Value Journal | Issue 27 | November 2018

Issue 27 // November 2018

DELL EMC TO SUPPORT AI KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND VR ADOPTION The company also discussed its virtual and augmented reality offerings that were showcased at GITEX 2018.

Mohammed Amin, Dell EMC

Dell EMC’s machine learning and AI offerings took centre stage at this year’s GITEX Technology Week, following the signing of an MoU last month that pledges to educate 500 Emirati students in the field of AI. Mohammed Amin, Senior Vice President, META, Dell EMC, said that the agreement between Dell EMC and the UAE’s Minister of State for AI – Omar bin Sultan Al Olama – aims at bridging the skills gap in the technology sector, and supporting the youth in unlocking

their potential to meet the challenges of the future.

The program is scheduled to run for three years with the participation of 120 students each year. Dell EMC will then select 10 students who will be offered five-day intensive training to obtain a diploma in Data Engineering and Cloud.

Amin went on to discuss the firm’s virtual and augmented reality offerings that were also showContinued on page 3 cased at the show.

Fortinet to drive security transformation The vendor urged customers to adopt a security transformation approach to complement their digital transformation initiatives.

Fortinet has participated at GITEX 2018 by focusing on encouraging organizations to adopt a Security Transformation (SX) approach to complement their Digital Transformation (DX) initiative.

“The digital transformation or DX wave appears to be sweeping away everything that stands before it, and cybersecurity worries have emerged as a significant obstacle to the transformation process,” said Alain Penel, Regional Vice President, Middle

East, Fortinet.

“Currently, four areas stand out as particularly acute cybersecurity pain points for organizations adopting a DX approach; cloud computing and in particular multi-cloud environments, IoT, a burgeoning threat landscape, and rising regulatory pressure. It is crucial to understand that while organizations are turning to DX to achieve growth as well as associated business objectives, the process also requires an equivalent secu-

Alain Penel, Fortinet

rity transformation. At GITEX, we demonstrated how the Fortinet Security Fabric brings together multiple security technologies to deliver comprehensive and collaborative security capabilities across the whole network and enable security transformation.”

The company showcased its vision of security transformation and held customized demonstrations highlighting the key capabilities of the Fortinet Security Fabric.

Continued on page 3

Redington Value is a value added distributor for the following brands in parts of Middle East & Africa:

For more information, please write to sales.value@redingtonmea.com

$

DATA → INSIGHT → INNOVATION → REVENUE Capitalize on New Opportunities with the Right Infrastructure

ONE SCALABLE PLATFORM Intel® Xeon® Platinum Processor (8000 Series) Best Performance and Business Agility, Hardware-Enhanced Security

Up to 224 Cores (28 cores x 8 sockets)

Up to 12 TB of Memory (1.5 TB x 8 sockets)

Best for Mission Critical, Real-Time Analytics and Artificial Intelligence

Intel® Xeon® Gold Processor (6000 Series)

Up to 88 Cores (22 cores x 4 sockets)

Up to 6 TB of Memory (1.5 TB x 4 sockets)

Great Performance, Fast Memory, More Interconnect/Accelerator Engines More Interconnects

Intel® Xeon® Gold Processor (5000 Series)

Up to 56 Cores (14 cores x 4 sockets)

Up to 3 TB of Memory (768 GB x 4 sockets)

Better Performance, Advanced Reliability Advanced RAS Features

Intel® Xeon® Silver Processor (4000 Series)

Up to 24 Cores (12 cores x 2 sockets)

Up to 1.5 TB of Memory (768 GB x 2 sockets)

Efficient Performance at Low Power As Low as 70 Watts

Intel® Xeon® Bronze Processor (3000 Series)

Up to 16 Cores Up to 1.5 TB of Memory (8 cores x 2 sockets) (768 GB x 2 sockets)

Sockets Cores

Entry Performance As Low as 85 Watts

Memory

3 From page 1

Dell EMC to support...

