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Combating the latest & the lethal

Published

9 years ago

on

Saeed Agha, G.M. Palo Alto Networks Middle East

Saeed Agha, G.M. Palo Alto Networks Middle East

Security threats to our networks have become more lethal because of the fact that cyber criminals are using latest tricks and updated security breach mechanism for attacking us. The Integrator Magazine has taken a deep dive into the market analysis of how these latest security attacks are happening and what combat plans does the industry have.

Dependency on ICT has grown big. The phenomena of hyper convergence have led to the challenge of complexity. But ICT security threats have remained the biggest challenge for technocrats.

Security threats to our networks have become more lethal because the cyber criminals are using latest tricks and updated security breach mechanism.

Malware, insider threats, and ransomware – the ways in which cybercriminals can attack a company’s network and exploit vulnerabilities are vast. But some attack factors are bigger risks than others, and some have the potential to wreak more havoc than others.

While giving a perspective towards today’s market scenrio, Harish Chib, Vice President Middle East & Africa for Sophos said, “We understand that cyber criminals are graduating from one level to another. In order to deal with the latest threats Sophos has taken big step towards next-generation security. Organizations of every size know they need endpoint security and network security – they are two foundational pillars of any IT security strategy. But for too long, these two product segments simply didn’t communicate with each other – they were independent and isolated silos, which limited their effectiveness and their manageability.”

Communication between its IT security solutions for endpoint and corporate network is very crucial. The world of IT security has become even more complex and more difficult to manage for enterprises of all sizes, thus it is time for a new approach to IT security solutions.

While giving a perspective on changing mindset of cybercriminals, Ray Kafity, VP of META FireEye commented, “In order to understand the status of cyber threats we must understand how the Cyber criminals are changing their mindset. The conventional cyber attack strategies have now changed and the cyber attacks have become more dangerous as the attackers have adopted newer techniques for cyber attacks.”

The Zero Day Attack Syndrome

Shahnawaz Sheikh, D Software

Shahnawaz Sheikh, D Software

“A zero-day vulnerability, at its core, is a flaw. It is an unknown exploit in the wild that exposes vulnerability in software or hardware which can create complicated problems well before anyone realizes something is wrong. In fact, a zero-day exploit leaves no opportunity for detection at first,” informed Ray of FireEye

The latest Zero-Day attacks and evasive malware represent the biggest and latest security threats with social engineering attacks and insider threats following behind.

Commenting on the latest security trends and new techniques used by the hackers, Saeed Agha General Manager of Palo Alto Networks said, “A Palo Alto Networks survey at Ignite 2015, our annual gathering of cybersecurity top influencers and professionals, uncovered the cybersecurity pain points and specific risks which feature among the top concerns. In the age of ‘Internet of Things’, prevention is the only viable path forward. At Palo Alto Networks, we believe that our prevention-based approach to securing enterprise networks ought to be applied to every industry that deals in Internet-enabled products and devices.”

In addition Agha also added, “When every organisation starts to think of their business, taking in to consideration the potential IoT, and breach prevention, this might look like a bigger challenge, but eventually this approach will provide far more value.”

Commenting on the latest Zero Day Attacks, Shahnawaz Sheikh, Distribution Channel Director META, Eastern Europe of D Software stated, “Zero Day Attacks have been there since many years but have risen in the last year or so, this year we saw many cases of Zero Day Attacks, especially the espionage attack campaigns targeting Government websites or watering hole attacks targeting the legitimate websites where millions of users visit regularly.  By targeting those selected few legitimate sites, their aim is to infect malware in millions of users.  In many cases the application vendors are responding timely to prevent the attacks on any possible vulnerabilities that exists.  The better approach towards the safeguarding from zero day attacks is to protect your networks, cloud and applications with multilayered security or to patch the fix timely or to unplug some troubled plug-ins or applications.”

