AN I T P ME DI A GR OUP PU B L IC AT IO N JAN 2020 VOLUME 26 ISSUE 01 AN I T P M ED I A G R O U P PU B L IC AT I O N JAN 2020 VOLUME 26 ISSUE 01 PACE EDUCATION REALISES SMART SCHOOL VISION WITH WIFI PLATFORM SETTING THE PACE ANALYSIS CYBERSECURITY IN 2020 //34 IOT SPECIAL REPORT //21 Dr. P.A. Ibrahim, chairman, Pace Education GroupYOUR DATA IS YOUR BUSINESS WWW.ESET.COM/ME (+971) 04 3754052 MORE THAN 110 M USERS AND 400K BUSINESS CUSTOMERS IN 200+ COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES PLACE THEIR TRUST IN ESET SECURITY SOLUTIONS MAKE SURE YOUR COMPANY IS SAFE FROM DATA BREACHES OR LEAKS. EMPLOY OUR POWERFUL AND EASY TO DEPLOY SECURITY SOLUTIONS. An always- on network is not an option anymore.” Dr. P.A. Ibrahim, chair- man, Pace Education Group 30//Insight> Technology Trends With the help of experts, Network Middle East predicts the major technology trends of 2020 16 16//Case Study> Setting t he pace Pace Education Group selects Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise for converged telecommunications platform 34//Analysis> Cybersecurity Predictions The year in cybersecurity: Security experts look ahead to potential security hotspots this year Volume 26 Issue 01 January 2020 // CONTENTS / JANUARY 2020 // JANUARY 2020 / NETWORK MIDDLE EAST / 3// WWW.NETWORKMIDDLEEAST.COM /It is the start of another year that holds incredible promise for the IT industry. First, this is the year of Expo 2020. After years of preparation, the second half of this year will see the largest event yet in the region unfold. Expo 2020 is especially important for the IT industry in the UAE. The Dubai Government has put technology at the heart of the event. A site visit a few months ago revealed the scale of the digital platforms that will help run the event. From a dedicated network laid for purpose to a smart IP surveillance system, lit- tle has been left to chance. We have also com- piled a set of predictions both for networking and cybersecurity for the year ahead. Our experts are convinced that many of the concepts we have heard for a few years can finally evolve into use cases. Automation, block- chain, edge computing, distributed cloud, among others, will drive disruption and create new business opportunities. However, experts are quick to ally prevailing fears that AI will be the cause of mass dis- ruption in the employment //Inside> David Ndichu Editor david.ndichu@itp.com Welcome yyFrom concept to realityFrom concept to reality market. As one special- ist tells us, autonomous things cannot replace the human brain and will operate most effectively with a narrowly defined, well-scoped purpose. In cybersecurity, ma- chine learning and AI can help companies to identify threats and find links be- tween potential risks fast. This form of detection eliminates human errors from the process. Talking of which, we have an article that looks at how the logistics indus- try, though rooted in a traditional business model, is at the forefront of digital transformation with AI, blockchain, big data trans- forming the industry. 34 0810 06// REGIONAL UPDATE Online travel giant Seera Group leveraging latest technology to grow tourism numbers 07// REGIONAL UPDATE UAE’s oldest private bank Mashreq Bank migrates to Microsoft Cloud 08// REGIONAL UPDATE AI, blockchain, big data trans- forming supply chain as digital logistics evolve 10// REGIONAL UPDATE Ericsson enables service pro- viders to capture connectivity 13// SECURITY REPORT Fortinet and Siemens partner to deliver secure OT networks 15// SECURITY REPORT SearchInform launches infor- mation security outsourcing services 40// VENDOR PROFILE We profile Vectra, a provider of AI-driven cybersecurity products 42// FIVE MINUTES Five Minutes with Sanmeet Kochhar, regional head for HMD Global, MENA and India // CONTENTS / JANUARY 2020 // WWW.NETWORKMIDDLEEAST.COM /// 4 / NETWORK MIDDLE EAST / JANUARY 2020 /TTHHE TRUSTED SOURCE FOR TECHHNNOOLOGY NEWWS AANNDD ANALYSIS FOR CIOOSS, IITT MANAGERSS AANND CYRBERSECURITY PROFESSIONALSSS AAAACCCCRRRROOOOSSSSSSS TTTTTHHHHEEEE MMMMIIIDDDDDDDDLLLLLEEEE EASSTT NNNEEETWORKMMMIIIDDDDDDDDLLLLEEEEEEAST.COM Mutrib: Cloud is central to our digital transformation. Saudi Arabia-based Seera Group, the largest online travel management com- pany in the region, has been on a signifi- cant transformation journey