ON THE PATH OF SEISMIC CHANGE
As we witness seismic shifts in the technology landscape, Businesses will find opportunities to seize opportunities that have not been possible before. They will find unprecedented ways to streamline operations and boost productivity and competence. They will get quite close to their customers and employees as well with a nice combination of CX and EX strategies.
Advancements in Gen AI are enabling hyper-personalized recommendations for consumers with real-time support through AI-powered chatbots, in turn creating a much deeper connection between companies and consumers. The magic of Gen AI will not be restricted to one or two spheres of influence but will be pervasive across industries and business functions.
AI has already brought in automation of several processes but that will be further enhanced and quickened with the advent and mainstream adoption of Gen AI applications and models, driving more impact in outcomes. Benefits will be seen in contexts including fraud detection, financial forecasting, inventory management, etc, reducing operational costs and driving efficiencies.
Advanced AI-driven data analytics has enhanced the capabilities of organizations to extract actionable insights from vast data sets. This is helping optimize pricing strategies for instance such as in retail or enhance patient experience in the healthcare segment. IoT and Edge computing are helping process data closer to the source and reducing the time taken for decisions in areas including inventory management in retail or predictive maintenance in manufacturing. The rise of Green technology is helping drive sustainability goals particularly across the supply chain for instance and helping reduce carbon footprint.
While these technologies promise innovations and have the potential to reshape business models, they also bring forth challenges. For CIOs grappling with budgetary constraints, the need is to prioritize IT investments effectively. Alongside, CIOs will also need to prioritize cybersecurity investments such as zero-trust architectures and AI-driven threat detection to combat the surge in cyberattacks, including ransomware and sophisticated phishing schemes.
R. Narayan Editor in Chief, CXO DX
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14 » UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF GEN AI
While Gen AI is helping companies transform their processes and productivity, there are challenges on the road ahead that need to be addressed including data quality and ethical concerns
Lars Kølendorf , Vice President, PreSales, Solutions & Enablement, EMEA at HPE Aruba Networking discusses the company’s focus on reinforcing leadership in AI, cloud, and networking.
Feras Al Jabi discusses ITQAN’s successful journey across past four decades and the continuing focus on being a key player in the region’s technology landscape
Zoho will be accelerating its LLMs on the NVIDIA accelerated computing platform with NVIDIA Hopper GPUs
Almoe continues to push boundaries with innovative solutions across retail, collaboration, AV, and IT spaces. Indranil Bandyopadhyay, General Manager at Almoe Digital Solutions shares his perspectives
Ranjith Kaippada, Managing Director of Cloud Box Technologies writes about the importance of enterprise cybersecurity frameworks
Khurram Hassan, Director of bu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League discusses how the competition helps test and advance autonomous vehicle technology
Saied Alirezaei, Founder and CEO, Trio discusses the company’s solutions focus and plans for the region
Christian Reilly, Field CTO EMEA, Cloudflare says Businesses in Middle East & Türkiye risk severe breaches
Prem Anand, Associate Director, MiddleEast and Africa at Zoho discusses how the vendor is driving strategic partnerships successfully to fuel its regional growth
Jose Thomas Menacherry, Managing Director of Bulwark Technologies, shares insights on the company’s unique approach to niche cybersecurity solutions and the evolving needs of the market
Vibhu Kapoor, Regional Vice President - Middle East, Africa & India, Epicor discusses how cloud ERP provides organisations a high level of visibility and control over their manufacturing process
Asset visibility is critical to OT security, uptime, and so much more in the UAE industrial sector writes Rami Nehme, Regional Sales Director – UAE, South Gulf, Levant & Pakistan, OPSWAT
KHAZNA ANNOUNCES ITS AI-OPTIMIZED DATA CENTER IN THE UAE
The largest single building data center in the UAE at 100MW
Khazna Data Centers (Khazna) announced the construction of its largest data center in the UAE to date. Situated in Ajman, the 100MW, AI-optimized data center – the first of its kind in the region – reinforces Khazna’s market-leading position as an enabler of AI innovation and its commitment to powering the digital economy for the Age of AI.
The announcement was made by Hassan Alnaqbi, CEO of Khazna, at Khazna’s stand at GITEX Global 2024, in the presence of H.E. Suhail Mohammed Al Mazroui, Minister of Energy & Infrastructure; and H.E. Yousif Al Ali, CEO of EtihadWE.
Khazna’s latest 100k SQM facility, featuring 20 data halls, each with 5MW capacity, has already broken ground and is on track to be completed in 15 months. The Tier 3 data center will be the first AI
Dell Technologies announced Dell AI for Telecom, a program designed to simplify and accelerate AI deployments for communications service providers (CSPs).
A recent MeriTalk study, commissioned by Dell Technologies, found that 48% of telecom executives see AI as the industry’s most transformative technology in the next five years, yet 68% feel their organization is struggling to keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies and customer needs.
Data Center in the region and a testament to the UAE’s sizable efforts to meet rising power demands in the AI era, which are anticipated to double by 2026, according to the International Energy Agency.
The Ajman data center’s electricity supply will be primarily provided by Etihad Water and Electricity Company (EtihadWE). The facility is being constructed to an energy-efficient, modular design, which ensures that resources are used effectively.
With a multi-billion-dirham investment, Khazna’s AI-focused data center is set to be operational by Q3 2025, positively impacting the local economy by boosting highly skilled jobs in AI, as well as positioning the UAE as an investment hub for business, AI and innovation.
Hassan Alnaqbi, CEO of Khazna Data Centers, said: “The launch of our 100MW AI-optimized data center is a testament to Khazna’s strong growth and reflects the UAE’s readiness to lead in AI innovation. There is a significant correlation between a nation's preparedness for AI and the proficiency of its data infrastructure. Our new data center in Ajman has been specifically designed for the high computing power and scalability requirements of AI. ”
DELL TECHNOLOGIES PROPELS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTO THE AI ERA
Dell AI for Telecom program simplifies and accelerates AI deployments for communications service providers
The Dell AI for Telecom program, part of the Dell AI Factory, addresses these challenges by bringing together Dell’s AI expertise, infrastructure and services with software and silicon from across the AI ecosystem. The program will develop and deploy on-premises AI solutions that CSPs can use to enhance network performance, improve customer service and provide greater value at the enterprise edge.
"Capitalizing on the multiple opportunities presented by AI has become the most compelling driver of network cloud transformation," said Dennis Hoffman, senior vice president and general manager, Telecom Systems Business, Dell Technologies. "Dell AI for Telecom brings together Dell's AI expertise and infrastructure, with partners across the ecosystem, to help network operators implement AI solutions in and on the network that reduce OPEX, improve performance and create new edge revenue opportunities.”
Dell is extending its collaboration with NVIDIA to co-create and validate telecom AI solutions for CSPs, built upon and validated with the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA. The solutions help CSPs use AI to enhance customer care and improve network maintenance with the Amdocs amAIz platform, automate call center scripts and customer care operations with Iternal, conduct network troubleshooting and analysis with Kinetica SQL-GPT and develop digital twins for networks and perform predictive network maintenance with Synthefy. It helps facilitate AI deployments at the edge of the telecom network with the PowerEdge XR8000 server, now available with NVIDIA L4 Tensor Core GPUs. It also help CSPs design and deploy GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) offerings, so they can provide on-demand NVIDIA GPU capacity for enterprise customers.
Dennis Hoffman
SVP & GM, Telecom Systems Business, Dell Technologies
FRESHWORKS UNVEILS NEW AI AGENT
Deployed in minutes without code or consultants, Freddy AI Agent delivers fast time to value, autonomously resolving 40%+ of beta users' tickets
Freshworks has announced Freddy AI Agent – a new generation of easy-to-deploy and use autonomous service agents. Built to deliver exceptional customer experiences (CX) and employee experiences (EX), Freddy AI Agent can be deployed in minutes and has helped users in customer support and IT autonomously resolve an average of 45% and 40% of service requests, respectively.
“Over the last six years, we’ve seen a rise in demand for our uncomplicated, AI-powered service solutions that make the lives of customer service and IT service managers easier and more efficient,” said Dennis Woodside, CEO and president at Freshworks. “Freddy AI Agent is a game-changer for organizations looking to accelerate customer service and employee service, fast. Most other software requires multiple weeks and implementation fees to deploy an AI agent, but we’ve designed Freddy to be deployed without code or
consultants in minutes.”
Significant productivity and efficiency gains help unlock higher-value work, showcasing how AI is moving from an experimental tool to a driver of business outcomes across industries. Freddy AI Agent makes that possible with the following capabilities for CX and EX:
• Rapid time to value. Organizations can quickly deploy Freddy AI Agent without needing to code or train models. Instead, Freddy learns from existing documents and websites. By pointing Freddy to websites and other learning materials, the agent will crawl through the resources and learn on its own.
• Autonomous and always-on. Freddy AI Agent is fully autonomous and supports people on their mission to provide round-the-clock, radically helpful, human-like conversational assistance across multiple channels.
REDINGTON HONORS TOP PARTNERS
The Ecosystem Awards recognizes outstanding contributions and innovations from Redington's extensive network of partners across various categories.
Redington, a leading technology aggregator and innovation powerhouse across emerging markets, celebrated the achievements of its top-performing partners at the second edition of its Ecosystem Awards, held on the evening of Day 2 at GITEX Global 2024. The exclusive event took place at Sphere, The One&Only One Zabeel, bringing together key players in the technology distribution ecosystem.
The Ecosystem Awards recognized outstanding contributions and innovations from Redington's extensive network of partners across various categories. The event aimed to highlight the collaborative spirit driving digital transformation across the region.
The evening featured an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, including representatives from industry giants such as Ahmed Abdel Latif, Sr Regional Director Global Partners Solutions, Microsoft; Kevin Dal-
las, CEO at EDB; Michael Langeveld, Head of Technology & Business Development from HPE; and Hany ElGohary, Country Leader, UAE from AWS. These thought leaders shared insights on emerging technologies and market trends, providing attendees with valuable perspectives on the future of the tech landscape.
Viswanath Pallasena, CEO of Redington MEA, delivered the welcome address, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and Redington’s continued commitment to empowering its partners.
“Redington’s success is built on the strength of our partner ecosystem. This event is a platform to recognize the incredible work our partners have done in driving digital transformation across the region. We were excited to celebrate these achievements and look forward to building the future of innovation together,” said Pallasena.
Dennis Woodside CEO and president, Freshworks
• Hyper-personalized service. Freddy AI Agent personalizes and contextualizes conversations in multiple languages across multiple channels.
Mohammed Amin President, CEEMETA, Dell Technologies
• Trusted and secure. Freddy AI Agent offers trustworthy, secure, enterprise-grade AI built on a bedrock of strict privacy controls to meet security and compliance standards.
Viswanath Pallasena CEO of Redington MEA
During the course of the evening, Redington unveiled the results of a survey conducted with over 200 customers during Redington’s The Vertical Congress events in the UAE and KSA. This offered valuable insights for the channel partners in attendance. The survey provided a deep dive into the priorities of CIOs, shedding light on their technology focus and investment appetites for the coming year. These findings and more proved to be highly relevant, equipping the partners with crucial information to better align their strategies and offerings.