Sharing their perspective on this issue, Nicolai Solling, Director of Technology Services at Help AG said, “We are also seeing a shift in mentality. Typically whenever we would talk about network security there was an obvious focus on the corporate network and attached devices such as PCs and servers. However the explosion of smartphones and the increasing usage of cloud-based services have meant that malware is now more frequent on these types of platforms. Due to the growth of processing power and bandwidth, these devices will also become more and more interesting for the attackers and, for instance, botnets and DDOS attacks. This too has cause the industry to revaluate its approach and extend protection beyond traditional security measures.”

Effect of Latest Security threats in the Middle East Region 

Nicolai Solling of Help AG

Nicolai Solling of Help AG

Middle East customers are always trying to adopt latest trends, leaving legacy solutions behind. Trends like cloud and data center virtualization, BYOD and mobility, SDN and cyberthreats are top of mind everywhere we go. None of those trends can be successfully adopted without a mature security strategy in place. Agha of Palo Alto Networks said, “Our goal is to enable region businesses to effectively run their business, maintain complete visibility and control of their network, and confidently pursue new technologies. Most importantly, Palo Alto Networks will help protect business from the most basic to sophisticated cyberattacks — known and unknown.”

A lack of a proactive security strategy puts a business or government in reactive mode, firefighting but incapable of intelligence, analysis and prevention of cyberattacks. The costs of such an approach are high, for example, expensive incident response teams, but does not enable the prevention of data restoration of valuable data after an attack.

“We urge organizations and government entities to invest in security technology that offers both detection and prevention, as well as actionable intelligence that goes beyond a “data dump” and identifies which alerts to prioritize and next steps to take.” Agha of Palo Alto also added, “It is worth mentioning that the new malware count is in the tens of thousands every day. The ability to address unknown threats in an automated, integrated and preventive way across all the enterprise is now paramount. In other words, being able to stop the worst from happening, whether it’s a known or unknown threat and in whichever form it takes, across the whole enterprise regardless of device type, content type or location is the biggest challenge for organizations here. Our enterprise security platform enables this.”

“The Middle East region has very high density of computing devices. Internet is getting consumed at smartphones, PCs and Tablets. Hence the Zero-Day vulnerability cannot be ruled out. In last two years, we have witnessed 29 Zero-day attacks. The threat levels are serious, and positive news is that FireEye have developed a security from these Zero-Day attacks,” Ray of FireEye said.

The Next Generation UTM Console

Commenting on the evolution of Network security through UTMs, Help AG’s Nicolai expressed his views by adding, “One of the greatest evolutions in the market, which actually spun off a whole new technical term, was the introduction of the Palo Alto Networks product line, which changed the way we consider UTM services, or the services that UTM solutions should deliver. The traffic flow controllers in these devices make decisions based on the application and then apply the advanced security features in parallel instead of in a sequential manner as was the case with the pure-breed UTM devices. This approach means that performance- which has traditionally been a major concern with UTM devices- does not suffer when applying the security features.”

Today most of the industry is trying to copy this approach to packet processing in order to be at par with this market leader in innovative technology.

Shahnawaz of D Software further added while explaining about market evolution of UTM console, he added, “It’s been years now, the UTM market has evolved to be a mature market with technology awareness and adoption across the various segments of the market, however the difference between awareness and adoption in various different countries of Middle East could be marginal between each other.  With the growing concern on security threats in some sectors like Banking/Finance, Oil and Gas, Government, these segment of the customers are strengthening their defense and investing to build a secure business environment.”

In addition to this, Shahnawaz also explained key drivers of Next Generation Firewalls, he said. “The Next generation Firewalls are providing multiple layers of protection unifying into one single solution to combat and mitigate threats of various type.  As this unified approach helps organizations minimize or eliminate any excess cost and management burden, this helps them in defining right ROI with comprehensive security that minimal TCO.  The threat intelligence of UTM/Next Gen Firewall does not involve extensive involvement of customers resources of their skills set to keep up the security.  The multi layered concept of UTM/Next Gen Firewall helps eliminate complexities at the engineering level bringing in the technology which is almost plug and play.”

