< Previous20 edge_october 2023 cover storyLEADING WITH PURPOSE Fionnuala Morris, Vice President and Managing Director, Kyndryl Middle East, discusses the company’s formula to success and the importance of having the right intentions when championing diversity and inclusion BUSINESS edge_october 2023 21 cover story22 edge_october 2023 cover story A t a time defined by relentless technological innovation, the adage “adapt or perish” has never held more significance. The digital revolution has woven its way into the fabric of businesses, governments, and organisations worldwide. At the heart of this transformative wave lies a singular imperative: digital transformation. With businesses constantly seeking innovative solutions to navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape, many are turning to technology players that can enable them to build a robust IT infrastructure to support their transformation journeys. Enter Kyndryl, a name that has been making waves in the technology industry. Born out of IBM’s decision to spin off its managed infrastructure services division, Kyndryl emerged in late 2021 as a standalone company with a singular focus: empowering organisations to thrive in the digital age. With a name derived from the words “kin”, Kyndryl embodies a commitment to fostering strong bonds with its customers. Subsequently, “-dryl” is coined from “tendril,” which means evoking new growth and connections. With these being the pillars of the company’s identity, Kyndryl is focused on driving innovation and enabling shared success. Since spinning off from IBM, Kyndryl has Driving digital transformation Kyndryl focuses on modernising and managing mission-critical systemsedge_october 2023 23 cover story undoubtedly built a strong foundation for long-term progress by leveraging its distinct growth strategy. Headquartered in New York, Kyndryl serves thousands of enterprise customers in more than 60 countries. Leading the charge in this strategic endeavour in the region is the company’s vice president and managing director for the Middle East, Fionnuala Morris. Three A’s: Kyndryl’s strategy for success “Our strategy is focused around what we call the Three A’s, which is accounts, alliances, and advanced delivery,” Morris explains. “Customers are the backbone of everything that we want to try and do in terms of our innovation and transformation as Kyndryl, and that’s where we start.” Accounts, the first ‘A,’ is all about customer- centricity. Kyndryl places great emphasis on understanding its clients, and working closely with them to foster innovation and transformation. This approach aligns with the company’s core belief that customers should be at the forefront of its endeavours. The second ‘A,’ alliances, which signifies the company’s shift towards a more open ecosystem, is marked by collaboration with hyperscalers and technology partners. Morris explained, “We’ve signed multiple agreements with the big hyperscalers as well as technology providers in areas such as cloud, data and AI, and security and resiliency, which are our three main practices. This allows us to advise customers well on complex technology integrations and deliver value to their businesses.” Finally, advanced delivery, the third ‘A,’ pertains to Kyndryl’s expertise in managing mission-critical customer environments. “We had nearly 4,000 clients after our spin-off, which provided us with extensive experience and a wealth of intellectual property related to managing critical customer environments. Consequently, when we adopted the Kindle strategy of ‘advanced delivery,’ it was essentially Managed Services 2.0. This transformation involved integrating automation and artificial intelligence (AI) into our managed services to alleviate the substantial personnel and capital costs associated with SG and A (Sales, General, and Administrative expenses) within our organisation. “When we witness this level of innovation from the leadership of the countries we serve, it creates an ideal environment for Kyndryl to not only survive but thrive” Diversity initiatives There’s no one-size-fits-all, according to Morris24 edge_october 2023 cover story “Our ability to deliver automation and AI through our managed services is a direct result of the knowledge and insights we have gained over our extensive history as one of the world’s largest IT service providers. By reintegrating this intellectual property into our customers’ operations, we empower them to drive innovation,” she says. For the fiscal year that ended in March 2023, Kyndryl reported a global revenue of $17 billion, which is a testament to the success of the company’s strategy. With customers across various mission-critical industries in the Middle East including banking and finance, government, aviation, and transportation among others, Morris noted that the ‘Three A’ strategy is also proving pivotal in Kyndryl’s growth in the region, according to Morris. “Our customers love it,” says Morris. “It’s clear that they’ve noticed a significant transformation in how we operate. Some of my interactions with customers in the field have been truly Based in New York, Kyndryl serves thousands of enterprise clients in over 60 countries The key practices In the Middle East, cloud, data and AI, and security and resiliency are among Kyndryl’s main focus areas Three As Kyndryl’s growth strategies are focused on accounts, alliances, and advanced deliveryedge_october 2023 25 cover story eye-opening. They often compare it to getting a brand-new Kindle, describing our company as entirely different from what it used to be. For me, this is the litmus test for the effectiveness of our strategy, and it’s all thanks to our direct engagement with our customers and partners.” Morris further highlights that the Middle East is one of the key strategic markets for the company for a number of reasons including access to talent, digital-driven government initiatives and