Embrace Digital Transformation With Exceptional Cybersecurity

CATALYST HELPS ORGANIZATIONS EMBRACE SECURE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Catalyst is a global technology solutions provider offering end-to-end services for business applications, the internet of things (IoT), middleware, database, etc. Debashish Ray, General Manager – UAE and Group Financial Controller at Catalyst Business Solutions speaks about the competent products, solutions Catalyst offers to organizations.

Describe the competitive advantages enterprises receive while relying on Catalyst for integrations

We assist organizations in their digital transformation while improving their cybersecurity with the following qualities: • Provide cloud, on-premise, hybrid business applications audit, implementation, support, upgrade, and managed services • Handle “tomorrow's” problem – unknown attacks • Reduce compliance risk and penalties • Protect brand and customer data • Increase competitive stance • Reduce penalty of regulations • Automate cybersecurity posture • Reduce security OPEX • Accelerate growth by mobilizing resources on core business Besides that, we are Oracle’s Platinum partners since 2002 and we accommodate Oracle and cybersecuritycertified experts in the workforce. We also have local subsidiaries, teams, and competitive delivery centers.

Discuss the emerging technology products and solutions Catalyst offer to its customers

The services we offer include: • Automation of the cybersecurity posture; inventory of assets and vulnerabilities and technical and financial quantification of the risk • Protection of servers/applications against all attacks (especially zero days) in a few milliseconds, reduction of false positives and OPEX costs • The protection of mobile devices and applications • Compliance, confidentiality, privacy, and governance of structured and unstructured data

Speak about your participation at GITEX GLOBAL 2022. Is it through partners or independent?

We are participating with our strategic partners.

What are your Middle East business plans and strategies for the remainder of 2022 and 2023?

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the primary target countries for cyberattacks. According to the latest Global Cybersecurity Index of the International Telecommunication Union, the UAE ranks 5th in the world in cybersecurity with Russia and Malaysia. In contrast, it ranks 2nd among the Arab states - just behind Saudi Arabia.

The latest events and meetings organized by Catalyst with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi have solidified Catalyst’s commitment to ensure that the Emirates and its stakeholders be able to do business in a safe and secure environment. Catalyst is dedicated to achieving the vision of the UAE to become one of the most cyber-secure countries in the world by pursuing the implementation of its next-gen cyber security solutions.

Tell us about the major collaborations and strategic partnerships that Catalyst handles currently

1. Our one-of-a-kind cybersecurity partnerships: 2. Virsec - Server/Application Workload Protection against known and zero-day attacks in milliseconds during runtime 3. Balbix - Automated Cybersecurity Posture 4. Zimperium - Mobile Threat Protection 5. Securiti - Data Compliance and Governance

INTERVIEW

ASBIS

WITH SOLID PARTNERSHIP, ASBIS AIMS TO HELP BUSINESSES ADVANCE WITH EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

ASBIS is one of the leading IT distributors in the Middle East with a wide range of IT solutions including networking infrastructure, software and security, and printing and business solutions. Hesham Tantawi, Vice President- MENA, ASBIS Middle East speaks about the company’s strategic focus and strength in the region.

Hesham Tantawi

Vice President- MENA, ASBIS ME

We understand ASBIS extends its winning streak from the past year to this year. Elaborate a little on your current achievements

Yes. 2022 is treating ASBIS well, especially in terms of growth in the core products, irrespective of the less market growth in general. We have already achieved what we had planned for the last five years. We aimed for a solid partnership, and we are yielding the results now. We are also planning to open new segments in the distribution business, incorporating consumer-centric products with targeting a specific league of customers.

How competent are you in providing customers with advanced technologies (AI, cybersecurity, data analytics, etc.)

In addition to ASBIS’ earlier portfolio in the key business verticals (i.e., volume, value-added, and commercial services), we have recently added one more segment focused on consumers.

ASBIS aims to help business advance with emerging technologies, including data analytics, cyber security, and AI, and that is handled through our value vertical. It gives a competitive advantage for organizations when configuring themselves with these latest technologies. We enthusiastically work with system integrators and solution providers to make that happen. Supermicro, Seagate System, Infinidat, and TP-Link are a few leading vendors we present to customers from the value-added divisions. Plus, ASBIS is presenting itself as a one-stop shop for all organizational needs, incorporating retail, building management, agriculture, etc., of our customers.

around GITEX GLOBAL 2022

At GITEX, we are representing leading vendors with the entire portfolio in the following categories: VOLUME: AMD, Intel, AFOX, Sapphire, PNY, AOC, ECS, and Lexmark Storage: Western Digital, Seagate, Toshiba, Kingston, Transcend, QNAP, Synology, Dahua, Solidigm, Infortrend, DDN, and infinidat

VALUE:

Networking: TP-Link, Ubiquiti, Grandstream, Mimosa, Yealink, Yeaastar, and Mikrotik. Server: Supermicro, NVIDIA, and Gigabyte CONSUMER: Logitech, Bang and Olufsen, Loewe, Prestigio, Canyon, Lorgar, Aeno, and Perenio

Even though ASBIS’ policy is not to show itself at the event, we are conducting a client reach out and meeting program soon.

ASBIS’ strategies for 2023

The key strategy we have is that we will continue to create a solid association with our partners. We will integrate more brands, offer excellent support to the existing ones, and that’s the culture we followed since the beginning.

How do you evaluate the growth of ASBIS in the future?

ASBIS gained revenue of $3.7 billion. We are expecting a growth of $7.97 billion, which is bottom-line profitability, and we are determined to grow and go beyond. From East Europe and Russia, ASBIS used to have 22 percent annual revenue. But now, the business isn’t operational there due to the ongoing geographic tensions. However, ASBIS is trying to add 2-3 percent additional revenue from other countries to compensate.