One of the primary drivers for the adoption of UTM is consolidation. As security needs have become more and more complex, there is a requirement to consolidate some security features applied at the network level. Nicolai further said, “This consolidation is performed not just in order to optimise cost, but quite interestingly the consolidation of services actually enhances visibility into threats without correlating events from multiple devices.”

Harish of Sophos also informed about his organization’s preparedness towards next generation security offering. He said, “We know that the market is evolving hence our latest version of its UTM hardware series has an up to date versions of Sophos Cloud, Enduser Protection Bundles, SafeGuard, Sophos Mobile Control, Sophos Email Appliance and Sophos Web Appliance. We also have Cyberoam’s future-ready network security with its wide range of Next-Generation Firewalls and UTMs. These solutions are offering comprehensive solution to the corporate user of all size.”

UTM and NGFW solution offer a very strong value proposition to customers while still guaranteeing a very robust security model. With ROI being the prime focus of many CIOs and IT decision makers in the region, this makes for a very strong business case that is causing the market space for these solutions to grow. Furthermore, because of the evolution of the threat landscape, It would not be very wrong to say that the classic firewall platforms are almost obsolete today.

Chasing the Next level security

The next level of Network Security in my opinion is about collaboration and integration of adjacent technologies that can help businesses optimize their investment, resources, management burden, complexities etc., As the concept of UTM is more matured today, the fast adoption of cutting edge is not just in enhancement of this technology but also at the same time collaborating and adjacent technologies to give more effective and efficient way to manage end-to-end security with total control, visibility and simplicity.

While unleashing Palo Alto’s plans to combat the latest security threats, Saeed Agha also informed, “Palo Alto Networks is working with some of the most demanding industries to ensure their data and critical infrastructure remains safe from targeted cyber attacks. These organizations have learned firsthand the power of a next-generation security platform when it comes to safely enabling the use of all applications, maintaining complete visibility and control, and confidently pursuing new business ventures, while protecting the organization from the latest cyber threats. Our natively integrated platform brings network, cloud and endpoint security into a common architecture, with complete visibility and control, so your organization can detect and prevent attacks. This next-generation enterprise platform streamlines day-to-day operations and boosts security efficacy, and the one-of-a-kind, multi-layered defense model prevents threats at each stage of the attack lifecycle.”

Recently Palo Alto Networks had acquired CirroSecure, and with this acquisition, the company has enabled organizations to embrace SaaS as an extension of their IT infrastructure without security concerns. Aperture is Palo Alto’s latest addition to the security platform is developed as a direct result of this acquisition.

While commenting on the future of network security, Nicolai of Help AG added, “In Help AG we talk to our customers about the concept of the zero-trust network architecture. Its simplest sense, it means that we cannot trust anyone anymore. The three most basic principles of the model are- secured access for all resources regardless of location; stringently applied ‘least access’ control; and fine-grain monitoring and logging of all network traffic. The zero-trust model calls for the segmentation of infrastructure, and the creation of logical security zones, with more emphasis being given to having central security capabilities for controlling traffic between the zones.”

 

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Features

Redefining Real Estate: The Rise of Wellness-Centric Spaces

Published

1 week ago

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March 14, 2025

By

By Mark Phoenix – CEO of Sankari

The way we think about real estate is evolving, and at the heart of this change is a renewed focus on wellness. As we become more aware of the profound impact our living environments have on our health and well-being, it’s clear that real estate must go beyond aesthetics and luxury—it must support a lifestyle of vitality and longevity. To me, true luxury is no longer defined solely by opulence but by spaces that promote health, balance, and connection.