GBM TO IMPLEMENT PALO ALTO NETWORKS
NEXT-GENERATION FIREWALL AT GEMS EDUCATION
Operating on zero-trust principles, the technology offers enhanced user identity protection, control over application use, encrypted traffic security without privacy compromise among other benefit
Gulf Business Machines (GBM), a leading end-to-end digital solutions provider, will deploy a next-generation firewall by Palo Alto Networks, a leader in cybersecurity solutions, across all schools under GEMS Education, one of the largest private school networks in the GCC.
The project will significantly enhance the security of the digital learning environment, enabling improved threat detection, real-time protection, and compliance with educational regulations.
Amidst rising cyberthreats on the education sector in the GCC, the implementation of the firewall will help ensure secure internet access, especially for students, and provide protection against advanced persistent threats (APT), where an intruder establishes a presence on a network to mine private data. Operating on zero-trust principles the firewall monitors and filters network traffic, preventing virus infiltration, blocking unauthorised access and upholding data privacy.
The technology offers multiple benefits, including enhanced user identity protection, control over application use, encrypted traffic security without privacy
compromise, advanced threat protection, and automated threat intelligence sharing. Meanwhile, centralised management will boost operational efficiency for all GEMS schools. This supports the goal of fostering a secure and optimized learning environment, aligning with the UAE’s vision for a sustainable, knowledge-driven future.
Suresh Bathrachalam, Senior Vice President and Head of Technology at GEMS Education, said, “At GEMS Education, we are deeply committed to safeguarding the data and privacy of our students and employees. Therefore, we work to ensure continued compliance of our information technology and systems with the highest cybersecurity standards. The deployment of Palo Alto Networks’ next-generation firewall, executed by GBM, is the latest step in our efforts to secure our entire ecosystem.”
SERVICENOW INTRODUCES WORKFLOW DATA FABRIC
Enhanced integrated data layer unifies business and technology data across the enterprise, powering all workflows and AI agents with realtime, secure access to data from any source
ServiceNow the AI platform for business transformation, has introduced Workflow Data Fabric, forging a new generation of AIfueled productivity for the enterprise. Workflow Data Fabric is an enhanced integrated data layer that unifies business and technology data across the enterprise, powering all workflows and AI agents with realtime, secure access to data from any source. ServiceNow also announced Zero Copy connectors to optimize the company’s integration capabilities so customers can turn data into instant, AIpowered action. Additionally, ServiceNow announced a strategic partnership with leading systems integrator Cognizant as the first partner to bring Workflow Data Fabric to market for customers.
For most organizations, enterprise data sits in hundreds of different systems. Employees have to swivel between these applications to get work done. To get value from AI, organizations need a single, scal-
able platform to manage and act on data across teams and departments, which is why many businesses are investing in data enhancements today. According to Gartner, “by 2027, 30% of enterprises will use data ecosystems enhanced with elements of data fabric supporting composable application architecture to achieve a significant competitive advantage.”
Jon Sigler, senior vice president of Platform and AI at ServiceNow said, “With Workflow Data Fabric, we’re making it easier for customers to connect, understand, and act on business data from any source so they can maximize efficiency and solve bigger, industryspecific problems. ServiceNow is the AI platform for business transformation, delivering the winning combination of AI, data, and workflow orchestration and automation.”
Workflow Data Fabric expands customers’ ability to connect, understand, and
act on any structured, unstructured, semistructured, and streaming data from across the enterprise—both inside and outside of ServiceNow—for maximum scalability and efficiency.
Jon Sigler SVP, Platform and AI, ServiceNow
QUALYS DEBUTS RISK OPERATIONS CENTER (ROC) IN THE CLOUD
Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Management redefines cyber risk operations by unifying diverse security solutions for prioritization and actionable remediation
Qualys, a leading provider of disruptive cloud-based IT, security and compliance solutions, has announced the launch of the industry’s first Risk Operations Center (ROC) with Enterprise TruRisk Management (ETM). The solution enables CISOs and business leaders to manage cybersecurity risks in real time, transforming fragmented, siloed data into actionable insights that align cyber risk operations with business priorities. The application consolidates both Qualys and non-Qualys security risk data, including from technology alliances like Forescout, Identity Threat Protection with Okta AI, Microsoft, Oracle, and Wiz across cloud, on-premises and hybrid environments.
Organizations are facing an ever-growing volume of risk findings spread across multiple, disconnected top 10 dashboards. This fragmented view results in conflicting analyses, duplicate work, missed
threats, and strategies that fail to fully protect the organization. As a result, companies struggle to get a clear understanding of their true, overall risk, hindering their ability to make informed remediation decisions.
To overcome these challenges, businesses need an integrated approach that combines heterogeneous risk factors from various asset management tools and disparate cybersecurity solutions into a single platform with remediation and mitigation capabilities to reduce risk quickly. That is why Qualys is launching the world’s first ROC with Enterprise TruRisk Management designed to unify asset inventory and risk factors, apply threat intelligence, business context, risk prioritization, and orchestrate remediation, compliance and reporting through a single interface.
"On its 25th anniversary, Qualys contin-
Sumedh Thakar CEO, Qualys
ues its never-ending innovation journey by again disrupting the cybersecurity market with the introduction of the Risk Operations Center (ROC)," said Sumedh Thakar, president and CEO of Qualys. “The ROC delivered by Qualys ETM transforms proactive cybersecurity, empowering organizations to operationalize their risk management process in a single platform, and revolutionizing the way customers measure, communicate and eliminate risk, irrespective of which cyber tools they employ."
AXIS COMMUNICATIONS UNVEILS NEW OFFICE AND EXPERIENCE CENTRE IN SAUDI ARABIA
The Axis Experience Center in Riyadh is the second center of its kind in the Middle East, with a center already operating in Dubai
Axis Communications celebrated the grand opening of the company’s new office and Axis Experience Center in Saudi Arabia, solidifying its presence in the kingdom and reaffirming its commitment to sharing new ideas and fostering new relationships in the Middle East.
An opening ceremony for the new hub took place on 16 October and was attended by members of the Axis MEA team, notable guests including Peter Lindström, Executive VP of Sales & Marketing at Axis Communications, Verena Rathjen, Vice President EMEA at Axis Communications, and Petra Menander, Swedish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, as well as members of the media and other business and industry stakeholders.
The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony and live demonstrations of Axis’s
advanced technologies, and served as a networking opportunity for key Axis partners and customers.
Peter Lindström, Executive VP of Sales & Marketing at Axis Communications said, “The brand-new center in Riyadh not only signals our commitment to the region, but our commitment to bring the experience it offers to our valued customers and partners in Saudi Arabia. With this launch, we are positioned to proudly showcase the potential of Axis solutions in key industries, as well as the value offerings that make Axis the leader in smart surveillance technology around the world,” Lindström said.
The Axis Experience Center in Riyadh is the second center of its kind in the Middle East, with a center already operating in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The state-
of-the-art, 252 sqm facility, located at Unit 6-8, Home Offices, Al Urubah Road, serves as a hub and meeting point for Axis customers, partners and integrators, and features a behind-the-scenes look at the latest technologies and innovations. These include innovations in key research and product development areas, including end-to-end solutions, smart cities and smart traffic management, cybersecurity, and total cost of ownership (TCO).
GITEX GLOBAL PUTS 5G AND AI AT THE FOREFRONT OF DISCUSSIONS
The one-day ‘Intelligent Connectivity’ conference was a key highlight with the future of 5G and autonomous vehicles explored
5G emerged as a focal point at GITEX GLOBAL 2024, the world largest tech and startup event, with visitors getting a glimpse of the possibilities of the wireless technology with AI and its role to powering a hyperconnected future through groundbreaking innovations and insightful discussions.
The ‘Intelligent Connectivity’ event saw a combination of thought-provoking conversations and exhibitors displaying their powerful products and services that will revolutionise the world in the coming years. It comes at a time where GSMA projects a seismic shift in connectivity with 1.4 billion devices set to be linked with 5G by 2025, further fueling a USD $1.1 trillion IoT market within a USD $3.9 trillion mobile economy.
The expertly curated programme brought
together some of the most influential voices from global enterprises and organisations including Khalid Murshed, Chief Technology & Information Officer at e&, Wang Hui, President, NCE Data Communication Domain at Huawei China and Thomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary General at ITU Switzerland. They were also joined by Roque Lozano, SVP, Network Infra-
structure MEA at Nokia, Kazuhiro Gomi, President and CEO of NTT Research and SG Chung, Chief AI Global Officer at SK Telecom.
Away from the stage, the showcase featured a diverse range of impressive technologies from leading exhibitors, Huawei, e&, Nokia, China Telecom, Ericsson, Cisco, and Beyon among them. These industry giants presented cutting-edge solutions, highlighting next-generation 5G applications with their participation underscoring GITEX GLOBAL’s role as a key platform for exploring the future of connectivity and digital transformation.
DELOITTE AND LIFERAY ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP
The focus will be on delivering future-ready digital experiences
Deloitte Middle East and Liferay, a leading provider of digital experience platform (DXP) solutions, have formed a strategic alliance to redefine digital experiences and address evolving customer needs. This collaboration integrates conceptualization, design, development, and implementation on Liferay’s Digital Experience Platform (DXP) to deliver seamless, endto-end customer journeys to customers in the GCC.
The partnership was formalized during an MoU signing at GITEX GLOBAL between Shakeel Sawar, Deloitte Middle East Partner and Moussalam Dalati – General Manager, MEA and France, Liferay.
Deloitte’s digital experience approach is built around three core pillars: Advise, Implement, and Operate to fuel the design and implementation of a tailored digital experience platforms that integrates effortlessly and resolves specific customer challenges. Liferay’s DXP provides a robust foundation for facilitating future-ready digital experiences. Upon launching the platform, Deloitte manages and scales it, introducing new capabilities that drive sustained optimization and long-term business growth.
Shakeel Sawar, Deloitte Middle East Partner, stated: “At Deloitte, we connect creativity with technology for business, bringing empathy, ideas and experiences into all that we do. Together across the
breadth of our organization we make an impact that matters for our clients, talent, partners and communities. Our collaboration with Liferay will help unlock the full potential for our clients and shape digital experiences that matters”
Moussalam Dalati, General Manager –MEA and France, stated: “In this era, where digital transformation plays a central role in the growth of organizations, it is imperative that they build a digital backbone founded on a powerful strategy that showcases readiness to include future requirements. By combining our digital expertise with Deloitte, we empower organizations to meet new demands and adapt to future challenges.”
This partnership positions both Deloitte and Liferay to deliver innovative digital experiences, ensuring clients remain ahead of market trends and customer expectations.
