this integration enhances productivity and efficiency within the enterprise landscape
PRODUCTS
BeanBurds launches award-winning Barisieur in the UAE The Barisieur alarm clock is a coffee or tea brewing alarm clock. To use the device, users simply set their alarm as normal, and decide whether they would like their brew to be ready five minutes before the alarm, as the alarm goes off, or up to 15 minutes after the alarm sounds. Dubai, United Arab Emirates, August 3: BeanBurds, the UAE’s premier online platform for coffee enthusiasts, proudly announces the exclusive debut of the internationally acclaimed and top-selling product, the Barisieur by Joy Resolve in the Middle East. Salem Ahmed, Founder and CEO of BeanBurds, said, “At BeanBurds, our mission has always been to serve the coffee community in the UAE with the finest coffee-related products and experiences. The Barisieur aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing coffee enthusiasts with top-notch, innovative products that enhance their coffee jouney. We are proud to be at the forefront of bringing this award-winning device to the region and to contribute to the growth of the UAE’s coffee culture.” The Barisieur is a premium alarm clock that eases you into your moming with the soothing sounds of bubbling water and the smell of the freshly brewed coffee or loose leaf tea. This product is available exclusively through BeanBurds in the Middle East, starting with the UAE. The Barisieur is inspired by a combination of the modern ritual of filter coffee with the iconic vinyl record player, encouraging a nostalgic experience with the user. It was born with a digital detox in mind, where the design language is a balance between simplicity and mystified alchemy. Watch how the water magically transports from one vessel to another, showering over the coffee at an engineered temperature of 94C - perfect for brewing coffee.
Eaton launches 5E Gen2 the next generation of efficient, affordable, power protection Intelligent power management company Eaton has announced the Gen2 version of its essential line interactive uninterruptible power supply (UPS) 5E. It provides power protection for the most essential applications in residential and professional settings and an excellent price-performance ratio. 5E Gen2 is a compact and reliable UPS that now covers a wider range of ratings (550 – 2200 VA) and operates even more silently for a better customer experience. 5E Gen2 is also a champion of global compatibility, coupled with high quality standards, ensuring reliable connectivity even at the most critical moments. Thanks to valued feedback from customers, the 5E Gen2 range is now enlarged (10 to 22 P/Ns) and supplied with local outlet models (FR/ DIN-IT/BS)
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in addition to current IEC models. It also offers higher VA ratings, lower noise, silent audible alarm and an enhanced aesthetic. This UPS is also a sustainable choice due to its reduced power consumption and the role it can play in regulating grid fluctuations, while at the same time conserving battery life to handle any actual outages. Users can analyze and control their power usage with the Eaton UPS Companion software. Double-boost line interactive topology (AVR) guarantees a wider input voltage window (under and overvoltage: 140 – 300 V) to save battery power in the event of a power outage. A silent operation, ensured by fanless design up to 1200 VA, allows users to progress with their work or leisure activities with no disruptions in residential settings.
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PRODUCTS
The Talent Enterprise CEO, David Jones launches a new book tackling the future of talent assessment
The Talent Enterprise, the global talent assessment technology company that pioneered The Science of Behaviourmetry, recently launched ‘The Future of Assessments: What You Need to Know Now About Identifying Top Talent in the Age of AI & the Metaverse’. Written by CEO, David Jones, the book delves into the past, present and future of predicting and promoting workplace performance, productivity and positivity. ‘The Future of Assessments’ reveals how the regional workforce is changing its orientation to work, especially amongst key demographics - young people, women, expatriates and those previously underrepresented in labour markets. According to Jones, there are 21 priorities that will be occupying the thoughts, agendas and to-do lists of people and talent professionals for the foreseeable future. This includes more people looking for a greater sense of meaning, wellbeing, and identity from their work, as well as an emphasis on youth, the development of
immersive online experiences, sustainability, digital readiness, wellbeing, gamification, a positive organisational culture and more. ‘The Future of Assessments’ adds to Jones’ collection of publications that include the best-selling ‘Unlocking the Paradox of Plenty’ and award-winning ‘Game Changers’. He has also contributed to books such as ‘Employment and Career Motivation in the Gulf States’ by Gerlach, ‘The Political Economy of Wasta’ by Springer, and ‘Policy Making in the GCC’ by IB Tauris. As one of the most pioneering human capital technology start-ups to be founded in the UAE in 2013, The Talent Enterprise with global expansion and presence across the GCC, Europe and Asia Pacific, offers innovative talent and leadership assessments to governments and leading private sector organisations, including workplace wellbeing, sustainability, digital readiness surveys and multi-rater feedback and diagnostics.