The demand for wellness-oriented spaces is growing rapidly, and real estate developers must rise to meet it. Today’s buyers are looking for more than just high-end finishes and exclusive locations—they want environments that enhance their well-being. Integrating wellness features such as fitness centers, yoga studios, meditation areas, and holistic health services is no longer an option; it’s a necessity. These spaces don’t just add value to a property; they create communities that create physical health, mental clarity, and social engagement.

Wellness-centric design is about more than just adding amenities—it’s about creating environments that encourage movement, relaxation, and human connection. By prioritizing well-being in real estate, developers can offer residents a lifestyle that aligns with modern values and aspirations. These spaces cultivate a sense of belonging, allowing people to come together in ways that enrich their lives beyond the walls of their homes.

Beyond individual benefits, wellness-focused communities have a lasting impact on society. As more people seek out homes that support their health, the real estate industry has an opportunity to lead this cultural shift. Developments that incorporate sustainable materials, biophilic design, and eco-friendly building practices not only benefit residents but also contribute to a healthier planet.

In the ultra-luxury segment, this focus on wellness is especially meaningful. The most sought-after properties are no longer just about extravagance—they are about creating a sanctuary where people can rejuvenate both physically and mentally. True luxury lies in thoughtful, health-driven design that enhances everyday life in meaningful ways.

Designing for wellness also means partnering with visionary architects and designers who understand the importance of both form and function. In regions with challenging climates, for example, innovative solutions can help reduce environmental impact while enhancing comfort and efficiency. Securing sustainability certifications like LEED further reinforces a commitment to responsible development and aligns with the global movement toward eco-conscious living.

For me, integrating wellness into real estate is more than just a trend—it’s a deeply personal mission and a strategic imperative. The places we live should do more than just shelter us; they should actively contribute to our health and happiness. By embedding wellness into the very foundation of luxury real estate, we’re not just shaping beautiful spaces—we’re shaping better lives.

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We are bringing tradition to every table in just five minutes

Published

1 month ago

on

February 20, 2025

By

Kerala breakfast

Exclusive Interview with Ashvin Subramanyam, CEO International Business, Orkla India

In this exclusive interview, Ashvin Subramanyam, CEO of International Business at Orkla India, shares insights on the brand’s participation at Gulfood 2025 and its mission to blend tradition with innovation in the Middle East. With the launch of Eastern’s 5-Minute Breakfast range and a refreshed Arabic spice portfolio, Orkla IMEA is redefining convenience without compromising on authenticity.

What can we expect from Orkla IMEA’s presence at Gulfood 2025, and how significant is this event for your brand’s growth in the region?

At Gulfood 2025, Orkla IMEA, subsidiary of Orkla India, is set to make a strong impact by unveiling the Eastern 5-Minute Breakfast range, designed to bring the authentic flavors of Kerala to the fast-growing ready-to-cook market in the Middle East. In addition, visitors can expect a refreshed Arabic spice portfolio, reflecting Orkla India’s continued commitment to catering to the diverse culinary preferences of the region.

Gulfood is a key platform for us as it enables us to showcase our latest innovations to a global audience, including retailers, distributors, and food industry leaders. The Middle East is a strategic market for our expansion. By blending tradition with convenience, our goal through this event is to become a household name across diverse communities in the region, reinforcing our commitment to quality, authenticity, and innovation in packaged foods.

How does Gulfood help Orkla IMEA connect with new markets, consumers, and industry partners, particularly in the Middle East?

Gulfood serves as a vital gateway for Orkla India to connect with new markets, consumers, and industry partners through its subsidiary Orkla IMEA in the Middle East. As one of the world’s largest food and beverage trade exhibitions, it provides an unparalleled opportunity to engage directly with key stakeholders, including retailers, distributors, and hospitality businesses, facilitating strategic partnerships and market expansion.

For Orkla India, this event is instrumental in understanding regional consumer trends, preferences, and evolving dietary habits, particularly in the fast-growing packaged food sector. The launch of the Eastern 5-Minute Breakfast range and refreshed Arabic spice portfolio at Gulfood allows us to showcase our innovation in convenience-driven yet authentic culinary solutions.