over the last few years. Back in 2016, after outlining the draft of its digital transformation strategy that focused on improving efficiency and cus- tomer-centricity, Seera Group put the fo- cus on drawing on the latest technologies as an enabler of change. It became clear the company had to deploy numerous IT systems in a short time to enable this evolution. For this, on-premise servers were not an option, says Abdulrahman Bin Abdulaziz Bin Mutrib, executive VP and Group CTO, Seera Group. Seera Group then decided to adopt a cloud-first strategy that not only enabled the company to save on capital expendi- ture but also enhance time to market. “Our cloud strategy is therefore central to our digital transformation and brings higher levels of operational efficiency and productivity organisation-wide,” Mutrib says. This focus on technology will further position Seera Group as the leading trav- el agency in the region, says Mutrib. “Our online presence is growing at 82% CAGR over the past three years, and we record- ed 90 million impressions last year.” With customer experience an increas- ingly crucial part of the online travel Online travel giant leveraging latest technology to grow tourism figures Seera Group rides the digital wave industry, Mutrib says the company em- phasises building platforms that enhance the ease of use as well as assure more straightforward user experience and in- terface. “Complementing this, our tech- nology team works to ensure speedy web and mobile experiences. We are working now on customised user experience and tailored travel interaction,” Mutrib says. VISION 2030 The Saudi Arabian government has iden- tified tourism as a vital pillar of the com- pany’s development agenda. Opening the country for tourism is a tremendous opportunity for Seera Group and the country, says Mutrib. The com- pany has recently launched a new desti- nation management company, Discover Saudi (DiscoverSaudi.sa). “As the Kingdom’s and the region’s leading travel and tourism company, we are at the forefront in helping achieve the goals for the tourism sector outlined in Saudi Vision 2030 to welcome 100 mil- lion annual tourists by 2030 and increase the share of tourism to GDP from 3% now to 10% in the next two decades,” he adds. Seera Group is well placed to leverage the new opportunities thanks to a 40- year heritage and a very diversified busi- ness portfolio covering travel manage- ment (Elaa), consumer travel (Almosafer & Tajawal), Hajj & Umrah (Mawasim), destination management (Discover Sau- di), car rental (Lumi), hospitality and corporate ventures. “Today, we are the industry leader accounting for 58% of Saudi OTA, 25% of corporate & govern- ment travel, and SAR10 billion in gross booking value last year,” says Mutrib. Seera Group maintains more than 60 IT systems and components serving its travel business units (consumer travel / corporate & government travel). “We plan to capitalise on our huge investment in technology in the past five years to serve inbound tourism,” says Mutrib. In the future, Mutrib says AI and ma- chine learning will enable predictive travel demands and enable the industry to personalise the travel experience, in- cluding services such as chatbots. For all the latest network news from the Middle East and Africa, visit networkmiddleeast.com INSIDE… 07 Mashreq migrates to Microsoft cloud 07 A Cisco/EIU survey reveals barriers to adoption of advanced technology 08 How digital logistics is transforming a traditional industry 10 Ericsson enables service providers to capture connectivity 12 Jadarah candidates enter the next phase of on-the-job training //Regional_Update // UPDATE / JANUARY // WWW.NETWORKMIDDLEEAST.COM /// 6 / NETWORK MIDDLE EAST / JANUARY 2020 /Mashreq migrates to Microsoft cloud Mashreq Bank has migrated its work- loads to Microsoft Cloud to scale pro- ductivity and boost collaboration. In moving to Microsoft’s UAE cloud locations, Mashreq will be able to more effectively manage critical workloads such as network, core and security ser- vices, as well as tightening authentica- tion and authorisation, and delivering DevOps, AI and Advanced Analytics capabilities. Besides, its infrastructure and costs management will be simpli- fied, and upgrade paths will be more easily implemented. “FSI entities thrive on the informa- tion nuggets hidden