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GUEST COLUMN
Ransomware is endemic and needs a solid data protection strategy to build immunity Despite years of preventative measures and evolving technology, ransomware events continue to increase in both size and scope. In fact, over time, it will become even more pervasive in our everyday lives.
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he cyberthreat is growing, especially as generative AI tools become more powerful. Meta announced an increase in malware aided by ChatGPT. Emerging technologies will only make ransomware more prolific – and there’s no way to stop them. The Veeam 2023 Data Protection Trends Report found that 85% of organizations were hit at least once by a cyberattack – up from 76% in last year’s study. What’s more, it’s likely that some of the organizations who believed they did not experience a ransomware event simply did not know they were under attack. Businesses need to stop viewing ransomware as an unexpected and chaotic occurrence. It is here to stay, much like an endemic, and your business will be impacted by it at some point. It’s not a matter of if, but when and how often. Some experts tout cyber insurance as a panacea for ransomware. However cyber insurance doesn’t cover the unseen cost of downtime your business experiences after an event – and it also doesn’t recover your lost data. Cyber insurance is certainly part of a well-rounded cybersecurity strategy, but it’s not the be all and end all and the EMEA
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results of our 2023 Ransomware Trends Report show that insurance policies are increasing in price and potentially decreasing in coverage. Those organizations with cyber insurance saw significant changes in their last policy renewals. So how do we ensure the world can live safely within it? The answer is for businesses to achieve endemicity, where a large proportion of the population is unsusceptible to infection. According to the Veeam 2023 Ransomware Trends Report, 45% of production data will be affected by a cyberattack on average. For companies that paid a ransom to recover lost data, only 66% of affected data was recoverable. Basic math tells us that around 15% of an organization’s production data is then unrecoverable after a ransomware attack. Paying the ransom doesn’t guarantee data can be restored, but it does set a precedent a cyber attacker will exploit, making any company that pays up a future target. So, what does a solid Data Protection and Ransomware Recovery strategy look like? It includes a number of components which can be summarized below:
GUEST COLUMN
For companies that paid a ransom to recover lost data, only 66% of affected data was recoverable.
Mohamad Rizk Regional Director Middle East & CIS Veeam Software
backups makes all the difference when it comes to surviving any disaster – ransomware and cyberattacks are no exception.
5. Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability
1. Data identification and flow management The first step is to identify and classify the organization’s data and then understand how it is flowing from the source to the final destination. This reveals priorities and dependencies that will inform data protection strategy.
2. Data risk management In order to protect anything, we need to identify what type of risks and threats might affect data assets. Therefore, the second step in a data protection strategy is to list and classify those risks and threats and design measures to minimize and mitigate them.
3. Data protection policies and procedures Data protection activities must be documented, kept up to date, and audited regularly. Policies that explain in detail how the procedures for those activities should be implemented. Those policies should ensure that data is protected from core to edge. A core part of these policies
and procedures is a detailed, regularly updated business continuity plan that should be tested to ensure it remains aligned with business and data recovery objectives.
4. Cybersecurity management Cybersecurity management includes a wide range of security policies, processes, and procedures, designed to protect the organization’s assets against cyberattacks such as ransomware. Those policies utilize a wide range of security technologies such as antivirus, firewalls, backup, replication, physical/ perimeter security systems, etc. Veeam strongly recommends that organizations comply with the 3-2-1-1-0 ‘Golden Backup’ rule: l Three different copies of data on l Two or more different media l One off-site copy and l One copy that is either air-gapped, immutable, or offline, with l Zero recovery errors with automated recovery verification Fast recovery from secure, immutable
The CIA triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability) is a model designed to guide policies for information security within an organization. Each organization should take it into consideration whe ever evaluating any technologies they are looking to introduce and review how each technology fulfils those areas in the CIA triad.