innovation-focused leadership. “When we were deciding which countries and regions to include in the initial launch of Kyndryl, the UAE was among the first, and we also extended our presence to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where we have offshore operations. When we witness this level of innovation from the leadership of the countries we serve, it creates an ideal environment for Kyndryl to not only survive but thrive,” she explains. Championing diversity As one of the few female executives in the male-dominated tech landscape, Morris is deeply committed to championing diversity within the industry. With a career spanning 16 years in the tech space, Morris has faced the unique challenge of often being the only woman in the room. “I’ve often been the only woman in the team,” says Morris. Yet, rather than letting this isolation deter her, she embraced it, citing her upbringing as one of six children with four brothers as preparation for navigating such environments. This helped her understand that diversity is not just about numbers but about harnessing different viewpoints, experiences, and voices. “We need women to come into the team because they have a different perspective. They have a different voice, a different way of solving problems,” she says. She points out that this perspective highlights the fact that diversity isn’t just about fairness; it’s about creating better solutions by tapping into a wealth of perspectives. Addressing the challenges faced by women in the workplace, Morris emphasises her commitment to retaining female talent and women’s professional growth. “For instance, when female professionals take maternity leaves, organisations need to ensure that they can come back and still have the same career path that they were on before they left,” she explains. Morris further highlighted that driving diversity initiatives within workplaces isn’t a one-size-fits-all endeavour. “However, it needs to be intentional. Leaders should make sure that they are committed to hiring women and ensuring diverse perspectives in projects. It’s not only about quotas,” she says emphatically. Instead, it’s about fostering an environment where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. “You have to be intentional,” Morris says. “You need to create space for diverse perspectives, whether it’s in recruitment, project scopes, or daily collaboration. Inclusivity should be a core part of your culture.” “We need women to come into the team because they have a different perspective. They have a different voice” 2021 Kyndryl completed its separation from IBM and began trading as an independent company on the New York Stock Exchange26 edge_october 2023 opinion H ow much should organisations trust their mobile device manufacturer? Do you trust them enough to protect your interests as much as their own? Do you trust they maintained a security-first mindset as they designed the handheld computer or tablet your organisation is planning to buy or already using for the business? Experienced professionals focused on mobile device security and privacy take a “trust but verify” perspective for two reasons. First, enterprise mobile security features may not be automatically baked into the hardware or software being considered or already used. It may be up to the business to add on certain security features or opt in to certain services that can better protect the mobile computer and data, and some may come with licensing fees or contracts. Secondly, it’s very easy for mobile computer or tablet manufacturers to say a device is “secure” in its marketing materials. But what does “secure” really mean? I think we’d be surprised at how fast and loose companies can play with how they tout security when we dig into the matter and start asking the right questions. Think of it this way: saying a mobile device is “secure” on the packaging is a lot like saying the ingredients in a By Erv Comer Engineer Fellow, Zebra Technologies Mobile device security and privacy is a ‘trust but verify’ situation Organisations should exercise caution when trusting mobile device manufacturers for security, as the definition of “secure” can vary CYBERSECURITY opinion box of cookies are “all natural.” We know natural can mean a lot of things, and that “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean “good for you.” Something else experienced security professionals will recognise working with customers and IT teams: it’s very easy to underestimate mobile device security vulnerabilities if we don’t spend days focused exclusively on mobile device security, which most technology decision-makers, buyers, IT teams and device users do not. For example, we hear about bad actors all the time – strangers trying to breach systems via mobile computers and tablets to manipulate the technology or manipulate someone in the organisation into paying a ransom. What we don’t hear about are the “inside” threats. We’re not talking about employees, but other people who have touched devices at some point in time and, to a certain extent, still have control over them to manage updates. What if the mobile device’s manufacturer was the one who enabled an application that maliciously or accidentally leaked sensitive data, enabled a denial- of-service (DoS) attack not allowing devices to function at all, or collected personal data from the device without consent or ability to control? edge_october 2023 27 opinion All of these are very possible scenarios, and we need to think seriously about each one. They may not be intentional or malicious acts, but inadvertent consequences of human error or oversight. For example, a professional device security team used commercially available tools to discover that an established enterprise manufacturer’s device had unprotected privileged APIs in system services that could allow a malicious application to reconfigure devices and perform a DoS attack. It also had built-in apps