Arun ShankarIn this month’s lead feature NetApp’s Maya Zakhour takes us through the partner enablement taking place around AI, cloud and digital transformation. Maya explains that NetApp is taking an aggressive approach around partnering with hyper scalars and building opportunities for channel partners in AI, cloud, digital transformation. The focus is to enable businesses with their cloud journey, whether public, private, hybrid or multicloud
NetApp is establishing artificial intelligence partners as part of NetApp channel enablement. NetApp recently created an architecture that delivers response times necessary to drive real business impact. It is ensuring that hyper scalers are included in its go-to-market strategy and aligns with them on achieving results. The market will see more activities through NetApp alliances with some of the largest partners in the region. Local partners are crucial components to deliver cutting-edge solutions to customers.
Across the rest of this month’s edition, and in the lineup to Gisec 2021, leading cyber security vendors share their views on innovation and challenges for the industry.
Organisations must understand that today’s encryption standards are not fit for protecting against the power of quantum computers, reflects Sebastien Pavie from Thales. Crypto-agility is the next frontier in protection against the processing power of quantum. Quantum computing is set to make many current security methods, such as encryption, obsolete. Businesses cannot assume they are safe until quantum resistance is achieved.
The frequency of threats is increasing, and it is vital to use smart automation, visibility across silos, deep integration to combat attacks, says Candid Wüest at Acronis. Selling single isolated solutions without considering the holistic approach is no longer good enough to provide adequate cyber protection.
A result of the pandemic has been the shift towards delivering services to employees and customers via applications, says Mujtaba Mir at Barracuda Networks. Developing vertical specific skillsets will be of tremendous value to channel partners.
BaaS is the modern alternative approach to traditional data backup solutions, points out Wael Mustafa at Commvault. Enterprises are increasing investment in cloud, infrastructure, and data analytics-based solutions. Data fragmentation challenges will slow down digital transformation initiatives, while businesses are looking to extract greater value from every technology product they purchase.
Dell Technologies’ Charbel Zreiby indicates there is a need for an intelligent, automated approach to security. Dell has expanded capabilities to protect both existing and emerging security requirements, enabling organisations to maintain operational resilience. Security should be intelligent, automated, and built into everything.
A holistic approach is required that can adapt to unexpected changes, bringing in users, IDs, devices, assets, and data. Channel partners need to be relentless in creating customer value by providing the best solutions to meet changing customer needs
Organisations around the world are looking to Secure Access Service Edge with Zero Trust to provide a new foundation for both empowering and securing remote workforces, according to Jawad Toukna at Forcepoint. The biggest impact over the next few years will be from different security architectures, SASE and Zero Trust. To help regional CISOs combat the evolving threat landscape, Forcepoint is focusing on two fronts, cloud security and data protection
The pandemic has brought in changes that traditional strategies cannot deal with and this requires a different type of security skill set, points out Mohammed Al-Moneer at Infoblox.
Juniper Network believes that AI will continue to grow in significance in FY21 and beyond across the Middle East region. The ability to make the most of the potential offered by AI tools is perhaps hampered by a skillset gap, says Saeed Agha from Juniper Networks. For the network to be truly protected security must prevail everywhere.
As remote and hybrid work culture rises, enterprises will increasingly invest in additional visibility and incident response capacity, says Vincent Berk from Riverbed Technology. There will be a renewed interest in profiling technologies that spot deviances of behaviour. Endpoint, cloud telemetry, new forecasting modelling are amongst the most powerful enhancements.
Remote working has revolutionised digital infrastructure and the need for pervasive visibility has been driving new developments in the cybersecurity industry, says Netscout’s Gaurav Mohan. Continuation of remote and hybrid working will redefine endpoint and perimeter security.
Empowered by smart analytics, AI, ML, the next generation of cybersecurity solutions will emphasise comprehensive perimeter protection. The need for pervasive visibility has been driving new developments in the cybersecurity industry. Digital transformation continues to revolutionise the digital infrastructure of industries and organisations.
Proofpoint’s approach to cybersecurity centers around people. 2021 will continue to be the stage for many technologies to continue to flourish, including 5G, AI, automation, ML, says Emile Abou Saleh. It is crucial for channel partners to put in place an effective security awareness training.
As we reach the end of the holy month, Eid Mubarak to all our loyal and respected readers.