“With VR, it involves being exposed to a digital application, remotely. Rather, with AR, it involves experiencing the 3D-digital world, but in the same location,” he said. “There is so much potential in VR applications right now, particularly in the job learning and training space. This area is often a major expense for organizations looking to enhance their team’s skills and knowledge. But with our VR offering, you can now host a crash course in just 24 hours – bringing new employees totally up to speed with how the company operates, and this can be done from any location.”

Amin went on to highlight healthcare as an industry of focus for Dell EMC and its VR offerings moving forward.

“The combination of AI and VR, coupled with the arrival of 5G and its ability to reduce huge latency issues, means the medical profession is set to be completely transformed from where it is today,” he said. “Before long, we’ll see the advent of remote surgery. Thanks to the ever-advancing technology behind VR, surgeons will soon be able to operate remotely, while still getting a feel for muscle tissues.”

From page 1

Fortinet to drive...

It has also focused on its secure SDWAN functionality, threat detection services, and expanded visibility from IoT to multi-cloud networks protecting the vast attack surface resulting from digital transformation (DX) strategies.

“As cyber adversaries adopt new methods to target and exploit organizations, security transformation demands the integration of security into all areas of digital technology. This results in fundamental changes to how security is architected, deployed, and operated, which is why digital transformation and security transformation need to walk hand-in-hand,” added Penel.

Redington Value adds new big data vendors and unveils advanced analytics practice The new data science and analytics practice aims to empower partners to cash in on market prospects.

Redington Value has introduced a new practice around data science and advanced analytics to capitalize on the opportunities that the $4 billion data analytics market has to offer, together with channel partners.

Over the coming months, we will see the distributor strengthening its vendor portfolio by partnering with global leaders in the data analytics space. Redington already boasts relationships with companies such as Splunk and TCG Digital and has most recently added Talend, SAS, Tableau Software and MicroStrategy, who have expertise on advanced analytics.

Ramkumar Balakrishnan, President, Redington Value, said, “Having identified a huge opportunity in data science and advanced analytics space, we have unveiled this practice to help our partners take advantage of the prospects present. Partners were not seizing the opportunity primarily because of the gap in skills. We have come up with a strategy to help bridge this gap in the market.

“One of the first plan of actions for setting up the data science and advanced analytics practice include investing in 25 people in Redington and an equal number

in our consulting arm Citrus, from a delivery standpoint.

This is a serious investment from Redington’s end,” he added.

If partners invest into this practice, they also have the opportunity to climb up the value chain, Balakrishnan explained. “Besides cloud, this is the first time when there is a net new opportunity on the table, which partners need to look into seriously.”

Data analytics is a broad area with several segments for partners to develop their niche in.

Sayantan Dev, vice president for VCG and Data Analytics, Redington Value, said, “When building the team for this new practice, we are ensuring that extensive specialization is a key component. We will also enable partners with trainings, programs, events, workshops and one-on-one meetings.”

Dev said that partners have an opportunity to become experts in the four pillars of the practice – data management, data cleansing or ETL (Extract, Transform and Load), prescriptive and predictive analytics and finally descriptive analytics to provide insight into the past.

He said, “Partners are

“Besides cloud, this is the first time when there is a net new opportunity on the table, which partners need to look into seriously.”

Ramkumar Balakrishnan, Redington Value

seeing great value with our new practice and currently trying to figure out the area they want to invest and specialize in.”

According to Balakrishnan, the next steps will be around spreading awareness, educating partners along with creating and building joint business plans and go-to-market strategies. The distributor will also host several CEO roundtables to increase awareness as Redington believes that the practice cannot be built without the support of CEOs. “We are going to create the most interesting practice that our partners are going to leverage into and ensure we start addressing this $4 billion opportunity together,” he added.

“When building the team for this new practice, we are ensuring that extensive specialization is a key component. We will also enable partners with trainings, programs, events, workshops and one-on-one meetings.”

