NEWS

Haitham Abdulrazzak Chief Technology Officer, Etisalat

Etisalat, one of the leading telecommunications operators in emerging markets recognized by Ookla Speedtest as the world’s fastest mobile network in 2020, has deployed the first end-to-end multi-vendor 70% of cloud spend comes from IaaS consisting of Compute, Network & Storage Nutanix has announced findings of a new report analysing how cloud usage trends have changed throughout 2019 and 2020. 2020 has been an extraordinary year, re-defining ‘normal life’ and following significant growth in cloud consumption across many vertical sectors in 2019, the report highlights a shift in consumption across some industries this year due to COVID-19. However, whilst for some industries growth has retracted, a push toward digital and working from home has resulted in sectors including tech, media and telecoms seeing an increase in cloud consumption, with consistent QoQ growth through the first half of 2020. Looking at trends across vertical sectors, whilst COVID-19 led to an increase in the adoption of cloud services amongst the tech, media and telecoms industries, manufacturDWDM Transport network orchestration in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region with software from Blue Planet, a division of Ciena , forging a path to create one of the world’s most adaptive and self-optimising networks. Blue Planet’s intelligent automation software supports in accelerating Etisalat’s digital transformation journey in line with UAE’s vision to create a more competitive digital economy.

Haitham Abdulrazzak, Chief Technology Officer, Etisalat, , said: “Etisalat as a global leader in many technologies and innovations continuously aims to enhance its leadership, position, network efficiency and provide superior customer experience, and a “zero-touch network target” is a tool to achieve this. Transport network is in the heart of all autonomous networks, and the deployment of Blue Planet solution is a major step in our strategy to create more

Aaron White

Regional Director, ME, Nutanix ing and retail saw a drop of over 40% for cloud usage in the first quarter of 2020. However, these sectors did experience growth on cloud spending at a searing pace in 2019, with a 363% increase in the third quarter of 2019. In the health sector, the report shows that cloud consumption has been volatile, highlighting the elasticity of cloud technolagile on demand adaptive networks.” The Blue Planet software has been designed to support Etisalat’s specific intelligent automation requirements and has been implemented in close collaboration with Etisalat.

By reducing manual operations and automating order-to-service processes, Blue Planet supports Etisalat to further reduce the time it takes to introduce new services by 70 to 90 percent. This efficiency is achieved via the Blue Planet Multi Domain Service Orchestration (MDSO) at the Transport DWDM Network level, which is integrated with Etisalat’s existing OSS inventory and automation systems to execute closed loop automation. Blue Planet also provides automated fiber diversity by integrating with a GIS system, while orchestrating service provisioning across the multi-vendor and multi-domain

WDM network. ogy in turbulent times. Whilst for financial services, spend hit a low in the early part of 2020 but quickly bounced back with growth

as high as 34% for the month of April. Regarding cloud consumption by services, Compute continues to represent the largest service spend across all segments. 70% of cloud spend comes from IaaS consisting of Compute, Network & Storage. Another observation from the report showed that Enterprise customers are spending the most on analytics and emerging services, with the majority of that spend in Azure.

“In times of crisis, the value in adopting cloud technologies is evident,” stated Aaron White, Regional Director, Middle East at Nutanix. “As this report shows, whilst the ever-changing landscape of 2020 was always likely to cause uncertainty in cloud spending, it is very encouraging to see growth and stability across a number of sectors and we expect this resilience to continue.”

QUALYS ADDS CONTAINER SECURITY SUPPORT FOR GOOGLE CLOUD ARTIFACT REGISTRY Built on the Qualys Cloud Platform, Qualys Container Security discovers, tracks and secures containers from build to runtime

Qualys, a leading provider of disruptive cloud-based IT, security and compliance solutions, announced it has worked with Google Cloud to provide out-of-the-box support for Google Cloud Artifact Registry for its Container Security solution.

The new integration allows security and DevOps teams to set up automated security scans of container artifacts in Artifact Registry, now generally available. Qualys Container Security scanning will assess all images for software inventory, vulnerabilities and misconfigurations, and provide a unified view across multiple Google Cloud regions. Customers can then leverage the Qualys security posture API of these container images for automation of security workflows like container deployments in Google Cloud Build or integrating with DevOps ticketing systems.