beneath their vast data lakes. And as more customers are digital natives, we will need all the ad- vantages available to stay ahead of the curve. Our migration to the Microsoft intelligent cloud, will empower us with the right digital tools while meeting our security data-residency and compliance needs,” says Sandeep Chouhan, group head of operations and technology, Mashreq Bank. Leveraging Microsoft’s recently launched datacentres in the UAE, Mashreq will be amongst the first fi- UAE’s oldest private bank can now effectively manage critical workloads on Azure Partnership with Microsoft will accelerate bank’s digital transformation journey, says Hashish. nancial institutions in the country to migrate to the cloud, both on-premise and on public cloud. “Mashreq is amongst the most pro- gressive banks (in the UAE), introduc- ing various innovations to the nation’s banking sphere. Our partnership with Mashreq will accelerate their digital transformation journey by leveraging the capabilities of the intelligent cloud. “Now FSI leaders like Mashreq can migrate with confidence and trust, em- powering them to achieve more,” says Sayed Hashish, general manager, Mi- crosoft UAE. Gartner forecasts worldwide public cloud revenue to grow 17% in 2020 (worldwide public cloud service revenue forecast (billions of U.S. Dollars) 201920192020 2020 2020 Cloud Business Process Services (BPaaS)41.743.746.950.253.8 Cloud Application Infrastructure Services (PaaS)26.432.239.748.358.0 Cloud Application Services (SaaS)85.799.5116.0133.0151.1 Cloud Management and Security Services10.512.013.815.717.6 Cloud System Infrastructure Services (IaaS)32.440.350.061.374.1 Total Market196.7227.8266.4308.5354.6 A CISCO/EIU SURVEY REVEALS BARRIERS TO ADOPTION OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY 47% Cite high capital cost as a hindrance 35% Cite data protection and cybersecurity concerns 34% Say a shortage of in- house skills 29% Cite limited understanding of advanced technologies among senior managers 29% Cited data privacy concerns as a crucial impediment DATASTREAM Source: Gartner (November 2019) // UPDATE / JANUARY // JANUARY 2020 / NETWORK MIDDLE EAST / 7// WWW.NETWORKMIDDLEEAST.COM /The logistics industry, though rooted in a traditional cargo haulage model, is at the forefront of digital transformation. As Middle East countries pursue eco- nomic diversification and sustainable growth plans, their strategies are fo- cused on digitisation and automation. This asserts significant pressure on the logistics industry to digitise to boost international trade and scale their busi- nesses, observes Amer Darwish, CTO of Posta Plus, a Kuwaiti-based global logis- tics company. “Adopting new technologies powered by advanced features will address and reduce management challenges and im- prove operational efficiency. (Technol- ogy) will also have a positive impact on business performance and reduction of cost,” Darwish says. A range of emerging technologies are especially well suited for the logistics industry. Darwish highlights internet of things (IoT) which can be leveraged to collect data and process information; blockchain to document authentic data rather than using logbooks and spread- sheets; cloud technology for ease of data access; augmented reality (AR) to con- nect employees in different global loca- tions, and smart speakers for easier and faster access to information using voice commands. Additionally, the use of eco-friendly and automated ships will have signifi- cant implications on the shipping in- dustry, Darwish adds. “For the shipping industry to thrive in this digital age, businesses will have to take advantage of what new technologies offer and therefore transform how trade is per- formed regardless of the market.” Digital logistics: A new era for supply chain management AI, blockchain, big data, transforming a traditional industry The online marketplace and globali- sation have brought new expectations from consumers who now expect much faster, more reliable and a more efficient delivery experience. “Some of the technologies influenc- ing the growth of this industry are driven by AI and autonomous logistics, which include use of warehousing ro- botisation, smart road technology, data analytics, and blockchain. The agility required to cope with those technologi- Darwish: “Those who