Sayantan Dev, Redington Value

For more information, please write to sales.value@redingtonmea.com

4

Huawei fuels Middle East’s AI future The company introduced its Atlas Intelligent computing platform to the Middle East.

At GITEX, Huawei brought its Atlas intelligent computing platform to the Middle East. The Atlas intelligent computing platform is powered by the Huawei Ascend AI processor and mainstream heterogeneous computing components and integrates various forms of products, such as modules, cards, boards, edge stations, and appliances, to build an all-scenario AI infrastructure covering the end, edge, and cloud.

As an important part of Huawei’s full-stack AI solution, the Atlas intelligent computing platform unlocks supreme compute power to help customers embrace an AI-driven future and expedite the Middle East’s intelligent transformation journey.

The Middle East is one of the first regions worldwide to import Huawei’s recently-unveiled revolutionary AI products and solutions. AI is a central aspect of national development plans and

Taha Farooque Tungekar, Huawei

visions in the region to become diversified, knowledge-based economies; as AI becomes more advanced, it is becoming an all-purpose technology, which will drive the development of all industries, creating new venues of innovation and growth. Huawei launched the Atlas intelligent computing platform in the Middle East to fuel the region’s digital

transformation.

The Atlas intelligent computing platform is an evolution of the Atlas intelligent cloud hardware platform released in 2017.

The new Atlas includes the terminal-facing Atlas 200 AI acceleration module, the DC-facing Atlas 300 AI acceleration card, the edge-oriented Atlas 500 AI edge station, and the one-stop AI

platform: Atlas 800 AI appliance, positioned for enterprises.

To accelerate AI implementation, Huawei has also released its AI Developer Enablement Program. The program will help Huawei collaborate with developers, partners, universities, and research institutions. Huawei will use the program to build a better development ecosystem that can support AI resources, platforms, courses, and joint solutions.

Taha Farooque Tungekar from Huawei said, “Huawei recently launched the world’s first AI IP and chip series designed for a full range of scenarios, and we are eager to work with our customers and partners in the Middle East to customize our AI products and solutions to meet local business challenges and uplift Middle East organizations to the next level of efficiency and profitability. We are excited to launch the Atlas Intelligent Computing Platform as it brings us a step closer to creating an AI ecosystem to drive forward the region’s digital transformation.”

Microsoft highlights threat management solutions A recent Microsoft study surveyed nearly 1,000 GCC-based organizations on their knowledge of, and plans for cybersecurity, and covering areas from data protection to authentication.

Microsoft has brought the power of its cloud-based identity and threat-management solutions to Gartner’s Security and Risk Management Summit 2018, that took place in Dubai recently.

A recent Microsoft study surveyed nearly 1,000 GCC-based organizations on their knowledge of, and plans for cybersecurity, and covering areas from data protection to authentication. At a time when security professionals were urgently recommending next-generation identity-management techniques such as facial recognition, biometric identification and multi-factor authentication, just over 80% of large Gulf enterprises were still using usernames and passwords as the exclusive means of log-in to corporate networks.

A small minority was using next-generation practices. Just 11% used multi-factor authentication, seven percent reported using fingerprint-scanning, and just under 1% had adopted facial recognition.

Additionally, 41% admitted to hav-

For more information, please write to sales.value@redingtonmea.com

ing clicked on links within unsolicited emails from unknown parties and just over 61 percent of those polled said their organization did not yet have a data-classification solution in place.

Microsoft also ran a ‘Hacking Experience’ at the company’s booth

during both days of the summit.

The opportunity offered delegates a chance to probe their organizations for vulnerabilities in real time and test how protected their business is from the regional threat landscape.

“Microsoft has been extremely active in the region in promoting enhanced security measures,” said Girard Moussa, Security Lead, Microsoft Middle East and Africa.