“Google Cloud’s Artifact Registry proThe distributor has grown Dell Technologies’ channel business in the region by 20% this fiscal year Mindware, a leading Value Added Distributor has been awarded by Dell Technologies as the ‘EMEA Regional Distributor of the Year’ for the fiscal year 2020. Mindware is one of only ten winners among Dell Technologies’ authorised partner-base of over 2,000 ‘Metal Channel Partners’ in EMEA The annual awards program recognizes partners for their extraordinary performance, support and ongoing commitment to Dell Technologies. Philippe Jarre, CEO of Mindware Group, stated, “Dell Technologies is one of the most strategic vendors in our portfolio for over 20 years. Over time, we have worked zealously to build up the highest levels of technical proficiency around Dell Techvides a convenient fully-managed service that allows customers to have a central repository for all their software artifacts,” said Philippe Courtot, chairman and CEO of Qualys. “Now, with our new integration, customers can quickly adopt this artifact management offering from Google Cloud in their DevOps pipeline with seamless container security built-in from Qualys.”

Built on the Qualys Cloud Platform, Qualys Container Security discovers, tracks and secures containers from build to runtime. Container Security continuously flags and responds to security and compliance issues in containers across your hybrid IT environment. The addition of runtime protection extends these capabilities, delivering full, granular visibility into running containers and the ability to enforce policies that govern containers’ behavior. As a result, you can immediate-

Philippe Jarre

CEO, Mindware Group nologies’ solutions. We have also formed a sustainable channel ecosystem that is well-equipped to position and implement such solutions in a manner that creates exceptional customer value and contributes to their digital transformation initiatives. Mindware has grown Dell Technologies’ channel business in the region by 20% this Philippe Courtot chairman and CEO, Qualys

ly detect and act upon containers drifting from their parent images and potentially creating a security risk due to vulnerabili-

ties or misconfigurations. fiscal year by putting in place the appropriate strategy aligning with the vendor’s

FY21 channel priorities.” “We are indeed proud to have won this award which is a tribute to our strategic relationship with Dell Technologies and to our deep commitment towards this partnership. We intend to build on the success that we have had with growing our regional business hubs through focus, closer collaboration and further co-investments.”

“The achievements can be largely attributed to our in-country presence across the region that supports our expanding channel base, a dedicated Dell Technologies Business Unit that works in close partnership with the vendor, and a Solutions Team which includes a pool of exceptional technical experts capable of addressing technology concerns, simplifying technology and effectively deploying it in complex IT infrastructures, cyber-security and Cloud environments.”

The security vendor’s showcase will include solutions for securing cloud, endpoints and more

Supporting Middle East organizations in their secure digital transformation, Trend Micro will exhibit at GITEX under the theme of “The Art of Cybersecurity.” The theme combines Trend Micro’s proven foresight, its XGen security strategy of cross-generational threat defense solutions, and passionate people to make cybersecurity a work of art.

“The GCC’s high rates of cyber-attacks across email, URL, and malware show that cybercriminals are ramping up their exploits of the weak points in organizations’ endpoints, network, and cloud — especially with COVID-19-related threats,” said Dr. Moataz Bin Ali, Vice President, Middle East & North Africa, Trend Micro. At GITEX, Trend Micro will showcase cybersecurity solutions across cloud (Cloud One Hybrid Cloud Security), user protection for endpoints (Apex One), email and web, detection and response (XDR), Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control security (TXOne Networks), and network protection from technology

At GITEX Technology Week 2020,

Epson will showcase its range of sustainable solutions for businesses and education - that also support the current need for social distancing.

This year’s demonstration areas, Sustainable Solutions for Business and

Smart Solutions for Education, will give a flavour for how technology can deliver both efficiency and cost savings, as well as support the growing demand for sustainability.

“There is no doubt that the recent months have changed the way we live and work, especially with social distancing practices. We have seen a strong demand for our technology to help support new hybrid work and learning environments. The Middle East market is now looking for technology that helps remote workers and students stay connected, Dr. Moataz Bin Ali Vice President, Middle East & North Africa, Trend Micro

known, unknown, and undisclosed threats (Network Defense).