ZOHO TO LEVERAGE NVIDIA NEMO TO BUILD LLMS
Zoho will be accelerating its LLMs on the NVIDIA accelerated computing platform with NVIDIA Hopper GPUs
Zoho Corporation has announced that it will be leveraging the NVIDIA AI accelerated computing platform - which includes NVIDIA NeMo, part of NVIDIA AI Enterprise software – to build and deploy its large language models (LLMs) in its SaaS applications. Once the LLMs are built and deployed, they will be available to Zoho Corporation's 700,000+ customers across ManageEngine and Zoho.com globally. Over the past year, the company has invested more than USD 10 million in NVIDIA's AI technology and GPUs, and plans to invest an additional USD 10 million in the coming year. The announcement was made during NVIDIA AI Summit in Mumbai.
Ramprakash Ramamoorthy, Director of AI at Zoho Corporation, commented, "Many LLMs on the market today are designed for consumer use, offering limited value for businesses. At Zoho, our mission is to develop LLMs tailored specifically for a wide range of business use cases. Owning our entire tech stack, with products spanning various business functions, allows us to integrate the essential element that makes AI truly effective: context.”
Zoho prioritises user privacy from the outset to create models that are compliant with privacy regulations from the ground up, rather than retrofitting them later. Its goal is to help businesses realize ROI swiftly and effectively by leveraging the full stack of NVIDIA AI software and accelerated computing to increase throughput and reduce latency.
Zoho has been building its own AI technology for over a decade and adding it contextually to its wide portfolio of over 100 products across its ManageEngine and Zoho divisions. Its approach to AI is multi-modal, geared towards deriving contextual intelligence that can help users
Ramprakash Ramamoorthy Director - AI, Zoho
make business decisions. The company is building narrow, small and medium language models, which are distinct from LLMs. This provides options for using different size models in order to provide better results across a variety of use cases. Relying on multiple models also means that businesses that do not have a large amount of data can still benefit from AI. Privacy is also a core tenet in Zoho's AI strategy, and its LLM models will not be trained on customer data.
“The ability to choose from a range of AI model sizes empowers businesses to tailor their AI solutions precisely to their needs, balancing performance with cost-effectiveness,” said Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director, Asia South at NVIDIA. “With NVIDIA’s AI software and accelerated
computing platform, Zoho is building a broad range of models to help serve the diverse needs of its business customers.”
Through this collaboration, Zoho will be accelerating its LLMs on the NVIDIA accelerated computing platform with NVIDIA Hopper GPUs, using the NVIDIA NeMo end-to-end platform for developing custom generative AI—including LLMs, multimodal, vision, and speech AI. Additionally, Zoho is testing NVIDIA TensorRT-LLM to optimize its LLMs for deployment, and has already seen a 60% increase in throughput and 35% reduction in latency compared with a previously used open-source framework. The company is also accelerating other workloads like speech-to-text on NVIDIA accelerated computing infrastructure.
UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF
While Gen AI is helping companies transform their processes and productivity, there are challenges on the road ahead that need to be addressed including data quality and ethical concerns
Walid Salem
IT lead - Applications and Development, Zurich Insurance Company
Generative AI (Gen AI) is redefining industries with its ability to automate complex tasks, enhance decision-making, and transform customer experiences. Its increasing adoption across verticals like healthcare, finance, and FMCG is unfurling a new era of innovation. Generative AI can be invaluable in decision support by leveraging past data and learning models to streamline processes. However concerns remain that need to be addressed and enterprises must be able to manage ethical considerations, data quality, and regulatory compliance to harness its full potential effectively.
Walid Salem, IT lead - Applications and Development, Zurich Insurance Company says, “Businesses are moving toward adopting Gen AI to partially replace their customer service centers. Decision support, based on past facts and predetermined learning, is another
area where organizations have been leveraging Gen AI to support critical decisions."
However, data quality needs to be ascertained before trusting the outcomes. According to Walid, there needs to be a continuous process of data validation to keep out inaccuracies and any bias.
Walid adds, "The accuracy of Gen AI findings depends on the quality of the data. Businesses need to develop a culture of continuous validation through system testing and frequent sanity checks. IT and other divisions must enforce these measures."
Jayaraj Perumalsamy, General Manager – Group Digital, Information & Technology at Barakat says that integrating Gen AI into enterprise systems requires careful attention to key factors. He too highlights the need to validate data quality used for training the Gen AI model or applications.
He says, “Ensuring high-quality, accessible data is crucial for effective AI model training, while scalability is necessary to accommodate future growth. Security and privacy concerns must be addressed, and compliance with regulations is non-negotiable.”
Gaurav Manaktala, Group Head IT at RAK Hospital says that it is vital to select the right LLMs and train them on high-quality data. “Adoption begins with selecting the right large language models (LLMs) and training them with high-quality data to suit specific organizational needs. Continuous evaluation is essential to refine these models and enhance their utility.”
Transforming Enterprises
In modern enterprises, Gen AI is being used not just for automation but for driving actionable insights and personalizing experiences.
Waqas Butt, Group Head of ICT & AI at Alpha Dhabi Holding says, “There is a huge potential to leverage Gen AI and streamline and optimize various business processes through intelligent automation. For example, it can automatically generate reports, analyze trends, and predict future outcomes, enabling enterprises to make informed decisions swiftly. This leads to increased productivity and reduced operational costs.”
Gen AI is revolutionizing internal workflows by automating routine tasks and enhancing decision-making. It streamlines document processing and data extraction, reducing errors and manual effort.
Jayaraj says, "Gen AI goes beyond traditional automation by streamlining complex workflows, driving personalized experiences, and transforming data into actionable insights. Custom-built applications enable us to automate specialized processes, refine predictive models, and optimize operations in ways standardized tools can’t match."
He highlights specific industry use cases that underline the extensive and almost universal use case scenarios that can be envisioned with Gen AI deployments going ahead.
“AI-powered chatbots improve customer support, while sentiment analysis provides insights from feedback. In supply-chain management, Gen AI optimizes demand forecasting, inventory, and logistics. In retail, it personalizes shopping experiences. In healthcare, it accelerates drug discovery and enhances patient care. In FMCG, it improves inventory management, demand forecasting, and customer engagement. Across industries, Gen AI creates smarter, more efficient solutions."
Jayraj mentions the benefits seen in HR, marketing and sales, all crucial functions for a Business.
“Gen AI accelerates HR tasks like resume screening and candidate matching, and boosts employee engagement. In finance, it automates accounting, fraud detection, and reporting for greater accuracy. In marketing and sales, Gen AI supports content creation, audience segmentation, and CRM optimization. It also strengthens IT support and enhances cybersecurity. Overall, Gen AI drives efficiency, growth, and innovation across organizations.”
Across industries, he highlights how Gen AI is transforming industries by automating processes, improving customer experiences, and driving smarter decisions.
Jayaraj Perumalsamy
General Manager – Group Digital, Information & Technology, Barakat
“In retail, it personalizes shopping and supports AI-driven customer service. In healthcare, it accelerates drug discovery and enhances patient care through virtual assistants. Gen AI strengthens fraud detection in finance, optimizes maintenance and quality control in manufacturing, and improves supply chain efficiency. It also boosts energy forecasting and renewable energy management. In food and beverages, Gen AI streamlines logistics, ensures food safety, and automates recipe development. For FMCG, it enhances inventory management, demand forecasting, and customer engagement. Across industries, Gen AI is creating smarter, more efficient solutions.”
According to Waqas, Gen AI has great use in contexts where you can analyze vast amounts of customer data & generate insightful recommendations, and personalize interactions in real-time.
He adds, “Chatbots and virtual assistants and agents are key outcomes. Many Businesses that have already embraced Gen AI are seeing productivity boost by 40%> and cost reduction by up to 65% and these companies have able to effectively and efficiently manage customer satisfaction rate.”
Gen AI in Healthcare
Healthcare has seen significant transformation with AI, particularly in operational efficiency and patient outcomes. Gaurav Manaktala, Group Head IT, RAK Hospital mentions how the use of AI had transformed operations initially but in the past year or so the advent and increasing use of Gen AI is unfurling a much more significant transformation.
He says, “I’ve been in the healthcare sector for around 18 years, and it’s remarkable to see how AI has evolved. Initially, AI supported standard applications like speech-to-text conversion, which was particularly useful for doctors. They could dictate their consultation notes, and the system would convert their speech into text. It saved time, especially for tasks like documenting treatment plans and patient records.”
Gaurav Manaktala
Group Head IT, RAK Hospital
Gaurav adds, “Over the past year, generative AI has revolutionized these applications. For example, we now use generative AI to seamlessly convert conversations between doctors and patients into structured electronic medical records (EMRs). This eliminates the need for administrative personnel to transcribe or organize data, allowing doctors to dedicate more time to clinical practice and patient care.”
The gains have been very impressive.
“The impact has been profound. By reducing consultation time— sometimes by 50%—doctors can see more patients without compromising on care quality. Automation of administrative tasks minimizes errors and ensures timely billing and record updates. Overall, it enhances operational efficiency while improving patient outcomes.”
Gaurav says that AI’s capabilities extend beyond consultations.
"In nursing, AI assists in monitoring patient vitals, ensuring timely interventions. It also supports backend operations like inventory management, automating processes like purchase orders and approvals. Overall, it enhances operational efficiency and patient outcomes."
He also highlights the critical role of IT leaders and teams in handholding this transformation.
"IT teams ensure seamless integration with hospital information systems, enabling automated billing, treatment tracking, and patient record updates. They also play a pivotal role in training and support for smooth operations."
Gaurav adds that they are considering further use cases and Gen AI deployments going ahead.
“We’re also exploring how generative AI can assist further, like alerting doctors to critical conditions or streamlining treatment recommendations based on real-time data analysis. The ultimate goal is to ensure every AI application supports better decision-making and improved patient care.”
Role of Gen AI in investment and shared services
The investment sector is leveraging Gen AI for advanced analytics, fraud detection, and decision-making. Waqas highlights its potential.
He says, "In the investment sector, Gen AI is defining strategies through predictive analysis, risk management, and sentiment analysis. AI-powered investment screening is transforming decision-making, offering innovation, efficiency, and enhanced accuracy."
Waqas mentions the role Gen AI is playing in reshaping internal workflows.
"We’ve used Gen AI to optimize shared services like IT support, HR onboarding, and investor relations. These solutions have improved efficiency and reduced costs significantly."
Ethics and compliance
As Gen AI becomes integral to business operations, governance frameworks and ethical considerations are critical. Waqas Butt em-
phasizes the IT team’s role:
"IT teams must implement governance frameworks, including clear policies, robust security measures, and regular training. Monitoring compliance and maintaining incident response plans are essential to ensure responsible AI use."
Jayaraj concurs, highlighting the importance of ethical AI adoption:
"Compliance with regulations and addressing ethical concerns, such as fairness and transparency, are non-negotiable. Businesses must ensure measurable ROI while navigating these challenges."
On the road ahead
Generative AI promises transformative benefits, from optimizing workflows to enhancing customer experiences. However, realizing its full potential requires a collaborative effort across organizational functions, underpinned by strong IT support.