“We believe, our presence at events such as the Gartner Security & Risk Management Summits have raised awareness and sparked discussion on the urgent need for more diligent action and enhanced policies, and we will continue to work with customers, governments and security professionals to ensure organizations can digitally transform in safety and confidence.”

5

AccelStor signs up Redington Value to deliver all-flash array solutions The partnership will allow the company to provide its regional customers with qualified local teams of sales and technical specialists.

Manufacturer of all-flash arrays (AFAs) AccelStor has announced the appointment of Redington Value as a strategic value distribution partner in the Middle East all-flash market. The partnership will allow the company to provide its enterprise data centre, virtualisation and database customers in the region with qualified local teams of sales and technical specialists.

The partnership was officially announced at the annual GITEX Technology Week that took place in Dubai, UAE. At GITEX Technology Week 2018, AccelStor displayed its newest flagship all-flash

storage array, the NeoSapphire H710 that boasts “best-in-class performance, a complete and intelligent 5:1 data reduction technology that adaptively optimizes storage utilization in real-time and background operations, a unique

shared-nothing architecture, and a superb $ to IOPS ratio”, said the company.

AccelStor also hosted a series of technology speeches on ‘The Future of Flash’, the shortcomings of current flash architecture and ways of overcoming them with intelligent data remapping while getting the most from infrastructure investment. These presentations showed the evolution of flash hardware, software, and how AccelStor’s FlexiRemap algorithm revolutionizes the storage market by solving the shortcomings of legacy storage architectures, including RAID technology.

Impinj to deliver transformative IoT solutions in MEA Redington’s partners can integrate Impinj’s offerings with their existing portfolios to offer customers tailor-made and comprehensive value-added solutions.

Regional distributor Redington Value has added Impinj, a leading provider and pioneer of RAIN RFID solutions, to its portfolio.

The partnership will allow Impinj to the VAD’s extensive partner network in the Middle East and Africa region to leverage Impinj solutions and platform.

The Impinj platform enables wireless connectivity to billions of everyday items such as apparel, medical supplies, equipment, luggage, food and more. By connecting everyday items, Impinj aims to extend the reach of the Internet by a factor of 1,000, enabling the Internet of Things (IoT).

“We are really excited about this new partnership. Redington Value‘s expertise and footprint in the Middle East and Africa will help us address a new channel community about our RAIN RFID cutting-edge solutions. We strongly believe in this new col-

Fabrice Gourlay, Impinj

laboration and set high expectations,” said Fabrice Gourlay, Vice President, Sales EMEA, Impinj.

The Impinj platform, which includes endpoint ICs, connectivity devices and software, delivers an item’s identity, location, and authenticity to business and consumer applications through a battery-free radio technology called RAIN RFID. This helps companies around the world to

increase sales, improve efficiencies and deliver compelling experiences.

Redington’s partners will now have the opportunity to integrate Impinj’s offerings with their existing portfolios to offer customers tailor-made and comprehensive value-added solutions.

Ramkumar Balakrishnan, President, Redington Value, said, “Impinj solutions will bring immeasurable value to our channel community, especially as IoT is gradually edging into most business functions today. We are thrilled to be appointed as their Middle East and Africa distributor and look forward to enabling our partners to truly optimise the opportunities that this partnership will present them.”

Redington Value will be organizing a number of training and enablement workshops to help partners acclimatize with Impinj solutions.

Symantec significantly expands cloud security portfolio

Symantec has announced innovations and expansions to its cloud security portfolio, designed to help organizations protect the cloud generation applications and infrastructure they rely on. Symantec’s Cyber Defense Platform offers the broadest cloud protection available, providing visibility and control for virtually any cloud app and integrations with CloudSOC CASB, Cloud Workload Protection (CWP) and Data Loss Protection (DLP). It also provides the deepest cloud protection, giving customers the ability to track more risk attributes and scan cloud applications and repositories with new API Integrations.