with suspicious network connections in some configurations, 33 endpoints in multiple countries including high- risk countries, and unencrypted network traffic to/from the management server, which could allow the interception of data and the creation of a DoS attack. The investigating team learned that this device did not support “factory reset protection,” either, which, for the record, is a standard feature on all Android devices to reduce device theft. It’s deeply concerning, especially since we hear organisations say they’re considering this device or already using this device in business environments where sensitive data is constantly collected, stored, and shared using those. Environments where data and device security are supposed to be a top priority. No one wants to be the one responsible for introducing risk into their organisation, but that could certainly happen if they’re not sure how to qualify a mobile device’s security rating out of the box. It could also happen if they accidentally buy a mobile computer or tablet that isn’t easy to keep secure its whole life. Automatic operating system security updates help, but they are just one mechanism. Frequent updates to other features and settings are required. “Saying a mobile device is “secure” on the packaging is a lot like saying the ingredients in a box of cookies are “all natural” Enterprise mobile security Some features may not be automatically baked into the hardware or software28 edge_october 2023 brand view I n the evolving landscape of technology and work, HP continues to pave the way for transformative solutions. As we delve into the insights shared by Peter Organesean, the Managing Director of Middle East at HP, we gain a glimpse into the developments and future-focused strategies the company is bringing to GITEX Global 2023. What differentiates your participation at GITEX Global this year as compared to previous years? Given the dynamic shifts in work patterns both regionally and globally, we are delighted to introduce our extensive array of solutions and services meticulously crafted to enhance secure and outstanding hybrid work experiences. Our Future Ready portfolio is tailored to accommodate the diverse needs of individuals and organisations in the era of hybrid work, not only ensuring their success but also embodying HP’s steadfast commitment to sustainability, a core value of our company. From commercial PCs, workstations, and Making hybrid work, work HP elevates seamless collaboration and productivity anytime, anywhere, with solutions and services meticulously designed for the modern workplace BUSINESS By Arya Deviedge_october 2023 29 brand view cutting-edge printing innovations that boost productivity and sustainability, to top-tier solutions ensuring equitable conferencing experiences for participants, regardless of their location or meeting space size, our extensive array of solutions ensure that hybrid work, work. What does ‘AI Everything’ mean to you? ‘AI Everything’ signifies a transformative journey where AI transcends boundaries, reshaping how we work, connect, and innovate. It embodies our commitment to utilise the power of AI to elevate productivity, enhance experiences, and secure a brighter future for businesses in the region and beyond. At HP, we are fully embracing AI as a catalyst for expediting our digital transformation and driving operational efficiency. We recognise substantial opportunities to scale this work across various departments within the company, cultivating a comprehensive and tech-driven transformation. Simultaneously, our strong emphasis remains on empowering organisations to optimise operations, anticipate customer requirements, and foster sustainable growth. What are the challenges and opportunities in ‘AI Everything’? How do you aim to support organisations in this journey? We’re on the brink of a groundbreaking era where AI is poised to bring about a significant shift in computing and the way we interact with our PCs, akin to the impact the Internet had on our lives. The integration of AI offers multiple benefits: it tackles latency issues by enabling edge computing for faster application responses, it bolsters security and privacy by enabling local AI model usage, eliminating the need to upload sensitive data which also results in cost savings, making AI more accessible and cost- effective for users. At HP, we are excited about harnessing the potential of AI to usher in a new era of computing that boosts productivity, enriches experiences, and secures a brighter future for individuals and organisations in our region and beyond. To achieve this, we are collaborating with Software and Silicon partners to make personal systems more intuitive, personal, and aware. Poly HP has been at the forefront of integrating cutting-edge AI and machine learning technologies across audio and video solutions, introducing noise reduction and voice enhancement features that guarantee crystal-clear communication by minimising background noise. Poly HP has created AI-based meeting analytics tools, featuring speaker tracking, face detection, and AI-powered cameras for video conferences. These innovations automatically fine-tune framing, focus, and lighting, resulting in a remarkable enhancement in the quality of video calls. Especially on the security level, HP Wolf Security utilises machine learning to identify and mitigate security threats, further ensuring the safety of our users’ data and systems. For the past two decades, HP Labs have been leading the way, setting industry standards and pioneering trusted computing, resilient hardware, IoT, and printer security. HP Wolf Security’s comprehensive solutions are designed to protect users from all angles, whilst keeping up to date with the latest cyberattack methods. “We’re on the brink of a groundbreaking era where AI is poised to bring about a significant shift” Peter Organesean, Managing Director of Middle East at HPNext >