Jayaraj says that one of the biggest challenges is managing change within the organization. He opines that proper training and a clear strategy for Gen AI adoption are essential to avoid resistance and ensure smooth integration. Another key challenge is ensuring that these solutions delivers a measurable return on investment (ROI).
“Businesses must carefully assess the financial impact of integrating Gen AI. Additionally, ethical concerns, such as fairness and transparency in AI models, must be addressed to prevent biases.”
According to Walid Salem "To make AI completely suitable for businesses, more work needs to be done in terms of regulation. Sensitive data security and ethical considerations remain vital as we move forward."
Across industry verticals, the possibilities of Gen AI are vast. To harness the potential of Gen AI, best practices must be adopted while deploying and using. By taking care of data quality and compliance concerns, and with seamless integration, organizations hope to reap sizable gains in growth and innovation.
Waqas Butt
Group Head of ICT & AI, Alpha Dhabi Holding
Prem Anand Associate Director, MiddleEast and Africa, Zoho
Discuss the importance of participating at GITEX from Zoho’s perspective
GITEX has been a significant platform for us. It helps drive growth in the local market, particularly with government and semi-government partnerships. For example, when visitors see that we are partnered with entities like Dubai Economy and Dubai Culture, it sparks interest from international delegates, especially from Africa, who want similar partnerships in their regions. It strengthens our credibility and expands our reach.
Tell us about the growth in the markets you cover?
Our focus is on the Middle East and Africa. We’ve been growing steadily, particularly by fostering government partnerships and supporting SMEs. Each government has unique priorities, like promoting digital growth or empowering SMEs, and we tailor our solutions to meet these needs.
Discuss the success of your strategic partnerships in the UAE
Since 2020, we have partnered with Dubai Economy and Tourism Department (DET), Flat6Labs, Dubai Culture, and IFZA to provide businesses of all sizes access to digital tools, training, and resources. We have also invested in upskilling initiatives through partnerships with Middlesex University Dubai, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, and Manipal Academy of Higher Education - Dubai, empowering the youngsters entering the workforce with necessary digital skills.
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Prem Anand, Associate Director, MiddleEast and Africa at Zoho discusses how the vendor is driving strategic partnerships successfully to fuel its regional growth
Are you looking to replicate the model of your UAE partnerships in other countries, like Saudi Arabia?
Absolutely. For example, in Saudi Arabia, we partnered with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) to offer Zoho products to SMEs for free during their first year. This initiative helps businesses explore our comprehensive suite of 55 products. In the second year, they can choose the tools they need, whether it’s Zoho Mail or Zoho Books, with complete flexibility.
What are your most popular products in this region?
Zoho One is a top choice as it offers a complete suite. Beyond that, Zoho Books is widely adopted for accounting, and Workplace is a strong alternative to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, offering email, sheets, presentations, and more. Our flagship products, such as Zoho One, Zoho Books, Zoho Workplace, Zoho CRM Plus, and Zoho People, have proven particularly popular among UAE businesses, with a remarkable 57% conversion rate.
How has having a local data center helped drive your growth? It has been pivotal, especially in Saudi Arabia. Industries like healthcare, education, and banking require data residency, and having a local data center has significantly boosted adoption.
Mention recent highlights of your initiatives in Africa?
In Africa, we recently partnered with a major SME community in Nigeria. Such partnerships help us establish a strong foothold and extend our offerings.
You’ve also partnered with the Indian Consulate. Can you elaborate?
Yes, we’ve digitized their processes, replacing traditional methods like physical registers. This project in Dubai is a test case, and we plan to extend it to Indian consulates globally and even other countries’ consulates.
Discuss how Zoho focuses on customer retention. Flexibility and customer-first approach is key to our approach. Whether a customer spends $1 or opts for the full suite, they receive the same level of support and consultation. This builds trust, and over 70% of users upgrade before their trial ends.
EDGE, CLOUD, AI IN FOCUS
Lars Kølendorf , Vice President, Pre-Sales, Solutions & Enablement, EMEA at HPE Aruba Networking discusses the company’s focus on reinforcing leadership in AI, cloud, and networking.
Discuss HPE’s focus in this new era driven by AI?
At HPE, our strategy centers on the "edge to cloud" approach, shaped by three key trends: edge computing, hybrid cloud, and AI. These pillars define how we innovate and deliver solutions. AI is a critical element of our strategy, especially as most data generation and processing now happen at the edge.
We offer end-to-end solutions that span the edge, on-premises, and cloud environments. This includes services to accelerate customers’ AI journeys, starting with creating minimum viable products to solve business challenges. We then scale these solutions to production-level operations and integrate machine learning operation cycles to ensure outcomes like cost savings, productivity improvements, and competitive advantages across industries.
What’s new in your ProLiant server portfolio?
ProLiant remains our flagship for compute, particularly for inferencing and fine-tuning AI models. These servers are highly flexible, supporting GPUs from NVIDIA, AMD, Qualcomm, and Intel. For more demanding workloads, such as AI model training, we offer our Cray product line, capable of housing up to eight GPUs in a single system.
Additionally, we provide networking solutions tailored to AI workloads. For example, we partner with NVIDIA to deliver optimized networking through Spectrum-X and InfiniBand technologies. Our turnkey solutions, like the NVIDIA private cloud AI, integrate hardware, software, storage, and AI tools, making deployment seamless.
What are some of the AI focused updates in your networking portfolio?
Networking is a vital component of AI. General-purpose networks often fall short for large AI workloads. That’s why we offer specialized solutions like NVIDIA Spectrum-X networking and GPU Direct technologies, which provide low-latency, AI-optimized communication. These are complemented by our own HPE networking portfolio, including data center networking solutions designed to handle Gen AI and large language models efficiently.
HPE recently announced its intent to acquire Juniper. What can you share about this?
While the acquisition is not yet finalized, it reflects our commitment to strengthening our networking portfolio. We’ll share more details once the process is complete.
AI adoption is accelerating across sectors. Do you have any notable strategic partnerships in this space?
Absolutely. AI initiatives are heavily driven by government and enterprise partnerships. While I can’t disclose specifics beyond what’s already public, we have strategic collaborations in key sectors like education and healthcare. These partnerships focus on leveraging Gen AI to create impactful solutions.
What are the key highlights of HPE’s GITEX 2024 showcase? At GITEX, we showcased our capabilities across hybrid cloud, net-
Lars Kølendorf VP, Pre-Sales, Solutions Enablement, EMEA at HPE Aruba Networking
working, and AI. Highlights included:
• Private AI Cloud Solutions: Turnkey offerings co-developed with NVIDIA.
• Cray Supercomputing: Featuring solutions for high-performance computing.
• AI Use Cases: Smart cities, personalized medicine, and patient care, demonstrating AI’s transformative potential in industries like healthcare.
• Hybrid Cloud Management: Platforms like our observability software, which offers full multi-vendor visibility, reduces operational costs by 30%, and improves detection and repair times.
• Data Protection: Zerto for continuous data protection, enabling recovery within seconds.
You mentioned Gen AI use cases. What are these based on?
Gen AI relies on foundational models, which we help customers deploy and fine-tune on-premises. This approach ensures data privacy and security while enabling advanced applications like personalized healthcare and education solutions. Techniques like retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) allow us to integrate real-time data for more relevant outputs.
Mention enhancements in your Edge computing-focused offerings?
Edge computing is a growing focus. We offer solutions like data centers in a box, ruggedized edge devices for harsh environments, and private 5G solutions to enhance connectivity. These enable high-bandwidth data collection, analysis, and inference at the edge, empowering industries to process massive data streams locally.
DRIVING IMPACT AND INNOVATION
Almoe continues to push boundaries with innovative solutions across retail, collaboration, AV, and IT spaces. Indranil Bandyopadhyay, General Manager at ALMOE Group of Companies shares his perspectives
What were the highlights at GITEX This year?
This year, we did not showcase our entire portfolio but focused on some of our most impactful solutions. A major highlight in the retail sector is electronic shelf labeling—a groundbreaking solution already implemented by prominent corporations. Complementing this are other retail technologies, including HP-powered point-ofsale systems, which have delivered remarkable results in flagship projects like Expo.
In the collaboration and digital transformation domains, Almoe featured Microsoft Surface devices, Surface Hubs, and Microsoft Teams Room solutions, paired with hardware from Logitech, Poly (now HP Poly), Jabra, and Yealink. We focus not just on hardware but also on integration, configuration, and supporting services, relying on our strength in combining hardware and software for seamless solutions.
What were the AV and Education Solutions showcased?
We showcased our extensive audiovisual offerings, from Epson projectors and LED video walls to interactive flat panels by Promethean—a leader in educational technology. Promethean’s interactive panels, combined with their innovative software, make them a standout in education and collaboration spaces.
The AV segment also included indoor and outdoor LED displays and digital signage solutions under ALMOE’s own brand, Spectrum. These solutions, along with our recent partnerships, strengthen our leadership in the region’s AV market.
Do you see growth in the printer business? Or has it declined with the rise of paperless initiatives?
Almoe focuses exclusively on business printing, providing multifunction printers tailored for corporate, educational, and other verticals. We don’t focus on the consumer printing market.
While digital transformation has led to paperless initiatives, ALMOE has experienced strong growth in business printers through its partnership with Epson. Epson’s focus on multifunction business printers has been a game-changer for us. As an authorized service center for Epson, we have solidified our leadership in managed print services, targeting sectors like education, healthcare, and government.
Another significant area for us is point-of-sale (POS) systems, where we have a strong partnership with HP. This collaboration has enabled our success in the retail space and helped deliver no-
table flagship projects, including contributions to the Expo. The POS segment remains a steady and growing area of success for the company.
Tell us about your focus on AI solutions?
In line with the rising demand for AI technologies, we showcased Microsoft CoPilot and AI-driven features in PCs at our GITEX stand. Almoe is commited to staying at the forefront of AI-driven transformation.
Discuss the company’s focus on value add distribution Almoe positions itself as a value-added distributor, offering endto-end solutions. We’re not just box sellers. We provide strong pre-sales, technical, and post-sales support for our partners and end-users. Our expertise spans multiple verticals, including education, healthcare, government, and corporate sectors, with its hybrid work and meeting room solutions seeing tremendous growth in recent quarters.
How has the growth been over the past year?
The AV sector has shown remarkable growth for Almoe, with the company completing a highly successful fiscal year in September. Over the past year, Almoe has undertaken several major projects across diverse verticals, reflecting a vibrant and active market. Significant developments have been observed in the education and corporate sectors, while government ministries and healthcare have also presented substantial opportunities. Additionally, the hospitality industry continues to contribute to Almoe’s success. With a presence spanning multiple verticals, we are well-positioned to consolidate.
Indranil Bandyopadhyay
General Manager at ALMOE Group of Companies
RACING WITH AI
The second season of the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL)is set to happen on 26 April 2025, at Yas Marina Circuit. Organized by ASPIRE, the innovation acceleration arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC),the second edition with an expanded pool of teams seeks to further stretch the boundaries of AI in motorsport. Khurram Hassan, Director of A2RL discusses how the competition helps test and advance autonomous vehicle technology
Tell us about the Advanced Technology Research Council of Abu Dhabi, the organization structure, and the vision behind this unique race concept.
The Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) based in Abu Dhabi is structured with a few key branches: TII, Aspire, and Venture One. TII focuses on world-class research, Aspire handles world-class competitions to drive innovation, and Venture One supports startups and R&D for commercialization. With Aspire, one of the competitions we lead is the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL). This league is centred on innovation in autonomous technology, aiming to push the boundaries of AI and robotics through high-speed racing.
How was the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League was conceived?
The idea behind A2RL emerged as a concept to test and advance autonomous vehicle technology. Last year, we hosted our first race as a proof of concept, where eight teams from around the
Khurram Hassan Director of A2RL
world competed in a fully autonomous, high-speed car race. The vehicles in this league are entirely self-driving and self-learning, pushing AI to its limits by reaching speeds close to 300 kms per hour. Much like how motorsport innovations have brought consumer advancements—think seat belts or braking systems—this autonomous racing league is designed to test and refine AI and autonomous technologies, preparing them for real-world applications.
With driverless taxis and robo-taxis emerging, is there a connection between those advancements and what A2RL is doing?
Absolutely. Technologies in robo-taxis rely heavily on AI to make real-time decisions in dynamic environments. Our autonomous race cars use similar technologies—LiDAR, radar, and cameras—but at a much more intense level. These vehicles are racing at top speeds, so they require precise, instant decision-making and advanced machine learning capabilities to navigate the track
without any human control. If these systems can operate safely and effectively in such a challenging environment, we can confidently transfer these innovations to consumer and commercial vehicles, enhancing both safety and efficiency on the roads.
So this isn’t just an exhibition—it’s a testing ground for the technology, correct?
Exactly. If our AI systems can handle the conditions and speeds of a professional race, it shows the technology is mature enough for everyday applications. By refining algorithms in a controlled but extreme setting, we can help ensure that autonomous systems are ready for real-world use.
You mentioned something intriguing about a “driver angel.” What does that mean in this context?
The idea of a “driver angel” is about having an AI assistant available in crucial moments. While these cars are currently fully autonomous, it’s likely that, for a long time, human drivers will continue to rely on AI-assisted tools. This driver angel concept gives the car the ability to make the best decision possible in a critical moment, assisting rather than entirely replacing the human driver. It’s a step toward AI-driven safety that can intervene if it detects imminent risks or challenging scenarios, like sudden stops or an impending collision.
How does the cultural diversity among the teams influence the race?
That’s an insightful question. Each team brings its own unique cultural approach to safety and risk. Some teams prioritize time and finishing the race without incident, while others aim to outperform competitors at each turn. This diversity translates into different coding strategies, making each team’s AI algorithm distinct. We’ve attracted teams from places like the U.S. and Japan, and this global participation contributes to a richer development environment for autonomous mobility.
What do the teams actually receive to work with, and how do they engage with the vehicles?
Each team is provided with one of our Japanese Super Formula cars, which are the second fastest cars after Formula 1. These are equipped with an autonomous kit that includes sensors like LiDAR, radar, and cameras. We provide a foundational code and the vehicle, and the teams are responsible for customizing and refining this code to optimize their cars’ performance on the track. So, essentially, it’s a coding challenge, where the aim is to develop the best software to make the car navigate the track faster and smarter.
How have you seen the race and technology evolve from last year to this one?
Last year was all about proving the concept. We saw a lot of potential and realized there was a genuine demand for this as an AI sport. Technologically, we’ve improved the cars’ reliability and handling, especially for multi-agent, multi-car racing. For instance, in the first race, our autonomous cars clocked lap times of around three minutes, whereas human drivers were achieving times of about one minute and forty-four seconds. However, after three months of refining and racing, our AI managed to reduce its time to one minute and fifty-four seconds—shaving off more than
a minute! So, it’s evolving rapidly.
Where do you host these races, and how has the public responded?
Our first race was held at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, where we attracted about 10,000 live spectators and over a million online viewers. We also had 22,000 people join virtually in VR, allowing them to experience the race from a 360-degree perspective as if they were the driver. The engagement and excitement were tremendous. We also collaborated with Meta to launch an app that allowed people to race against the autonomous cars in real-time, creating a uniquely immersive experience.
What’s the vision for the league moving forward?
We’re aiming to establish A2RL as the world’s first AI extreme sport, where humans spectate while AI-driven cars compete. This year, we’re expanding to 12 teams and building what we envision as a “mixed reality” sport. We’ll blend physical, on-track racing with virtual races that let fans participate digitally. There’s even a possibility for future collaborations with other major racing leagues like Formula 1, but for now, we’re focusing on the unique niche of algorithm-driven competition.
With all the innovation happening here, do you see AI taking over human drivers in professional racing?
Not immediately. Human skill and instinct are still at the heart of leagues like Formula 1. But as AI becomes more sophisticated, we may see it working alongside humans as an assistive tool. Last year, we held a race between a human driver, former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat, and an AI, and while Daniil won, the AI was only 10 seconds slower by race day. The car’s learning curve is accelerating, and who knows? AI might be able to match human performance sooner than we think.
“If our AI systems can handle the conditions and speeds of a professional race, it shows the technology is mature enough for everyday applications. By refining algorithms in a controlled but extreme setting, we can help ensure that autonomous systems are ready for real-world use.”
SIMPLIFYING DEVICE AND DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT
Trio is a global IT service and solutions provider specializing in mobile device management launched two new verticals - Trio Business and Trio Education - at the recently concluded GITEX GLOBAL 2024 exhibition in Dubai, as part of its latest growth plans for the Middle East. Saied Alirezaei, Founder and CEO, Trio discusses the company’s solutions focus and plans for the region
What does TRIO offer as a solution?
TRIO is a platform that has been designed to manage devices, digital assets, and cloud assets for enterprises and SMBs. Although we focus on SMBs, we’re also seeing interest from some enterprise clients. Our solution is AI-driven, which simplifies device management significantly. That’s why it appeals to small and medium businesses—they find it both powerful and easy to use.
What verticals does TRIO cater to?
TRIO serves a range of verticals, including startups, logistics, FinTech, healthcare, and hospitality. We also have a dedicated solution for the education sector, especially for K-12 schools, which helps manage school-owned devices and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) from students. Schools use TRIO to monitor, manage, and secure endpoints, simplifying IT management so that one IT manager can handle up to 500 devices rather than the typical 100.
How does TRIO help IT managers?
TRIO is built to make device management easier for IT managers by reducing their workload and cutting costs. It includes features for logging, notifications, alerts, and reporting, all of which are AI-prepared to deliver useful insights for top management. Our platform consolidates asset and inventory management, as well as MDM (Mobile Device Management) and UEM (Unified Endpoint Management), to cover all digital assets comprehensively.
How does TRIO compare to network management solutions?
TRIO goes beyond network management. While they focus mainly on managing network protocols, TRIO includes UEM and MDM to manage and secure endpoints. We also provide compliance automation, addressing local policies and standards for various countries. This broader scope makes TRIO a more comprehensive solution for IT management.
What’s TRIO’s main focus in terms of asset management?
Our focus is primarily on endpoints and servers, which are essential digital assets for businesses. While network solutions exist, TRIO emphasizes endpoint management, where most of our client needs lie.
How long has TRIO been active in the Middle East, and what are your goals here?
The company is based in Germany, where we’ve provided IT ser-
Saeid Alirezaei Founder and CEO, Trio
vices for years. We launched TRIO as a platform two years ago, and this is our second year participating in GITEX. Last year, we attended with a smaller booth to gauge market demand, and based on the strong response, we’ve come back this year with a larger presence and several partners across the region.
Could you tell us more about your solution’s adaptability for different industries?
Absolutely. While 75–80% of customer needs overlap across industries, we customize for specific requirements like compliance. For example, FinTech and healthcare each have distinct compliance standards. This flexibility allows us to effectively cater to multiple verticals, from healthcare and logistics to hospitality
How frequently is TRIO updated?
We refresh TRIO’s features every six months based on client feedback and changing needs. This frequent updating allows us to stay relevant and continuously improve the platform to meet market demands.
NAVIGATING CYBERSECURITY’S NEW FRONTIERS
Jose Thomas Menacherry, Managing Director of Bulwark Technologies, shares insights on the company’s unique approach to
niche cybersecurity solutions and the evolving needs of the market
Bulwark offers several niche cybersecurity products in its extensive portfolio. How does that help you stand out as a distributor in the market?
We focus on new and established cybersecurity solutions that align with what customers seek today.
Niche products are highly relevant in cybersecurity. With the constant evolution of cyber threats, new vulnerabilities emerge almost daily. With niche products, we offer solutions that address these emerging needs. We have seen that smaller companies are often quick to develop innovative solutions, and when these solutions gain traction, they might get acquired by larger players.
What are some recent additions to your portfolio?
We have recently signed up with a company called Mend.io, which specializes in source code analysis for applications, covering static and dynamic analysis at different stages of development. This helps identify vulnerabilities in applications before they go into production, which is crucial for enterprises developing in-house applications.
Please give an overview of your vulnerability management portfolio?
We have a comprehensive range of solutions, including Mend for static analysis, Appknox for mobile applications, and Home Security for network vulnerabilities. We also offer Backup Software for addressing software vulnerabilities. With these tools, we cover almost every aspect of vulnerability management.
Aside from vulnerability management, what are the other key pillars of your cybersecurity portfolio?
Other major pillars include data securi-
ty, cloud security, endpoint security, and network security. We offer solutions in perimeter security, DLP (Data Loss Prevention), data classification, patch management, and more. We cover various aspects from network monitoring to endpoint protection, providing extensive security coverage across the IT landscape.
With over 30 vendors in your portfolio, how do you effectively manage these relationships and ensure each product reaches the right partners?
We don’t rely on a single partner for all our products. Instead, we carefully match each vendor’s solutions to partners who can best represent and support them, based on their customer base and vertical focus. This targeted approach allows us to allocate certain solutions to specific partners specializing in those areas, ensuring a focused strategy for each product.
How do you handle more traditional security areas, like firewalls, which are constantly evolving?
Firewalls have evolved from basic IP and port blocking to Unified Threat Management (UTM) solutions, integrating endpoint security, intrusion detection, and other advanced features. With the rise of remote work, zero-trust network access has also become important. Security needs have expanded, and modern firewalls now incorporate various layers of protection to adapt to these changes.
Do you notice increased spending in verticals such as such as healthcare and finance, which face strict compliance requirements?
Absolutely. Verticals like finance, healthcare, and government have strict compliance standards and are highly targeted by cyber threats. Many customers, especially in these regulated industries, have experi-
enced incidents like ransomware attacks, which reinforces the need for robust cybersecurity investments.
How do you support and enable your partners in these high-demand sectors?