“As the region’s only in-person technology event in 2020, GITEX is a key event for Trend Micro to spread the importance of cybersecurity in the shift to digital transformation,” added Dr. Moataz Bin Ali. “We are returning to GITEX to show as well as being flexible, cost-effective and eco-friendly,” said Jason McMillan, sales director, Epson ME. As per Epson’s recent survey, 91% of Middle East employees expect a change in the use of shared devices, including printers, as they return to the office. While it’s natural that people will be cautious about sharing products, simple software solutions such as Epson’s Print Admin mean that printers can be used without the need to touch buttons to retrieve prints. In addition, 89% of those surveyed expect a higher use of green and sustainable technology, to improve the environmental and social impact of businesses post-COVID-19. This year’s demonstration area will highlight the benefits of Epson’s Heathow Middle East organizations can reinvent their cybersecurity posture and processes”

Encouragingly, since the lockdown, more than four-fifths (82%) of the UAE’s remote workers say they are more conscious of their organization’s cybersecurity policies, according to Trend Micro’s recent study “Head in the Clouds.”

However, many employees are still breaking the rules anyway due to limited understanding or resource constraints. During GITEX, Trend Micro will also educate organizations about the importance of not having a one-size-fits-all cybersecurity strategy, but rather tailoring their cybersecurity strategies to the most common employee attitudes and behaviors on risk awareness, risk management, and risk avoidance, and personal accountability. During GITEX, Trend Micro aims to once again meet customers and channel partners, and to exchange best practices in

Demos will highlight the benefits of Epson’s Heat-free business inkjet

cybersecurity.

Jason McMillan

Sales Director, Epson ME

free business inkjet technology which enables its printer range to reduce energy consumption by up 95% compared to laser printers – reducing both cost and CO2 emissions.

Epson will also showcase solutions to enable schools and universities to deliver the best possible education for in-person, remote and hybrid learning. These include the Epson EB-1400 series, Epson’s visualisers, WorkForce Enterprise and WorkForce Pro RIPS business inkjet printers.

HUAWEI FOCUSES ON CREATING NEW VALUE TOGETHER AT GITEX 2020 The showcase will include current and future-oriented applications that Huawei has developed

During this year’s GITEX Technology Week 2020, Huawei is collaborating with partners from around the world to showcase how governments and organizations in the Middle East can create new value through synergy across five tech domains. As this year’s 5G Innovation Partner, Huawei has strengthened its commitment to the region’s technology ecosystem by confirming its largest ever GITEX Technology Week presence at the 40th anniversary edition of the event.

Charles Yang, President of Huawei Middle East, notes: “This year’s GITEX Technology Week comes at a time when the true value of ICT has become increasingly clear. Keeping people, businesses, and communities connected even when physically apart is more essential than ever. Through open collaboration, the ICT sector can accelerate the development of the digital economy, in turn contributing to Response and SOC requirements VMRay, a provider of automated malware analysis and detection solutions, is participating at GITEX Technology Week 2020. This year at GITEX Technology Week, VMRay will be showcasing the industry’s most comprehensive and accurate technology for automated analysis and detection of advanced threats. “We’ll demonstrate how our technologies differ from other solutions. We strengthen our customers’ capacity to detect unknown malware and provide their Incident Response and SOC teams with the tools to handle the growing volume and diversity of threats with far greater speed and precision,” explained Ilijana Vavan, Chief Sales Officer at VMRay. “At GITEX, we’ll present for the first time our Email Threat Defender technology with its unique capability of detonating and sustainable growth and supporting national transformation agendas in a post-pandemic world.”

GITEX visitors will not only see a demonstration of new technologies, but current and future-oriented applications that Huawei has developed with its global partners for customers in government, energy, transportation, finance, and more. Huawei’s regional leadership team is also connecting with attendees through participation in many of the individual GITEX conference tracks.

In addition, Huawei will host a “Igniting Innovation Through Education” virtual summit dedicated to the unique requirements of today’s education sector, and what the ICT community can do to bolster digital learning, support new academic models, and promote ICT innovation in line with countries’ national development

Ilijana Vavan

Chief Sales Officer, VMRay analyzing suspect URLs at time-of-delivery rather than time-of-click. This powerful solution lifts protection from Charles Yang President of Huawei Middle East

visions.Huawei will also host its sixth 5G Ecosystem Conference bringing together vertical industries, 5G ecosystem partners, and 5G operators. GITEX visitors and virtual guests will also be able to attend the Huawei Middle East Data Center Net-

VMRAY TO SHOWCASE AT GITEX The focus will be on three products that addresses specific Incident

work Online Summit 2020. email threats and phishing attacks to a new level.”