6. Data Access management controls Data Access Management defines and implements policies that identify the level of access to give for internal and external users to data as well as the access mechanism that those users should use.
7. Monitoring and review Lack of visibility across organization environments can lead to data loss, undiscovered malicious activity, and compliance violations. Therefore, any organization should have real-time monitoring, comprehensive reporting and automated remediation systems. Thus, a comprehensive Data Protection and Ransomware Recovery strategy ensures that you’re protected, and resilient in the event of a ransomware attack and is the only way to make your business immune to its impacts
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GUEST COLUMN
Three ways robots can transform the modern warehouse There is an overarching importance of integrating robotics with a modern warehouse management system (WMS) to optimise productivity and performance within the warehouse.
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obotics has commanded headlines for its role in manufacturing and final assembly operations, with some of the world’s largest manufacturers reporting massive robotics-led ROI in their quest to automate and innovate across the factory floor. Robots vary significantly in size, functionality, mobility, dexterity, artificial intelligence, and cost. They can be fixed, mobile or fly, in the form of drones, and increasingly, they are programmed to recognize and learn from their surroundings. Their ability to capture information and make decisions independently, means that they can often perform tasks with little to no human intervention.
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Here are three ways that robots can transform the modern warehouse.
1. Robotics-as-a-service Robotics’ deployment in the warehouse was, until recently, restricted to only the largest of organisations as they typically came in the form of fixed assets with high price tags. The emergence of robotics-as-aservice has, however, changed the game somewhat, bringing robotics-led innovation to warehouses of all different sizes and profiles. Testament to this, is that robotics is expected to see strong growth over the next five years, particularly within supply chain operations that include lowervalue, potentially dangerous or high-risk tasks.
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There is no doubt that the supply chain of the future is likely to see continued growth of autonomous robots.
Vishal Minocha Vice President of Product Management Infor
The opportunity for ROI is huge, as travel and movement of goods across the warehouse typically commands the most time and money. And against a backdrop of a global labour shortage, organisations are having to look at ever more creative ways to bridge skills gaps, and robotics represents a pivotal solution in this area.
2. Increasing complexity, new models In the wake of a rise in online shopping, and associated SKU proliferation, merchandise has increased in both volume and diversity. Robots in the warehouse, which typically take the form of, make it simpler and more efficient to move both batches and individual picks, not only reducing reliance on labour, but mitigating risk through increasing safety on the shop floor. Similarly, drones can undertake detailed stock counts at night, eliminating a need for people to physically check inventory. As many organisations bring their warehouse operations back in-house to realise greater control in the wake of unprecedented
complexity and uncertainty, robotics can instil flexibility. In a similar vein, it can give 3PLs an advantage as they move complex merchandise mixes across numerous categories for high volumes of customers.
3. Integrating Robotics with WMS Yet despite this shift, many organisations are realising that in order to realise the full potential of robotics, it has to go hand in hand with a modern, cloud-based WMS platform. Without a system which can be easily integrated via APIs, and seamlessly talk to the robots, interpret data, and inform workflows, robotics can only extend so far, limiting potential and impeding ROI. While robotics can represent a game changer in automation and efficiency, allowing people to shift to more strategic, less dangerous, and higher value work, an effective WMS platform is the core foundation of the warehouse. Through facilitating seamless flow of data and insights spanning sales orders, picking, packing and fulfilment, the potential of robotics can be truly maximised.
