By: Jacob Chacko, Regional Director – Middle East, Saudi & South Africa at Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company

After over a decade of 4G connectivity, leaders in global telecoms are now racing to roll out the fifth generation of broadband cellular technology and meet today’s twin challenges of increased network activity and bandwidth demands. The pressure to upgrade has only become greater due to the pandemic, which shifted the global workforce from the office to the home, and in doing so greatly increased the number of digital touchpoints.

Research conducted by Markets & Markets indicates that the enterprise 5G market is expected to grow from $2.1 billion in 2021 to $10.9 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 31.8%. In the short term, the task at hand for service providers involves enabling IoT communications, fixed wireless access, edge analytics and enhanced mobile broadband. To achieve this, service providers will have to lean on existing technologies. SD-WAN is one of the key technologies that has the potential to aid service providers in their delivery of a higher quality of network experience to meet ever-increasing user expectations.  

5G: Untapped Potential

According to a study conducted by IDC, it is estimated that there will be 51 million IoT devices by 2021. The advent of edge computing will serve to enable this influx of IoT devices. However, as connectivity increases, so too does the amount of data that must be processed, both in real-time and close to the source.

Facilitating huge volumes of data at high speeds is a key function and much promised benefit of 5G. Yet despite providing higher bandwidth to operations, 5G is limited in range. It is expected that 5G networks will be powered by hundreds of thousands of small cells. However, the denser the network of cells, the more difficult they become to manage, operate and maintain, therefore the crux of the issue becomes not only the optimization of these networks, but also the automation.

SD-WAN: The Enabler

Connection and integration across the relevant compute edges is integral to any 5G operation. SD-WAN platforms can help service providers by allowing for automation and aiding in the optimization of traffic and management of 5G cells. Unlike a traditional router-centric WAN architecture, a Software-defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) is designed to support applications in on-premises data centres, public or private clouds, and SaaS services, such as Microsoft 365, Dropbox and Workday. At its core, an SD-WAN is a virtual WAN architecture that aims to securely connect users to applications. It achieves this by enabling organisations to leverage a combination of transport services, such as MLPS, LTE, and broadband internet services.

As digital transformation tightens its grip on industry, many enterprises are making use of the cloud and subscribing to software-as-a-service (Saas), rendering the traditional WAN increasingly less fit for purpose. SD-WAN identifies applications and provides intelligent routing, with each class of application receiving the appropriate Quality of Service (QoS) and security policy enforcement. This quality in particular is vital in the enablement of 5G. Through SD-WAN’s ability to incorporate machine learning, it enables networks to adapt to varying circumstances and automatically route high-bandwidth traffic to 5G cells and the edge.

Ensuring high quality user experience for 5G is paramount, therefore it is vital that service providers evaluate SD-WAN vendors on the following:

• Granular, intelligent application-driven routing. The ability to automatically prioritize traffic based on bandwidth should be a key area of concern. Lower bandwidth traffic should be routed to other available transport such as LTE or broadband, allowing for high-bandwidth traffic like video streaming to be routed through a 5G cell.

• Centralized management. Facilitating the management, maintenance, and operation of edges and 5G cells by intelligently rerouting traffic during provisions and upgrades. When enterprises deploy new applications or when a security policy change is necessary, a business-driven SD-WAN enables these changes to be delivered in minutes, while simultaneously minimizing the opportunity for human error.

• Machine learning. Automation is key. It is vital that any SD-WAN vendor guarantees that their network can adapt to varying conditions in real-time and provide optimal routing to the edges and 5G cells.

• Security integration with business-intent networking. Cybersecurity is an ever-present issue. By directing traffic to the right security services and enabling application-driven security policies enforced from a centralized position, service providers will not have to compromise on either cost or performance.

• Virtual WAN overlays. Quality of service is hugely important, and network resources must be flexible, and optimized. 5G networks depend on network slicing, whereby each slice receives a unique set of resources. By using both technologies in combination, service providers can steer critical traffic to the 5G network where it can be isolated to a particular slice depending on its specific requirements.

As 5G and edge computing adoption increases, so too will the demands of users. Service providers must be ready to provide an ever-present and high performing network. The initial success of 5G deployment will demand a network that has automation and security at the centre of its operation, like the one offered by SD-WAN.