For each product, we conduct an internal sales and technical enablement process, then provide our partners with relevant training. This includes sales training, technical workshops, and additional resources, depending on their level of expertise and customer requirements. We also coordinate with our vendors to deliver advanced training if needed.
What are your plans for expanding your presence in the Middle East and beyond?
We already have an office in Saudi Arabia and have been expanding our team there. Saudi Arabia requires local billing and additional compliance, so we’re investing in that market significantly. For the rest of the GCC, our UAE office manages operations, while Saudi operates independently. Currently, we’re not focused on Africa, but we’re open to considering markets like Egypt in the future.
Jose Menachery MD, Bulwark
FACILITATING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Feras Al Jabi heads Advanced Digital Consultancy, ITQAN, and Digital OKTA, as the General Manager. He discusses ITQAN’s successful journey across past four decades and the continuing focus on being a key player in the region’s technology landscape, helping customers transform their businesses with the latest technologies
Feras Al Jabi General Manager, ITQAN
How do you assist customers across verticals in their digital transformation journeys?
We take digital transformation to a different level by being industry-specific. We leverage our expertise to address intricate technological challenges across diverse verticals, including transportation, utilities, and education. We’ve partnered with some of the world’s most talented professionals to deliver optimal solutions tailored to our clients’ needs. This focus on customization enables us to harness data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning for solutions that truly resonate with the industries they serve.
What were the highlights of your participation at GITEX this year?
This year, ITQAN expanded its footprint at GITEX to cater to a broader audience and showcase the diverse portfolio of its partners. We were showcasing at the Microsoft stand, as well as with
Cisco and Trend Micro, addressing different areas. These strategic collaborations allowed us to reach more potential clients and partners. Our presence at GITEX is always a reflection of our commitment to bringing diverse solutions to the forefront of the digital transformation conversation in the region.
How do you help customers in cloud migration?
At Digital OKTA, we often say that the cloud is a journey, and choosing the right partner for this journey is crucial. Over the past eight years, We have guided clients through various stages of their cloud adoption. The company not only advises on the most efficient pathways to the cloud but also optimizes cloud consumption and ensures strong returns on investment.
We provide advisory services across managed services, security, re-platforming, and hybrid cloud integration. The hybrid model, which blends on-premises and cloud systems, is a key area of our expertise, and we enable clients to seamlessly transition to modern infrastructures without disrupting existing operations.
Discuss your milestone of reaching 40 years of operations
ITQAN is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Since its establishment in 1984, the company has led infrastructure transformation for our customers. From basic installations to complex integrations of the latest technologies, ITQAN has remained at the forefront and has experience with high-performance computing. We have also introduced quantum computing, and sophisticated cybersecurity implementations.
We’re now focused on modern infrastructure and software-defined everything. ITQAN today specializes in private cloud solutions, state-of-the-art cybersecurity installations, and managed services that align with the demands of high-end applications. Our extensive experience enables us to bring clients to the forefront of innovation, ensuring they are well-positioned to meet the demands of tomorrow.
What is the outlook ahead?
ITQAN continues to redefine what it means to be a technology consultancy firm. By aligning with global partners and maintaining an unwavering commitment to excellence, ITQAN not only adapts to the technological landscape but is actively shaping it. Our goal is to deliver transformative solutions that empower our clients and set new benchmarks in the industry.
RAISING THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF CYBERSECURITY
An enterprise cybersecurity framework built by the security organization consists of security policies, security processes, security architectures, defines users, systems and configurations, and provides guidance for future design, implementations and successful operations. By doing so it helps to alleviate the current and future pain points of cybersecurity decision makers, describes Ranjith Kaippada, Managing Director of Cloud Box Technologies.
Large scale adoption of digital and business transformation by global and regional enterprises and the associated cybersecurity vulnerabilities, has driven the realization of the importance of keeping cybersecurity at the same levels as other strategic priorities of the enterprise.
According to IDC, security is now a board level conversation and cyber risk has been elevated and is now recognized as a business risk. According to Gartner, importance of information security is rising rapidly as senior executives become aware that poor security can cause irreparable damage to the business. Gartner forecasts that by 2026, 70% of boards will include one member with cybersecurity experience.
The way forward for cybersecurity administrators and decision makers is to build a forward-looking cybersecurity framework that manages continuous digital and business transformation, helps to create new business value in the face of these changes, takes into consideration internal and external factors, and plans for growing risks and threats.
A fully functional enterprise cybersecurity framework consists of security policies, security processes and security architectures. It defines users, systems and configurations. It provides guidance for future design, implementations and successful operations.
Developing this framework is a team effort from across the enterprise and involves business decisions makers whose presence helps to collectively shoulder the risk and governance across the enterprise.
Cross functional involvement
A successful and fully operational enterprise cybersecurity framework requires a cross functional team, building it up from infancy to reach on-going operational maturity that can help steer the enterprise through future cybersecurity threats and growing sophistication in malware attacks.
The following teams have a role in building the enterprise cybersecurity framework:
Cybersecurity Decision Maker
This executive, usually the CISO, is the mainstay and champion
Kaippada Managing Director, Cloud Box Technologies
of an enterprise cybersecurity framework. This executive along with the rest of the cybersecurity team leads the development of the framework and ensures there is alignment with the business objectives of the enterprise.
This executive collaborates with peers and other decision makers to facilitate its adoption. This executive also communicates the implementation progress to the management and other stakeholders.
IT Decision Maker
Richard Sorosina Chief Technical Security Officer
EMEA and APAC, Qualys
This executive, usually the CIO, supports the CISO in building the framework, alignment with business objectives of the enterprise, and communication of the progress to stakeholders.
Ranjith
Innovation Experts
They work with the CISO, business heads, and other stakeholders to understand and consolidate the cybersecurity requirements of the enterprise into the enterprise cybersecurity framework.
Domain Experts and Architects
This team assesses the operational skills and technology readiness of the enterprise’s business to implement security policies and governance. They are also responsible for cybersecurity training and for building cybersecurity skills.
Infrastructure Leader
This executive and the team assists the CISO with implementation and operations of key components of the enterprise cybersecurity framework.
Software Engineers
They are responsible for implementation of the enterprise cybersecurity framework and its regular operations. Typically they would be using DevSecOps in software development to support the enterprise framework.
Strategy Leader
This executive leverages partnerships for coordination, delivery, risk mitigation, and organizational change during implementation of the enterprise cybersecurity framework to ensure project completion.
Building the cybersecurity framework
This is a step-by-step process and successful completion, and operational launch of the enterprise cybersecurity framework requires rigorously going through the following steps.
#1 Planning
The first stage begins by defining the business priorities of the enterprise and an assessment of the cybersecurity drivers and threats. The mission of the enterprise cybersecurity framework is stated as well as the goals, the value to be generated, and roles and responsibilities of stakeholders involved.
#2 Assessment
The second stage begins with the roadmap that has been prepared at the first stage. Existing systems, technologies, people, processes, third parties are assessed and a security audit completed. This stage maps the journey through the intermediate stages to the final stage and completes the gap analysis between the stages.
#3 Development
By the third stage the documentation for the enterprise cybersecurity framework has been completed and is now the basis for forward implementation. The documentation defines tools and technologies to be utilized, composition of the team with roles and responsibilities, escalation process to stakeholders, minimum
cybersecurity competencies required in the enterprise and a training program to fill the gaps in cybersecurity skills.
#4 Buy-in
The fourth stage is critical for the future roll out of the enterprise cybersecurity framework. In this stage there is an outreach campaign to the decision makers within the enterprise showcasing the value being delivered by the enterprise cybersecurity framework.
This helps to build top-down support for the cybersecurity framework and to achieve representation within the Board. Another objective of the outreach campaign is raise awareness of security best practices amongst employees and the importance of developing a healthy security culture.
#5 Robustness
Unless the enterprise cybersecurity framework is robust enough to continuously improve itself against future threats and changes to the enterprise, its usage will soon run out of momentum.
Amongst the forward looking steps is to build competency in reverse engineering of threats, determination of threat origins, monitoring of advanced threats, enterprise wide incident response capabilities, and action plans for employees in the face of threat actor intrusions.
It is not of much use to build an ambitious enterprise cybersecurity framework and not have measures to accurately benchmark its usefulness and improve its functioning, so that it can continuously support the enterprise as it transforms its business value and purpose in the future. And this is the purpose of the final stage.
By following the above steps cybersecurity decision makers can help the security function align with business and also showcase the importance of its role and the value it can offer today and in the future as well.
“A fully functional enterprise cybersecurity framework consists of security policies, security processes and security architectures. It defines users, systems and configurations. It provides guidance for future design, implementations and successful operations.”
BUSINESSES REMAIN UNPREPARED FOR CYBER THREATS
Christian Reilly, Field CTO EMEA, Cloudflare says Businesses in Middle East & Türkiye risk severe breaches and points out that while the Financial Services and IT sectors are more prepared, others are lagging behind
Christian Reilly
It’s no secret that cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, while simultaneously growing in number and volume. And this worrying trend is only expected to rise. In fact, Cloudflare’s own research shows that a staggering 78% of business leaders in the Middle East and Türkiye (MET) region expect their organizations to be hit by a cyberattack within the next year.
But, despite these concerns for the near future, the same study shows that only 46% of those leaders believe they are adequately prepared to handle such an incident. Clearly, there is a significant disconnect between the perceived risk of cyber threats and the level of preparedness among the nation’s businesses.
So, as the digital threat landscape continues to evolve, regional businesses find themselves in an increasingly delicate position when it comes to cybersecurity. The growing number of incidents facing modern companies is well documented in today’s headlines, leaving organizations in no doubt that this is a serious issue that every business should have near the top of their agendas.
In this landscape, how can companies become more confident in their ability to defend themselves against modern cyber threats?
Rising cyber threats: a reality for businesses in the Middle East & Türkiye
The gap between the anticipated risks of cyberattacks and the preparedness of businesses to address them speaks volumes about the current state of cybersecurity in the Middle East & Türkiye.
This discrepancy isn’t a question of ignorance but of confidence – or the lack thereof. With 82% of organizations in the MET region reporting a cybersecurity incident in the past year according to our data, the threat is very real. And still, less than half of the business leaders surveyed feel they have the necessary defenses in place. This points to a critical issue: while awareness is growing, true preparedness remains worryingly low.
That’s despite the real-life ramifications that can be expected when a business suffers a breach.
Cost of a breach is more than just financial Not only could an incident have serious consequences for the
Field CTO EMEA, Cloudflare
business itself, but it could also have a negative impact on your employees and customers. Whether it’s financial losses, regulatory penalties or reputational damage, the stakes are high when it comes to having a lack of robust defense mechanisms. The financial losses arising from incidents can rack up quickly. Among the 53% of respondents whose organizations experienced a cybersecurity incident in the past year, 77% estimated the financial impacts to be at least US$1 million, while one third (38%) estimated the loss to be US$2 million or more. Financial loss is not the only impact organizations have suffered. 38% organizations have had to put growth plans on hold in the aftermath of an incident, and 37% have had to lay off staff as a result of the financial impact. Other organizations have been subjected to legal action or been forced to pay fines as a result of incidents.