In fact, according to Gartner 95% of supply chain organisations have either invested, or plan to invest, in cyber-physical automation, with a significant proportion of those planning in using intralogistics smart robots (ISRs). Labour availability constraints are the primary driver behind investments in robotics according to 66%. As technology continues to improve, robotics-as-a-service gains further momentum, and prices decrease, the question is no longer whether to capitalise on robotics, but in what way, and how soon. What is certain, is that the success will depend largely on the extent to which a modern WMS is leveraged to integrate and optimise workflows. There is no doubt that the supply chain of the future is likely to see continued growth of autonomous robots. Those who get it right will not only improve the speed and accuracy of routine operations right now, but ensure flexibility and agility to adapt in the future as market conditions and dynamics dictate
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GUEST COLUMN
The worst cyberattacks in the Middle East In this day and age, the Middle East has witnessed a significant surge in cyberattacks, especially ones that pose a serious threat to organizations in the region.
T
he threat to the Middle East is very much real. Rapid advancement in technology and the growing independence on the internet means that attackers have novel and innovative ways to exploit vulnerabilities. Positive Technologies has identified the ten worst cyberattacks that happened in the Middle East in the last 18 months -
emergency was declared due to a powerful and prolonged DDoS leading to the inaccessibility of web resources of Israeli government agencies by targeting telecommunications companies Bezeq and Cellcom. Some of the affected agencies were the Ministry of Health, Internal Affairs, the Prime Minister’s Office, as well as some major media outlets.
Adalat Ali
In June of 2022, the public address systems in Jerusalem and Eilat were compromised by unnamed attackers that Sunday. Residents heard the sounds of false air raid sirens for an hour while the attack took place.
In early 2022, an Iranian group of hacktivists that go by the name “Adalat Ali” successfully managed to interfere with Telewebion, a streaming service from the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRIB). They were able to broadcast their 50-second messages calling for protests. They urged Iranians to rise up in nationwide protests against the ruling Khamenei regime.
Bezeq and Cellcom DDoS attack According to Israeli defence sources, this attack was the largest cyberattack ever launched against Israel. In March of 2022, a state of
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Public address systems in Palestine
Iranian steel plants attack In June of 2022, there was a major attack on three Iranian steel plants by a hacktivist group that goes by the name Goneshke Darande, meaning “Predatory Sparrow”. They were able to disrupt processes and collapse a ladle of liquid pig iron in one of the plants, resulting in a fire that stopped production.
GUEST COLUMN
Positive Technologies urge companies to adopt the latest technology and techniques
Fedor Chunizhekov Information Security Analyst Positive Technologies
GamkenBot Scalper Bots GamkenBot is an appointment scheduling bot developed by Israel to expedite appointment scheduling with government agencies. However, the developers made the source code available to the public, which led to attackers making scalper bots that found and booked all available appointments. This was then monetized by selling appointments to citizens, resulting in the provision of services to the public being significantly hindered.
Cellebrite data breach An Israeli company that provides digital data collection, analysis and management services called Cellebrite was targeted by hackers. They were able to steal 1.7 TB of data from the company in a massive data breach. The data contained proprietary software for device diagnostics, backup, transfer, content recovery, licensing tools and accompanying documentation that have been made public. It has not been revealed who carried out the attack or the techniques they used.
Iranian news agency attack Iran’s state-run news agency, Fars News, was subject to a cyberattack in November
of 2022. The group of hacktivists known as the Black Reward Team managed to steal nearly 250 TB of confidential information, were able to deface the site and gain access to CCTV footage. Despite the event being widely covered in the Middle East and the footage going viral on Iranian social media, the news agency denies the attack.
Vice Society attack on IKEA Vice Society, a ransomware group, targeted IKEA in Morocco and Kuwait in November 2022. The IKEA outlets experienced a data breach and their data was posted on Vice Society’s website. The attack indicated that Vice Society had gained access to sensitive employee data through phishing emails. IKEA has stated that this was not an isolated attack, and emails continue to arrive at IKEA’s suppliers’ and partners’ emails.