Symantec’s Cyber Defense Platform offers integrated security solutions covering a robust set of IaaS, PaaS and SaaS technologies that businesses use every day.

Key portfolio updates include protection for cloud infrastructure, security for cloud applications and expanded cyber security services.

Bradon Rogers, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Product Strategy, Symantec added, “Our cloud security suite was designed with innovative new features and comprehensive integrations to help meet the security and compliance needs of any organization. By delivering these technologies with a cloud-first mindset and integrating security across infrastructure, workloads and applications, we are able to provide the most expansive protection in the industry. And, through innovations across the Integrated Cyber Defense platform, we are able to secure key control points – cloud, endpoint, network and email.”

For more information, please write to sales.value@redingtonmea.com

6

Kaspersky Lab signs up Redington Value as regional VAD The distributor will leverage the vendor’s strong network reach to provide advance cybersecurity services and products.

Kaspersky Lab has partnered with Redington Value, value-added distribution division of Redington Gulf, to provide its wide range of products and services to organizations across the gulf market.

Through this strategic agreement, Dubai-based Redington will act as the vendor’s dedicated partner and leverage its strong network reach to provide advance cybersecurity services and products to organizations and enable them to develop new capabilities in mitigating cyber-attacks.

With an extensive network of stock-points and sales offices, Redington Value has embarked on a journey to help partners in the channel ecosystem to deliver

Amir Kanaan, Kaspersky Lab

the most optimal IT solution to their customers. Through their strong partner network, Redington is committed to meet the length and breadth of customer demands, through fast and efficient product and service deliv-

ery, easy support access, prompt dispatching of relevant information and optimized distribution operations.

Amir Kanaan, Managing Director, META region, Kaspersky Lab, said, “Reflecting the dynamic nature of the cybersecurity landscape and the continuous threats to businesses, Kaspersky Lab expects investment in strengthening the IT security infrastructure to increase by 18 percent for both enterprise and small business for the next three years.

“We continue to look at new ways to empower our customers to protect their data from all sorts of cyber threats. Hence, we are delighted to announce our

new distribution partnership with Redington and make them a part of our journey to not only meet our customers’ needs but exceed it,” he adds.

Ramkumar Balakrishnan, President, Redington Value, said, “We are very excited to join forces with Kaspersky Lab. This partnership will enable us to lead the frontlines of cybersecurity innovation. As a value-added distributor, it is our core responsibility to offer advanced solutions that effectively address our customers ever-evolving security concerns. We are proud to announce this agreement and look forward to developing a strong partnership with Kaspersky Lab.”

Mimecast spotlights the importance of the ‘human firewall’ The company has introduced to the market its newest offering, Mimecast Awareness Training.

Mimecast has showcased its new cybersecurity awareness capabilities at GITEX Technology Week 2018. Following the acquisition of Ataata in July, the company has introduced IT decision-makers to its newest offering, Mimecast Awareness Training. The service is designed to offer memorable training content, risk scoring and real-world simulation attack scenarios.

According to Mimecast’s State of Email Security 2018 Report, 90 percent of organizations have seen phishing attacks increase or stay the same over the last year, yet only 11 percent of respondents continuously train employees on how to spot cyberattacks. At GITEX, Mimecast focused on why building an effective human firewall is a vital component of any cyber resil-

According to Mimecast’s State of Email Security 2018 Report, 90 percent of organizations have seen phishing attacks increase or stay the same over the last year, yet only 11 percent of respondents continuously train employees on how to spot cyberattacks.”

For more information, please write to sales.value@redingtonmea.com

ience strategy.

Mimecast Awareness Training is designed to reduce human error in the workplace and help enable organizations to become more secure by changing the security culture of their employees.

“Human error is involved in the vast majority of security breaches, yet ineffective security awareness training remains an issue across the Middle East region. Securely operating a business in the cloud requires new levels of IT preparedness and educating employees to be cyber-aware is key to an effective cyber resilience strategy,” said Jeff Ogden, General Manager, Mimecast Middle East.