By participating in Gulfood, we strengthen our brand presence, foster collaborations with regional partners, and position ourselves as a trusted name in ethnic and mainstream food categories. It’s a key milestone in our vision to become a household name in the Middle East.

Eastern is set to unveil its preservative-free quick South Indian 5-Minute Breakfast range. What was the inspiration behind this concept?

The Eastern 5-Minute Breakfast range was inspired by the growing need for convenient, time-saving meal solutions that do not compromise on authentic taste and quality. South Indian breakfasts, particularly Kerala’s traditional dishes, are deeply rooted in culture, requiring significant time and effort to prepare. However, with modern lifestyles becoming increasingly fast-paced, many consumers struggle to recreate these meals from scratch.

Recognizing this shift, Eastern set out to bridge the gap between tradition and convenience by crafting a range that retains the authentic flavours and textures of Kerala’s most-loved breakfasts while eliminating the long preparation time. The preservative-free formula ensures that consumers enjoy fresh, wholesome meals made from high-quality ingredients in just three easy steps, ready in five minutes.

With this innovation, Eastern empowers busy professionals, young families, and expatriates to stay connected to their culinary heritage without compromising on their schedules, making traditional breakfast accessible anytime, anywhere in just 5 minutes.

Can you give us an insight into the development process behind this 5-Minute Breakfast range, especially in maintaining authentic South Indian flavors without preservatives?

The development process for our 5-Minute Breakfast range began with a deep understanding of our consumers’ evolving lifestyles and their desire for authentic Kerala-style breakfasts that eliminate a lengthy preparation process. We identified a unique need-gap: while traditional dishes like Puttu, Appam, and Idiyappam are much-loved, the time and effort they require can be challenging in today’s fast-paced world.

Our journey involved benchmarking these dishes to the traditional methods used by homemakers, capturing the essence of how an amma would prepare them at home. This set the standard for the flavor profiles we aimed to achieve. The challenge was to replicate the authentic taste and texture while ensuring our products were preservative-free.

Our R&D team worked tirelessly, conducting extensive trials to balance authenticity and convenience. Through our innovation center we crafted recipes that retain the goodness of traditional Kerala breakfasts while being ready in just five minutes. With this range, Eastern redefines breakfast convenience, allowing families to savor the true flavors of Kerala in a fraction of time.

With over one million Keralites in the UAE, how does Eastern plan to cater to both the traditional tastes of this community and the broader multicultural audience?

With almost two million Keralites in the UAE, Eastern understands the deep emotional and cultural connection this community has with its traditional cuisine. The Eastern 5-Minute Breakfast range is designed to preserve the authentic flavours of Kerala while offering a convenient solution for modern lifestyles. By using high-quality ingredients and a preservative-free formula, the range ensures that the taste and texture remain true to tradition, making it an ideal choice for Malayalees longing for home-cooked meals.

While there are other instant and ready-to-eat options in the market, Eastern’s range stands out by offering dishes like Puttu and Palappam, which traditionally require culinary expertise and time-consuming preparation. These dishes are not widely available in the quick- convenience food category.

At the same time, Eastern is expanding its reach to a broader multicultural audience by showcasing South Indian cuisine as a flavourful, nutritious, and easy-to-prepare option for all. The simplicity of the 3 Easy Steps preparation makes these dishes accessible to non-South Indian consumers who are eager to explore new flavours. Through strategic retail partnerships, digital outreach and and aggressive in-store sampling, Eastern aims to introduce and establish South Indian breakfast as a preferred choice for consumers in this region.

What’s one thing about Orkla IMEA that people might not know but should?

While Orkla IMEA was incorporated recently, we have been in the region for over 25 years now, through our brand Eastern.