Pro-Palestine attacks on Israeli companies In January of 2023, a hacktivist group called Electronic Quds Force launched a massive campaign targeting Israeli chemical production companies. The message sent to chemical company employees from the hacktivist group was to “Leave their
employment. Look for a new one”. The hackers also posted screenshots with the interfaces of the automated control system on their Telegram channel, which confirmed the compromise of one of the chemical plants. A similar attack occurred in September of 2022 by another pro-Palestine hacktivist group by the name of GhostSec. They targeted Israeli organisations and platforms and successfully breached 55 Berghof PLC devices to publish a message.
Irrigation system disruption Farm irrigation systems in the Jordan Valley and wastewater treatment control systems that are operated by the Galil Sewage Corporation were targeted by hackers. The attack appears to have been part of OpIsrael, an anti-Isreal hacktivist campaign. The attack was successful due to weak authentication and vulnerabilities in programmable logic controllers (PLC), which allowed for remote access. In light of such attacks, Positive Technologies urge companies to adopt the latest technology and techniques to safeguard their people, data and networks against sophisticated cyberattacks
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Enterprise Marketplace
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EXECUTIVE MOVEMENTS
Mindware joins Global Technology Distribution Council, Philippe Jarre enters Board of Directors Mindware has officially joined the Global Technology Distribution Council, the world’s largest consortium of technology distributors. Mindware CEO Philippe Jarre has also been named to the GTDC Board of Directors. The addition of Mindware supports the GTDC’s continued global expansion and increases its reach in the Persian Gulf region, where integrated technology solutions are rapidly driving digital transformation initiatives. In just the last month, Mindware was named Dell’s Distributor of the Year in the Gulf region for its “outstanding performance” in 2022. The company was also named a Veritas Authorised Training Center last week, enabling further education and enablement for its channel partners. The GTDC’s membership now spans 22 technology distributors across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa, who collectively drive more than $150 billion in annual sales around the globe.
Philippe Jarre
Pavel Makarevich, Hilel Baroud, Mohammed Alhanin, join executive leadership at PROVEN Arabia
Pavel Makarevich VP PROVEN Solution
Mohammed Alhannin Group CFO PROVEN Arabia
Hilel Baroud CEO PROVEN Consult
PROVEN Arabia, a Saudi Arabia-based holding company with a diversified portfolio of corporate brands providing comprehensive solutions for the Middle East market, has revealed three key executive changes as it continues to pursue its new business vision. Hilel Baroud who takes charge as Chief Executive Officer of PROVEN Consult, brings extensive knowledge and experience in sales and technical capacities, with over two decades of involvement. As a product manager at PROVEN Solution for the past three years, Pavel Makarevich has contributed to the conception and development of numerous products and brands for virtual reality, robotics, chatbots, and document understanding. A financial specialist, Mohammed Alhanin, has over 18 years of experience in a variety of industries and projects, including restructuring, equity and debt financing, IPOs, rights offerings to the Saudi Stock Exchange, mergers and acquisitions, and feasibility studies.
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EXECUTIVE MOVEMENTS
Arthur D. Little strengthens leadership in Middle East & India with appointment of three new partners and two strategic transfers Arthur D. Little (ADL) announced the appointment of three new Partners in its Middle East & India cluster, in support of the company’s continued expansion in these regions. In addition, two US-based executives will be relocating to the area, reinforcing ADL’s commitment to delivering excellence and driving growth in diverse industries. Satya Easwaran will join ADL India’s leadership team as a Partner in the Strategy & Organization (S&O) practice. He will be based in the company’s Mumbai office. Riadh Marrakchi will join ADL’s leadership team in the Middle East as a Partner in the Telecommunications, Information, Media & Electronics (TIME) practice. Feroz Sanaulla will also join the Middle East leadership team, and be a Partner in the Technology & Innovation Management (TIM) practice. Shahid Khan, Partner and Global Head of ADL’s Media & Entertainment, is making a strategic move from the US to join ADL’s Riyadh team. Alan Martinovich, Global Head of ADL’s Growth Competency Center, and initiator of ADL’s Automotive and Industrial Practices in the US, will be relocating to Dubai to contribute his vast experience in strategy, growth, and enterprise value creation.
Riadh Marrakchi
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Alan Martinovich
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