Debuted to the Middle East at LEAP Saudi Arabia, Delinea is focused on removing complexity and defining the boundaries of privileged access

Leveraging its presence at LEAP, Saudi Arabia’s largest-ever technology industry event, to emphasize its commitment to the Middle East region, Delinea today announced its debut as a leading provider of privileged access management (PAM) solutions for seamless security. The launch was held at the company’s stand (H3.F40), hosted by the local Middle East Delinea team.

Backed by TPG Capital, Delinea was formed in April 2021 through the merger of established PAM leaders Thycotic and Centrify. Delinea’s new brand identity underscores its significant progress as a combined company and renewed commitment to providing comprehensive, cloud-ready solutions that put privileged access at the center of cybersecurity. For small businesses and global enterprises alike, Delinea delivers the digital freedom that everyone deserves by seamlessly defining the boundaries of access.

As organizations continue their digital transformations, they are faced with increasingly sophisticated environments and more challenging requirements for securing an expanded threatscape. Legacy PAM solutions are not designed for today’s hybrid environments, are too complex, and cannot solve current privilege management challenges.

“At Delinea, we believe the opposite of complex isn’t simple – it’s seamless. Our mission is to provide security that’s invisible to the user, while simultaneously providing IT and security teams with the control they require,” said Art Gilliland, CEO at Delinea. “With Delinea, the boundaries of access are easily defined to help customers reduce risk, ensure compliance, and streamline security. We are providing privileged access without the excess.”

Delinea’s solutions grant access to an organization’s most critical data, devices, code, and cloud infrastructure using a centralized dashboard. Users get access when and where they need it, for as long as needed to complete the task. Delinea empowers agility, productivity, and security.

“One year ago, in partnership with the Thycotic and Centrify teams, we set out to build a dynamic identity security platform that delivers one of the most comprehensive product suites in the market,” said Tim Millikin, Partner at TPG Capital. “Today’s brand launch marks the next exciting milestone in this journey. Delinea is introducing the next generation of cloud-based privileged access, purpose-built for enterprises operating in today’s hybrid, perimeter-less, and ever-evolving world.”

Whether in the cloud or on-premises, Delinea provides powerful, customizable, and scalable solutions to secure organizations of any size or in any industry, no matter their PAM maturity.

To learn more about Delinea and how we’re defining the boundaries of privileged access, visit delinea.com.

Digital transformation in the post-pandemic era is drawing IT leaders towards new network models that are more agile, adaptable and fit for purpose

In light of the sustained digital transformation needed to navigate the post-COVID world, a new study from Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, reveals a rising interest in Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) as technology leaders across Middle East & South Africa (MESA) re-evaluate their current infrastructure and network set up.

Defined in the survey as when a company has over 50% of its network rollout, operations and life cycle management delivered by a third party on a subscription basis, NaaS is a concept that 86% of companies in MESA are currently discussing in some capacity. In fact, it is a topic of frequent discussion in almost 1 in 3 companies (29%).

BUSINESS BENEFITS

When asked about the reasons behind this interest, financial efficiency emerged as one of the main anticipated benefits, with nearly three quarters (69%) of respondents in MESA expecting NaaS to help reduce operational costs, and 58% thinking it could enable a shift from CapEx to OpEx. But flexibility – both in terms of the network and team time – was another primary driver.

Over three quarters (82%) of companies agree that having the flexibility to scale their network based on business needs is key to their interest, and 43% see it as a potential game changer in how they are able to manage activities. Meanwhile, less than half (48%) are looking at NaaS to help them reduce IT staff levels – instead believing it will free up team time for innovation and strategic initiatives (42%).

BARRIERS TO SUCCESS

The appetite for NaaS is evident. Unfortunately, the road towards implementation looks less clear, with the survey identifying a number of key barriers.

On the surface it appears that internal processes may be the issue. Among the top concerns identified by technology leaders in MESA were budget rules and investment cycles (80%), redeploying talent and skills (52%) and finding the budget (52%).