Learning from experience
What stands out from the Cloudflare data is that sectors in the region with higher attack frequencies, such as Financial Services and IT, report feeling more prepared for future incidents. This is logical – experience breeds resilience. This confidence also likely stems from the sectors' early adoption of advanced cybersecurity tools and practices, equipping them to handle the evolving threat landscape.
SolarWinds is a great example of a business that took significant steps to overhaul its security practices after a breach – and come out stronger. The company enhanced its software development process with its Secure by Design principle, adopted a Zero Trust architecture, and increased transparency by openly communicating with customers and regulators. SolarWinds also collaborated with cybersecurity experts to continuously improve their defences, while contributing to industry-wide efforts to bolster software supply chain security. These actions helped the company recover, educate the wider sector and become more resilient against future cyber threats.
But while the Financial Services and IT sectors are more prepared for such an incident, others are lagging behind. Media and Telecoms and Transport, Construction and Real Estate sectors are least prepared, given that they have experienced fewer incidents. The lower frequency of incidents in Healthcare (49%) is counterintuitive — the industry tends to be a highly targeted sector because it often suffers from a lack of investment and because systems hold vast amounts of sensitive patient data. Given the sensitive nature of the data handled in healthcare, a significant cyberattack could have devastating consequences. And as cyber threats become more sophisticated and frequent, hope is not a strategy.
Just because businesses have been lucky enough to avoid an attack so far, it doesn’t make them immune in the future. And the industries that have yet to face a cyberattack are worryingly underprepared.
Cybersecurity as a catalyst for business modernization
Despite the challenges posed by the growing threat of cyberattacks, there is a positive shift in how business leaders are approaching cybersecurity. Our research shows that 74% of respondents expect the proportion of their IT budget dedicated to cybersecurity to rise over the next year. This is a positive sign, as organizations need to prepare for the increased volume of in-
cidents they predict in the year ahead. For most, protecting their networks remains the number one investment area, with nearly 22% of the budget allocated to this pillar on average.
This evolving perspective is encouraging, as it suggests organizations are recognizing the strategic value of strong cybersecurity measures. It highlights a recognition that robust defenses can offer more than just protection – driving innovation, streamlining operations and enhancing overall efficiency, as well as offering opportunities for operational improvements and data protection. This forward-thinking approach turns cybersecurity from a defensive necessity into a strategic advantage.
By embedding cybersecurity into top-level decision-making rather than treating it as an afterthought, businesses are positioning themselves to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
The need for proactive cybersecurity measures
In an era where digital risks are evolving rapidly, businesses must invest not just in advanced technologies but in fostering a culture where cybersecurity is treated as a strategic priority. Simplified, consolidated solutions are key, but without the right mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement across the whole organization, they will fall short.
Every company, regardless of its industry, must recognize the evolving threat landscape and take proactive steps to mitigate the risks. It’s time for every business to acknowledge that preparedness is more than just a checklist; it’s a mission-critical element of modern business strategy. Instead of being a reactive measure dusted off after a breach occurs, cybersecurity should be considered a proactive, central part of every organization’s future-proofing plan. Businesses in the Middle East & Türkiye are waking up to the reality of cyber threats – now they must ensure they are ready to face them head-on.
“In an era where digital risks are evolving rapidly, businesses must invest not just in advanced technologies but in fostering a culture where cybersecurity is treated as a strategic priority. Simplified, consolidated solutions are key, but without the right mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement across the whole organization, they will fall short.”
ADDRESSING THE SUSTAINABILITY-PROFITABILITY TRADE-OFF
Cloud-based ERP helps manufacturers drill down into every aspect of the production process and each element of the supply chain to discover the potential impact on the organisation’s portfolio writes Vibhu Kapoor, Regional Vice President - Middle East, Africa & India, Epicor
Many supply chains end with the consumer. Even B2B enterprises are commonly part of a chain that terminates at a B2C link. The modern consumer, therefore, has great influence on the way a significant chunk of the economy operates. And that same modern consumer expects businesses to behave ethically and to respect the environment.
In the Middle East, where the last two COP summits were held, sustainability has become a regional focus. Qatar announced its National Environment and Climate Change Strategy (QNE) in 2021 as a means to fulfil the environment pillar of the country’s National Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia started the National Energy Efficiency Program (NEEP) in 2008 and followed up in 2010 with the launch of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Centre (SEEC) and the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE). The UAE government established the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, which has authored a range of regulations and conventions on sustainability and green practices. And at the Egypt-hosted COP27, the UAE government unveiled its Net Zero 2050 Charter.
While these moves are admirable and necessary, we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the challenges manufacturers face in complying. Heavier industries play a huge part in economic diversification, but they face growing material and shipping costs. Fortunately, the Internet of Things is on hand to help. IoT solutions have allowed the emergence of smart factories, where data insights from shop floors and supply chains feed shrewd decision-making at every link in the manufacturing process — sourcing, production, and distribution.
Circular economy
The goals are reductions in materials waste and carbon output, and digital technologies can deliver at scale. But to be clear, these are new technologies. Legacy systems come with inefficiencies,
Vibhu Kapoor RVP – Middle East, Africa India, Epicor
including wasteful use of energy, because of the extensive physical infrastructure involved. Servers use electricity, heat up, and require even more electricity to power cooling solutions. These setups represent a relatively large carbon footprint. The answer is a migration to circular economy models.
The Qatar Foundation already has a plan for the circular economy, Saudi Arabia established the National Center for Waste Management (MWAN), and the UAE set up a Circular Economy Council. Subsequently, we have seen shifts in strategy across these economies as enterprises explore ways to comply. All this motion has opened doors for technology providers that can support sustainability efforts.
It all starts with the supply chain. Cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions can unite with manufacturing execution systems (MES) to offer net-zero compliance functionality that preserves the bottom line. A 2023 Epicor Industry Insights global report showed 96% of enterprises in a range of industries use some variant of cloud ERP. The cloud’s advantages include the ability to expand the use of technology with little to no business downtime, but cloud adoption also leads to lower onsite energy use and enables the remote monitoring of warehouses and factory floors.
Carbon accounting
We have come a long way in our ability to decarbonise, thanks to advances in AI and wireless connectivity. But now, we must go further and dig into our complex supply chains. Integrated ERP systems are ideally placed to analyse supply-chain data and calculate compliance costs. Through such visibility comes the ability to make products both profitable and affordable while complying with the eco-wishes of regulators and consumers. Sustainable supply chains come about through accurate information on product quality, traceability, and repairability. Data insights also arm decision makers against external shocks like logistics issues and inflation, leading to more agile and resilient operations.
The business is reborn. A new culture emerges, one in which carbon accounting — the practice of quantifying direct and indirect greenhouse emissions — is second nature, as is the pursuit of goals to reduce those emissions. ERP has always been a core tool for manufacturers to monitor everything to do with their products and the materials used to make them. Through automation, ERP can work quietly in the background to identify opportunities for improvement. Whether the enterprise is a B2C or B2B operator, it can provide its customers with green-related information that will stand up to scrutiny. Claims like these will be key differentiators in the years ahead.
Cloud-based ERP helps manufacturers drill down into every aspect of the production process and each element of the supply chain to discover the potential impact on the organisation’s portfolio. Visually rich dashboards give at-a-glance overviews of costs, revenues, shipments, and emissions. Seeing the connections between them, business leaders can take meaningful action.
Knowing that carbon emissions per shipment was too high in a given period leads to a slice-and-dice of that data to reveal the source, and hence the opportunity for action.
Laundry list of benefits
Over time, a business with this level of visibility and control over its manufacturing process will settle into a global community of sustainability champions with much greater ease than an organisation that is still wrestling with last decade’s systems. Sustainability is a winning proposition with a laundry list of short- and long-term benefits — easier audits, the favour of regulators, a brighter brand, and better business prospects. Profitability today without negative impact tomorrow is as good a definition as any for sustainability. The region is definitely heading in the right direction but those leading the charge are those who use terms like “circular economy” and “carbon accounting” in their corporate literature and in everyday speech. The same pioneers are likely also making liberal use of the phrase “cloud ERP”.
Makers, movers, and sellers will be compelled to move towards sustainable practices, one way or another, or risk becoming irrelevant. Using resources more slowly than nature replaces them is a tough challenge, but fortunately we know enough about what we should be doing to come up with goals that preserve profitability and affordability. All that remains is to measure what we actually do and adjust it until it meets the benchmark. To that end, cloud ERP is our ideal instrument.
“We have come a long way in our ability to decarbonise, thanks to advances in AI and wireless connectivity. But now, we must go further and dig into our complex supply chains. Integrated ERP systems are ideally placed to analyse supply-chain data and calculate compliance costs.”
PRIORITISING ASSET VISIBILITY
Asset visibility is critical to OT security, uptime, and so much more in the UAE industrial sector writes Rami Nehme, Regional Sales Director – UAE, South Gulf, Levant & Pakistan, OPSWAT
Rami Nehme Regional Sales Director, OPSWAT
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) proceeds ever onwards in its stated goal of increasing the industrial sector’s contribution to GDP. Industrial exports have grown 17% since the launch of Operation 300bn, the government program to boost the sector’s output to AED300 billion (US$81.6 billion) by 2030. In 2023, the UAE industrial segment’s economic contribution stood at AED197 billion, demonstrating great progress for a sector that is now the third largest in terms of its almost 10% share of nominal GDP.
But amid this, risks remain to the progress the region has made. Leaves on the line can come in many forms — supply chain issues, talent gaps, geopolitical turmoil. But perhaps the most urgent is the cyberthreat ecosystem, which has become something of an industry itself. Now more sophisticated and capable of refined, stealthy campaigns (bolstered by AI), the community of malicious actors has flourished. And without addressing fundamentals, the technical teams entrusted with protecting the UAE’s critical infrastructure will be flailing at specters.
Specters are difficult to spot. But what if their target were also invisible? Such is the case in many of today’s complex OT environments. As the rise of IoT has forced IT and OT to merge, asset visibility has become synonymous with security. Cybersecurity talent gaps in OT and IT do not prevent organizations’ leaders from reaching one simple conclusion: you cannot protect what you cannot see. Real-time asset visi-
bility solutions help with so much more than compliance. To the OT security professional, they are both telescope and microscope, offering the ability to recognize trouble from afar and drill down into vulnerable nooks.
Push and pull
In an environment where operational uptime is everything, plant managers will often be in conflict with CISOs who must prioritize compliance and security. The latter must find ways of compiling and maintaining detailed information on all things OT — hardware, platforms, and software tools. It is only then that the security team can discover vulnerabilities (allowing triage for patching purposes) and establish baselines for normal asset behavior (allowing advanced real-time threat detection). Once the CISO knows what is to be protected, they can segment the network and isolate the most important assets. If everything is designed appropriately, mitigation and response in the face of genuine threats is quicker, as are recovery times. You will note that all this is good news for uptime-focused plant managers.