INTERVIEW

MALCO TECHNOLOGIES

MALCO’S INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS MINIMIZE COSTS, RISKS AND MAXIMIZE ROI

Malco Technologies deals with the distribution of software and hardware products for data center network components in the Middle East and beyond from the bestin-class manufacturers across the globe. Its product lineup includes video, connection, security, cabling, energy and power, and data center solutions. Huzaifa Kanorwala – General Manager, Malco Technologies, speaks about its infrastructure solutions and regional strategies.

Huzaifa Kanorwala

GM, Malco Technologies solutions such as Fine Pixel LED/LCD Video Walls, digital signage, corporate screens, and various customized solutions for Indoor Transparent LEDs, Asymmetrical Screens to suit every Retail, Media, Corporate, and NOC/SOC control room requirements. We also provide various connecting cables like HDMI/AOC, matrix switchers, Tx/Rx systems, etc.

Elaborate on the infrastructure solutions that Malco Technologies distributes to enterprises and their significance in the era of digital transformation

For countries to have the conditions for continued development, digital technologies are becoming increasingly crucial. The right infrastructure is key and ensures that the firm is at its most productive – maximizing ROI and minimizing costs and risks. The type of infrastructure that is best for every business is dependent on several factors – there is no “one size fits all” be it solutions that reduce power consumption or transfer data efficiently. Malco Technologies believes in providing companies with infrastructure solutions that focus on and cater to customers’ requirements. With our specialized team of technology experts and wealth of industry knowledge from multiple business sectors, we work with our clients to ensure that they have the best choice of infrastructure solutions for their business requirements.

What types of verticals Malco is mainly focusing on?

ELV/Security, IoT, and Audio-Visual Solutions.

Briefly describe the AV or unified communication solutions that you offer to customers

We provide a wide range of Commercial display

Describe Malco’s vision in infrastructure distribution

Our vision for Malco Technologies is to be the one-point distributor of the highest quality IT infrastructure and security solutions. As technology develops, we focus to inform and educate our clients about these opportunities. We aim to provide an end-to-end passive service, making sure each & everyone has access to easier, reliable, and smart IT solutions. With our specialized team of technology experts and wealth of industry knowledge from multiple business sectors, we work with our clients to ensure that they have the best choice of infrastructure for their business requirements. We are diligent to become one of the global leaders in the IT distribution sector.

What are your Middle East strategies for 2023?

We believe that Malco Technologies now has the right team, the right capabilities, and the right solutions needed to achieve greater momentum in the region. We are confident that we have the perfect partners whose solutions can be successfully marketed in other GCC regions. As Malco Technologies set a vision, we are in the process of opening offices in multiple locations all around the GCC and Africa markets.

METAVERSE: THE FUTURE OF INTERACTIVE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

Verse Estate is a hyper-realistic metaverse company headquartered in Dubai. Leila Hurstel, Chief Metaverse Officer at Verse Estate, speaks about the merits of the metaverse and the potential impacts of the organization’s Dubai Metaverse Strategy.

Explain how Dubai Metaverse Strategy will contribute to enhancing economic growth and job creation

The Dubai Metaverse Strategy aims to turn Dubai into one of the world’s top 10 metaverse economies as well as a global hub for the metaverse community. The strategy seeks to attract more than 1,000 companies in the fields of blockchain and metaverse, to support more than 40,000 virtual jobs by 2030, and supports the development of Web3 technology and its applications to create new governmental work models and growth in vital sectors including tourism, education, retail, remote work, healthcare, and the legal sector. VR and AR are two key enablers of the metaverse, responsible for 6,700 jobs and contributing $500 million to the UAE’s economy, which is expected to increase significantly in the future.

Leila Hurstel

Chief Metaverse Officer, Verse Estate

How businesses are experimenting with the metaverse and establishing their early presence?

So far, companies are exploring the metaverse to improve customer experience through the creation of interactive immersive experiences, and generate revenue growth by setting up virtual stores and selling digital assets tied to a physical one or any other utility. E.g., Nikeland, which is the sporting goods brand’s micro metaverse built-in Roblox, has attracted 6.7 million people from 224 countries since its launch in November. The space allows users to try on virtual products and buy them as NFTs.

What are the challenges to mass adoption?

A Citi report says the metaverse represents a potential $8 trillion to $13 trillion opportunity by 2030. It’s expected that a minority of participants will make use of virtual or augmented reality devices, with most users accessing the metaverse via mobile phones. Significant infrastructure investments will be needed to enable users to go seamlessly from one experience to another. The metaverse is still in the early stage of development, there are a plethora of risks and challenges as we have seen with web2.0, there will be challenges around content moderation, free speech, and data privacy. The legal frameworks developing around cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance (DeFi) will also be relevant to the metaverse.

Share your insights on the new era of government services through the metaverse

Governments can leverage the Metaverse to upgrade the efficiency and quality of public services. The Metaverse has the potential to make available seamless and frictionless citizen services and applications 24X7 anywhere and everywhere. Also, it can enable enhanced communication and engagement between the government and its people.

Governments need to take Metaverse seriously since it offers novel ways to generate employment, impart education, deliver healthcare and map urban planning.

How digital twins in the metaverse can enhance smart cities?

Deploying digital twins (3D virtual replicas of a given system, place, or thing) in the metaverse can significantly aid with smart city planning. It allows cities to test out changes before they enact them in the real world. Cities are increasingly using this technology to study the effects of development, traffic, climate change, and myriad other situations a city must face. E.g., through replicas of roads, buildings, and public spaces, digital twins can help city planners better plan transportation systems and warn inhabitants about pollution levels and other suspected problems.