The company will present its complete portfolio consisting of three products that addresses specific Incident Response and SOC requirements:

VMRay Analyzer enables IR teams to quickly analyze and protect against the full spectrum of threats, including advanced malware and phishing attacks.

VMRay Detector is the key to scaling automated detection across the organization and the nexus for integrating the VMRay Platform with other security systems.

VMRay Email Threat Defender complements anti-Spam and anti-Phishing solutions and detects email threats that other defences miss.

This year the theme for VMRay at GITEX Technology Week is ‘Certainty Through Clarity’. VMRay will be at Hall No. 2, Stand No. H2-01.20.

Claude Schuck Regional Manager, Veeam Software, ME

At this year’s GITEX, Veeam has announced its participation that is centered around the theme ‘Protect, Manage and Unleash Data’, referring to Cloud, Cyber Security and Modern Data Protection as the three pillars that form the foundation driving Digital Transformation (DX) and STRATEGY’ AT GITEX At this year's GITEX, StarLink's showcase at its stand in Hall 2 will include solutions that are going to be essential for enterprises as they adapt to the new-normal. These would include solutions from Palo Alto Networks, Citrix, BeyondTrust, SailPoint, Nutanix, Infoblox, FireEye, Riverbed, Imperva, Forescout, Cloudera, Cofense, ThreatQ, Pulse Secure, FireMon, Getvisibility, LinkShadow, SecureLink and Tripwire. StarLink and their participating vendor teams will be engaging and networking, both virtually and face-to-face, with channel partners and end-customers to share business and technical insights on their solutions offering and industry best practices. “This year has been exceptional – full of learnings and new experiences. With a ‘new norm’ being introduced, innovative

The showcase will include Veeam’s entire suite of software solutions with a focus on the Veeam Cloud Data Management Platform enabling organizations to unleash the power of their data to deliver a rich customer experience. The company will have both a physical and an online booth on the new GITEX.Virtual.Platform. As part of the GITEX Conference Program, Claude Schuck, Regional Manager for Veeam Software Middle East, will be participating as a speaker in the ´Smart Cities & 5G´ panel discussion on ´Boosting Efficiency in Business and Industry with 5G’.

“I am very excited to take part in GITEX, and looking back, I can attribute much of our success to the relationships we have initiated and fostered at the event and I expect this year to be no different. After months full of virtual meetings and interactions, my team and I are eager to personally meet with our partners, customers and prospects again while respecting safe meeting protocols and social distancing guidelines. I look forward to meaningful and memorable interactions that will strengthen our local presence and open up the pipeline of new business for 2021,” said Claude Schuck.

Key solutions presented include: • Veeam Availability Suite v10, which offers modern NAS support, Multi-VM Instant Recovery and heightened ransomware protection. • Veeam Backup & Replication, a single solution for simple, reliable and flexible protection ofALL enterprise cloud, virtual and physical workloads. • Veeam Backup for Microsoft Office 365 • Veeam Cloud Connect that enables service provider to offer cloud backup or Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) to

STARLINK TO HIGHLIGHT ‘CONNECT The distributor is celebrating 10th year of GITEX participation

their customers. Nidal Othman Co-Founder & Managing Director, StarLink

ways of doing things has become inevitable. This has unlocked huge potential in the areas of digitization, cloud, AI and applications and we are excited about the opportunities presented by these changes. In line with our theme and strategy for FY’21 “StarLink Connect”, we have invested in giving vendors, partners and end-users more ways to connect with experts from around the globe virtually, and face-to-face at our stand this GITEX. Every GITEX, StarLink raises the bar and this year will be no different”, commented Nidal Othman, co-founder & managing director, StarLink.

Mahmoud Nimer, co-founder and general manager, StarLink said, “We are very privileged to be in a country where the Government demonstrates visionary leadership. StarLink is committed to supporting such great vision as we work together with our different stakeholders to accelerate the growth of the economy. We are indeed proud to be part of ‘the only global tech show live, – in-person’ and look forward to welcoming our channel partners, end-customers and vendors at GITEX.”