“At GITEX, we have educated visitors about how awareness training shouldn’t simply be a check box action but entrenched

Jeff Ogden, Mimecast Middle East

in an organization’s culture, so it changes employee behavior.”

Mimecast experts also performed a series of live hacks that demonstrated the importance of user awareness and show why organizations need to implement adequate protection against advanced cyberattacks, like spear-phishing and impersonation fraud.

7

GITEX HIGHLIGHTS

For more information, please write to sales.value@redingtonmea.com

8

EVENTS

Oracle - Cloud Infrastructure Hands-on Workshop - 1617 October 2018

Oracle - Mobile and Intelligent bot Workshop - Kenya 25-26 September 2018

Cisco - Partner Bootcamp On Data Center And Security - Kenya - 3 October 2018

Veritas - Partner Enablement Session - Tanzania - 13 September 2018

Symantec - End Customer Event - Ghana - 6 September 2018

Veritas - Partner Enablement Session - Ethiopia - 20 September 2018

Cisco - Meraki Partner Enablement Session - Ghana 17 October 2018

Microstrategy - Launch Event - Nigeria - 19 September 2018

SAS - Launch Event - Kenya - 4 October 2018

Dell EMC - Customer Event with Redmango - Ghana 20 September 2018

Oracle - ISV Roundtable - Nigeria - 17 October 2018

Veeam - Launch Event - Ghana - 18 September 2018

For more information, please write to sales.value@redingtonmea.com

Veeam - Launch Event - Nigeria - 8 October 2018

9

EVENTS

Cisco - Partner Collaboration And Core Network Event - Uganda - 18 September 2018

Cisco - Partner Enablement Session - Rwanda - 21 September 2018

Dell EMC - CI And HCI Solutions Event - Uganda - 23 October 2018

Huawei - Launch Event - Kenya - 19 September 2018

Micro Focus and HPE - IM & G - Partner Event - Kenya 2 October 2018

Cisco - Partner Collaboration and Core Network Event - Tanzania - 11 October 2018

Cisco - Service Partner Workshop - Kenya - 18 September 2018

Dell EMC - Data Protection Event - Uganda - 10 October 2018

Dell EMC - Partner Enablement Session - Kenya - 21 September 2018

Micro Focus and HPE - Customer Event - Kenya - 3 October 2018

Microsoft CSP Partner Roundtable - Kenya - 17 October 2018

Microsoft - CSP Partner Roundtable - Kenya - 13 September 2018

For more information, please write to sales.value@redingtonmea.com

10

EVENTS

Oracle - Cloud Infrastructure Hands-on Workshop - 1617 October 2018

Oracle - Mobile and Intelligent bot Workshop - Kenya 25-26 September 2018

Cisco - Partner Bootcamp On Data Center And Security - Kenya - 3 October 2018

Veritas - Partner Enablement Session - Tanzania - 13 September 2018

Symantec - End Customer Event - Ghana - 6 September 2018

Veritas - Partner Enablement Session - Ethiopia - 20 September 2018

Cisco - Meraki Partner Enablement Session - Ghana 17 October 2018

Microstrategy - Launch Event - Nigeria - 19 September 2018

SAS - Launch Event - Kenya - 4 October 2018

Dell EMC - Customer Event with Redmango - Ghana 20 September 2018

Oracle - ISV Roundtable - Nigeria - 17 October 2018

Veeam - Launch Event - Ghana - 18 September 2018

For more information, please write to sales.value@redingtonmea.com

Veeam - Launch Event - Nigeria - 8 October 2018

Veeam lasts the distance.

Will You? TAKE THE CHALLENGE WIN THE CHALLENGER

Rahul Gulati

rahul.gulati@redingtongulf.com

H Hotel, Business Towers, SZR, 7th Floor, Dubai, UAE