However, a deeper dive into the data reveals a much more fundamental barrier: a lack of overall understanding of NaaS. While 100% of technology leaders across the broader EMEA region said they are familiar with NaaS as a term, only two in five claim to fully understand what it means. Even among the EMEA companies discussing NaaS on frequent basis, only 46% of technology leaders claim full understanding.

And this education gap is also evident in the perception of NaaS’s viability. 7% of technology leaders in MESA currently see NaaS as an established and viable solution. The remainder either consider it to be a concept looking for a market (41%) or in its early beginnings (52%).

“As we emerge from the pandemic, the need for agility and flexibility in network management is greater than ever,” said Morten Illum, Vice President, EMEA at Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company. “We know that NaaS can ensure the critical flexibility needed by businesses as they look to recovery and beyond, as well as solve a range of issues from security and scalability to budget and team constraints. However, in order for businesses to unlock the potential of NaaS, we must focus on bridging the gap between awareness and knowledge.”

Jacob Chacko, Regional Director, Middle East, Saudi & South Africa at Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company said, “As device counts grow, endpoints diversify, and connectivity demands increase, planning a network and keeping up with change can be overwhelming. Enterprises need the flexibility of cloud agility, security, scale, and compliance from their network – which is what NaaS provides.”

To read the full research brief, visit https://www.arubanetworks.com/me/solutions/naas/#naas

Nutanix (NASDAQ: NTNX) a leader in hybrid multicloud computing, today announced its participation at LEAP, the global platform for the most disruptive technology professionals, taking place in Riyadh between 1 – 3 February. The company will exhibit under the theme ‘Cloud on Your Terms’ and demonstrate Nutanix’s simple, flexible, and cost-efficient platform – one that offers freedom of choice and enables true hybrid and multicloud computing.

Mohammad Abulhouf, Senior Sales Director KSA, Bahrain & Qatar at Nutanix comments, “Our participation represents Nutanix’s commitment to the Saudi market, with the intention of building on the tremendous success and growth we have experienced in the Kingdom over the past five years. LEAP brings together the world’s greatest minds and leading technology corporations. As an organization that is leading innovation in the cloud computing space, Nutanix sees the event as an important platform to share our vision and strategy for helping regional enterprises leverage the power of the cloud on their own terms.”

“A flexible hybrid multicloud solution enables businesses to select the cloud platform that makes the most sense for their needs, along with choosing from a flexible subscription-based consumption model that delivers resources as needed, eliminating waste. Businesses are able to leverage their existing investments, processes, and skill sets without needing to rework the entire organization. Nutanix’s technology encompasses these concepts. Nutanix is the best suited cloud platform provider for enterprise customers, bringing the public cloud experience down to their operations, and paving the way to hybrid cloud and multi cloud operations. Our agile solutions easily enable maximum flexibility, choice and cost savings. We believe that our technology will play a very important role in the digital transformation initiatives taking place within the government and private sectors in the Kingdom.”

Nutanix will showcase three main solution categories – Cloud (Private or Hybrid), End-User Computing and Databases. These technologies are designed to work holistically together to build a resilient IT infrastructure for organizations. They have security in their DNA, simplicity at their core, and flexibility to ensure the customer always has the power of choice.

Nutanix executives are keen to educate trade attendees about DBaaS (Database-as-a-Service) as a way to modernize data operations and simplify database management. DBaaS solutions offer customers cloud efficiencies and flexibility, but with the operational and security oversight they have grown accustomed to from existing database implementations. The Nutanix solution for databases delivers consumer-grade ease of management and delivery, operational efficiency, agility, and scale to handle even the most demanding workloads on a single cloud-ready software platform.

At the event, trade visitors will learn about Nutanix’s exciting partnership with RedHat, the world’s leading provider of open source solutions. The collaboration between the two vendors enables customers to more easily build, scale and manage containerized and virtualized cloud-native applications. The alignment between Nutanix and Red Hat is set on a clear strategy of helping regional enterprises bridge the gap between private clouds and public clouds and build the right hybrid cloud model, which is the targeted model for most enterprises in the next five years.

Nutanix will exhibit from Stand Number H3-A20, Hall Number 3 at LEAP, taking place at Riyadh Front Expo Centre in Saudi Arabia.