The agility described is made possible by the company’s asset-visibility platform, which delivers real-time insights into every element of the OT environment. Enterprises can optimize inventory management, which goes a long way towards boosting their ability to detect threats early. So armed, the organization will be more resilient to the burgeoning threat landscape and will find it easier to remain compliant with UAE government and industry standards.
Imagine what a manufacturer or a utility could do when equipped with real-time asset visibility. I mentioned slicker reporting, but what about resource allocation and maintenance scheduling? Both are made frictionless. Meanwhile, vulnerabilities are laid bare, allowing tech and security teams to collaborate on fixes. Where patches require downtime and flaws are less critical, operations staff can be made aware of ways to avoid damaging errors.
Let’s get visible
Asset visibility is the first step in being able to detect anomalies. The established behavioral baselines allow the detection of deviations from normal operations. Catching these minor fluctuations is vital in flagging threats at their nascent stages. With the right analysis, a wobble in the norm can lead to the detection of unauthorized access, or of the live operation of malware. Being able to detect and respond to ransomware attacks and internal errors with more precision and speed is the perennial wish of every CISO. When an event occurs, it is empowering to have access to information such as a list of affected devices, the nature of the incident, the source of the incursion, and a list of actions required for mitigation. If this information flow is timely, downtime need not necessarily be the result, even if the attack is already underway
Enterprises in the industrial sector are subject to standards. If they fail to meet them, their operations and security could be forfeit. Asset visibility enables the monitoring and management of assets
to ensure that operations comply with UAE regulations like Federal Decree-Law No. 20 for 2020 on Standardization and Metrology, and Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2022 on the Regulation and Development of Industry.
But beyond mere compliance, visibility platforms allow firms to reach new heights of efficiency by opening the door to predictive maintenance. Once technical and operations teams can monitor asset health and performance, they can foresee component failure and perform minor repairs that call for less downtime than if troubleshooting is done after a machine goes offline. Predictive maintenance also extends the lifespan of equipment and reduces the labor hours spent on fixing things.
Waste not
Sustainability is now an industrial watchword. Better asset visibility means better asset usage, and better asset usage means better allocation of resources. Organizations can reduce waste, optimize costs, and improve overall efficiency. And we should not forget that diligent monitoring of industrial workspaces can detect hazards early (whether caused by cyberattack or human oversight), enhancing health and safety and the integrity of equipment. Additionally, when asset visibility is implemented comprehensively, threat-detection tools can be used to concoct training scenarios that upskill operational staff.
We should be clear — asset visibility is about more than awareness of an asset’s existence. It is about granular knowledge of its form and function — type, geographic location, operational status, and so on. This knowledge, as we have seen, allows the industrial organization to go beyond compliance and security to a range of business areas, from employee experience to the brand’s ESG bona fides. In other words, by taking visibility seriously, the organization takes its place as a sector leader.
“Sustainability is now an industrial watchword. Better asset visibility means better asset usage, and better asset usage means better allocation of resources. Organizations can reduce waste, optimize costs, and improve overall efficiency.”
SOPHOS XGS SERIES OF DESKTOP FIREWALLS
Sophos introduced nine new XGS Series desktop firewall appliances for midmarket and smaller-sized businesses. The new XGS appliances feature a streamlined architecture to deliver double the performance of previous models, but with 50% lower energy consumption. All of the new Sophos XGS appliances are available with multiple high-speed connectivity options, and four models are fanless, making them ideal for noise-sensitive environments.
The second-generation XGS Series desktop appliances deliver double the performance of the first-generation models while cutting power consumption in half. All these desktop firewalls include 2.5 GE interfaces, allowing traffic to flow freely and without bottlenecks, from your firewall to your 2.5 GE switch to your Wi-Fi 6 access point.Customers with noise-sensitive environments such as healthcare, education, and retail will love the whisper-quiet operation of the fanless XGS 88 and XGS 108 models. Using the expansion bay, an optional 5G module adds either redundant cellular connectivity or cost-effective 5G fixed wireless access (FWA).The XGS 88 to XGS 128 models feature a streamlined, single-CPU architecture that utilizes virtu-
al FastPath technology for traffic acceleration (in combination with Sophos Firewall OS v21 and higher). As the gateway model to the distributed edge, the XGS 138 boasts a dedicated Xstream Flow processor for hardware acceleration and two 10 GE SFP+ interfaces for high-speed fiber connectivity. All models except the XGS 138 are optionally available with built-in Wi-Fi.
Sophos has also announced updated Sophos Firewall software that provides enhanced protection against cyberattacks, including the ability to integrate third-party threat intelligence feeds.
Highlights:
• Enhanced performance and scalability: Triple the IPsec VPN performance boost on the new XGS Series desktop appliances, as well as faster authentication burst performance and optimizations to reduce downtime and increase resiliency during failovers for SD-RED tunnels, dynamic routes and Active Directory interactions for distributed enterprise environments
• Streamlined management: Refreshed user experiences; support for Let’s Encrypt certificates; integrated support for Google Workspace authentication; and expanded network object visibility that simplifies firewall management
• Seamless device upgrades: A new configuration backup assistant and port mapping support, backed by free license overlap for Sophos XG firewall customers, that enables added flexibility and easy upgrading from previous hardware generations
ASUS EXPERTBOOK P5 (P5405)
ExpertBook P5 (P5405) is a groundbreaking Copilot+ PC designed to empower modern professionals. Powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra processor (Series 2) with up to 47 NPU TOPS , delivering an up to 3X AI performance boost over the prior generation.
Designed to elevate productivity for mobile professionals and home offices, , this AI powerhouse empowers you the brand-new, exclusive meeting assistant ASUS AI ExpertMeet, streamline workflows and enhance collaboration. With a light yet durable aluminum chassis, stunning 2.5K 144 Hz display, and business-grade security and service, the ExpertBook P5 provides peak performance and seamless work experiences, anywhere.
With the Asus AI ExpertMeet, this AI-driven powerhouse streamlines workflows and enhances collaboration. Its sleek, durable aluminum chassis houses a stunning 2.5K 144 Hz display, delivering exceptional visuals. With a feather-light design weighing 1.29 kg and exceptional battery life, it provides up to 28 hours of video playback or 20 hours of office productivity. ExpertBook P5 is a perfect companion for on-the-go professionals seeking peak performance and efficiency.
D-LINK G530 5G NR AX3000 WI-FI 6 ROUTER
Dive into ultra-fast connectivity with 5G NSA mode, offering speeds up to 3.4 Gbps. The G530 5G NR AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 router ensures you enjoy low-latency, high-speed Internet on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, perfect for reliable home entertainment and efficient work.
In areas lacking robust network infrastructure, 5G offers a reliable Internet solution where traditional broadband can't reach. The G530 5G NR AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 router brings high-speed internet to the places with limited or no fixed-line access, such as rural locations and temporary setups. Simply by inserting a SIM card, you tap into powerful 5G networks.
Engineered for peak performance, the G530 ensures robust 5G connections across multiple devices simultaneously. Enjoy stable, high-speed Internet for 4K/8K streaming, gaming, and work without the hassle of buffering, dropouts, or interference. The G530 leverages Wi-Fi 6 to maximize efficiency, ensuring seamless operation of all your devices. Enjoy smoother streaming, quicker downloads, and uninterrupted online gaming with optimal performance.
G530 5G NR Wi-Fi 6 router allows you to access and share your fast mobile broadband with multiple devices simultaneously, so everyone can enjoy efficient Wi-Fi performance and less interference for web browsing, large files downloading or 4K/8K streaming.Elevate the safety of your home or office with the G530, incorporating the latest WPA3 security standard and the prestigious ETSI EN 303 645 cybersecurity certification. These enhances the cybersecurity of consumer IoT devices, encrypting data and fortifying your network against external threats for peace of mind.
Highlights:
• Ultra-fast 5G NR, AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 speed
• Support 5G NSA/SA and 4G LTE
• 5G connectivity speeds up to 3.4 Gbps1
• Built-in SIM card slot for 5G network
• Network protection: Parental Control, Guest Wi-Fi
• Security protection: WPA3 encryption, EN 303 645/IEC 62443-4-1 certifications
• 1 Gigabit WAN port and 1 Gigabit LAN port
Highlights:
• The all-new Asus AI ExpertMeet is an on-device AI assistant that transforms meetings into productive and engaging experiences
• AI ExpertMeet offers a comprehensive suite of AI-powered features to elevate every meeting experience. AI Meeting Minutes accurately captures and transcribe meetings, generating detailed summaries and identifying key points from multiple speakers.
• The AI Translated Subtitles feature provides translations, ensuring seamless communication across languages.
• The Watermark function allows video calls to be personalised with customizable business card information and screen watermarks for added security and professionalism.
GEN AI DRIVES INCREASED IT SPENDING
Gartner forecasts worldwide IT spending to grow 9.3% in 2025 with server sales increasing exponentially, led by spending in GenAI
Worldwide IT spending is expected to total $5.74 trillion in 2025, an increase of 9.3% from 2024, according to the latest forecast by Gartner, Inc.
“Current spending on generative AI (GenAI) has been predominantly from technology companies building the supply-side infrastructure for GenAI,” said John-David Lovelock, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner. “CIOs will begin to spend on GenAI, beyond proof-of-concept work, starting in 2025. More money will be spent, but the expectations that CIOs have for the capabilities of GenAI will drop. The reality of what can be accomplished with current GenAI models, and the state of CIO’s data will not meet today’s lofty expectations.”
Gartner analysts are discussing the trends that are impacting the IT market during Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo, taking place here through Thursday.
Server Sales Continue to Drive the Data Center Systems Segment Data center systems spending grew by nearly 35% in 2024. While the segment will not see a jump equal to that in 2025, it is still set to grow by almost $50 billion in 2025 (See Table 1). This is led by server sales, which are set to almost triple from more than $134 billion in 2023 to $332 billion by 2028, including more than $257 billion in 2025.
"GenAI will easily eclipse the effects that cloud and outsourcing vendors had on previous years regarding data center systems," said Lovelock. “It took 20 years for the cloud and outsourcing vendors to build up spending to $67 billion a year on servers. The demand of GenAI will help nearly triple server sales from 2023 to 2028.”
Software and IT Services Drive Growth Spending on software is expected to increase 14% to $1.23 trillion in 2025, up from 11.7% growth in 2024. Meanwhile, IT services is expected to grow 9.4% to $1.73 trillion in 2025, up from 5.6% in 2024.
“Software and IT services are a large driver of IT growth,” said Lovelock. “Spending on these segments is expected to be on AI-related projects, including email and authoring. This was a market that, despite its age and having been consolidated down to a small number of players, will add $6.6 billion to global spending in 2024 and $7.4 billion 2025 due in part to GenAI products and services.
“Our forecast projects that $500 billion will be added in spending every year in terms of growth rates. With this in mind, IT spending should cross the $7 trillion mark in 2028.”
Table 1. Worldwide IT Spending Forecast (Millions of U.S. Dollars)
Source: Gartner (October 2024)
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