understand digital, earn it and those who don’t, pay it.” // WWW.NETWORKMIDDLEEAST.COM /// 8 / NETWORK MIDDLE EAST / JANUARY 2020 / // UPDATE / JANUARY Today the GCC supply chain landscape and logistics sector is agile enough to align with global technological trends quickly. cal trends enforces elasticity within the supply chain,” says Darwish. “Controlling capacity based on actual demand while maintaining superior customer service at all times is very cru- cial,” he adds. CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE In today’s fast-paced world, technol- ogy plays a vital role in assuring a more seamless multi-channel experience that is personalised to customers’ needs, says Darwish. “(Technology) improves customer service by speeding up com- munications, increasing convenience, providing self-serve options and allow- ing for targeted marketing campaigns.” The world today operates in real- time, which is why logistics companies must strive to offer immediacy, person- alisation and accessibility. “Emerging trends in technology such as machine learning and artificial intel- ligence can analyse customer data on positive and negative experiences, lead- ing AI to determine the best next step to improve their experiences. The more AI can learn about customers, the better the business understands the customer journey. Therefore, companies need to have a system in place to leverage all the gathered data and use that data to improve the customer experience while keeping up with their fast-changing needs,” Darwish says. That said, technology doesn’t mean that the business no longer requires personable customer service repre- sentatives to nurture customer relation- ships, nor is it a shortcut to convenience. On the contrary, technology should make the customer service experience more effective while maintaining valu- able one-on-one connections with cus- tomers, Darwish asserts. The GCC is in the middle of some of the most significant technological de- velopments in the industry. Today the GCC supply chain land- scape and logistics sector is agile enough to align with global technologi- cal trends quickly, observes Darwish. “The explosion in technology and the combination of human and robotic ca- pabilities within the region’s logistics firms will put GCC logistics companies at an accelerated rate to cope with this change. From the use of artificial intel- ligence to blockchain and big data, the logistics industry is finding new ways to utilise and apply these technologies into effective and efficient use,” says Darwish. A digitally savvy consumer base char- acterises the GCC region. Limited prod- uct selection and inconsistent delivery times and service levels have increased the demand for online shopping, with emerging e-commerce players bridging that gap, Darwish observes. “Accordingly, the highest tier of logis- tics companies in the region are those that have adopted and adapted their technology to become consumer-cen- tric and competitive in price and unique services,” says Darwish. COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE Technology offers a unique, competi- tive edge to emerging markets, allowing them, in some instances to be more agile and innovative than developed econo- mies, Darwish observes. “The world is seeing a surge in transformed business models that leverage technology to boost its market share further. The new wave of digital has become a phenomenon in which those who understand it, earn it, and those who don’t, pay it,” he adds. Darwish observes that technology is acting as a pivotal disruptor to the tra- ditional ways of doing business, putting less pressure on the company’s resourc- es barrier to entry (capital/people), and acting as a virtual gateway to penetrate markets that are otherwise challenging to launch in physically. “The growth of social media, for ex- ample, has eradicated the geographical and cultural barriers that impeded busi- nesses to reach previously inaccessible customers all over the world and now extends awareness about new compa- nies. Understanding customer data and trends in behaviour have allowed com- panies to accordingly adapt and refine their products and services to better re- tain their customers,” he concludes. // JANUARY 2020 / NETWORK MIDDLE EAST / 9// WWW.NETWORKMIDDLEEAST.COM / // UPDATE / JANUARYNext >