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Features

2025 Hospitality Tech Trends

Published

1 month ago

on

February 12, 2025

By

By Prince Thampi, Founder and CEO, Hudini

As we approach 2025, the hospitality industry is poised for transformational growth, driven by evolving traveller preferences and advancements in technology. The future of hospitality promises enhanced convenience, personalisation and sustainability, with a significant focus on creating memorable experiences for guests. Let’s dive into five key trends that will shape the hospitality tech landscape in 2025 and beyond.

  1. The Continued Rise of Frictionless Technology

The increased demand for frictionless experiences is set to dominate the industry, with more and more travellers preferring hotels that offer touch-free check-in, check-out, and room access via mobile apps. This trend reflects a broader shift towards easy interactions powered by seamless digital integration. Mobile apps have been an essential tool for a few years now, enabling guests to manage their stays, order room service, and access hotel information effortlessly. With the introduction of Gen AI, those apps have become more powerful than ever and are now able to provide highly personalised recommendations and speak in different languages.

Hotels embracing this trend will gain a competitive edge, as tech-savvy travellers prioritise convenience and efficiency during their stay. According to a recent survey by Deloitte, around 72% of travellers are more likely to choose a hotel that offers mobile check-in and check-out services over those that don’t.

  • Hyper Personalised Guest Experiences

In 2025, personalisation will continue to be at the core of hospitality services but will finally be taken to the next level thanks to Gen AI. Guests expect hotels to anticipate their needs and offer tailored experiences, from customised room settings to personalised dining recommendations. Apps powered by AI are now able to predict guest needs based on a wealth of data, ingested from the hotel systems or fed externally.

Leveraging guest data and insights, hotels can create unique offerings that cater to individual preferences. This level of personalisation not only enhances guest satisfaction but also fosters loyalty and repeat bookings. According to Oracle’s findings, biometrics and AI are set to play pivotal roles, with 62% of guests valuing automated recognition for personalised interactions. Biometrics will experience a breakthrough into mainstream hospitality in 2025. Facial recognition technology has matured significantly and is ready to be weaved into the guest experience. It will enable better security and guest recognition while protecting their privacy at the same time.

  • AI-Enabled Customer Service

Artificial intelligence is revolutionising every aspect of the hospitality industry, but will be by itself a new way of providing customer service. Chatbots and virtual assistants are becoming standard tools for handling common queries, offering instant support, and streamlining operations at any time and in any language.

AI-driven solutions not only enhance efficiency but also provide guests with 24/7 assistance, ensuring a smoother and more satisfying experience. By integrating AI technologies, hotels can free up staff to focus on delivering exceptional in-person service.

  • Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Practices

Sustainability is no longer optional, it’s a necessity often enforced by regulation. Travellers are increasingly favouring hotels that adopt eco-friendly practices, such as using locally sourced food, implementing energy-efficient operations, and reducing waste.

By prioritising sustainability, hotels not only meet guest expectations but also contribute positively to the environment. This commitment to green initiatives enhances brand reputation and attracts environmentally conscious travellers. A recent survey by Booking.com found that 83% of global respondents believe more sustainable travel is vital, with 49% believing there aren’t enough sustainable travel options and 53% saying they get annoyed when a hotel prevents them from being sustainable.

Smart use of technology is key in the sustainability journey of hotels. Technology can accurately measure the reduction in carbon footprint, it will help reduce energy and adopt renewable energy sources, and will enable the effective management of food waste. Many hospitality apps allow guests to apply green energy settings to a room, some will even exchange your energy savings to loyalty points.

  • The return of ‘real’

With Gen Z – the first generation grown up with everything digital – becoming the next large group to travel, the craving for ‘real’ experiences is bigger than it ever was. Hotels focusing on truly unique and hyper local experiences; a great meal, cultural outing, or wellness treatment will win the hearts of this generation.

Fortunately hotel apps, AI, automation of processes, sustainability tech and the removal of cumbersome processes like checking-in and studying paper manuals will free up hotel staff to allow them to do what they do best: providing unforgettable, personalised and sustainable experiences.

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