Reflections on 2023 with insights into 2024 eflections on 2023 with insights into 2024 Perspective Where are the Remote Software Professionals in Highest Demand?| p11 International Market 2024 Technology Trends for Cloud, Datacenter, Hardware and Cybersecurity| p7 Solutions, Security & Services Innovation and Adaptability Keys to Success in Cybersecurity | p10 LAKSHMI DAS Co-Founder and COO Prophaze Technologies PRASHANTH GJ CEO TechnoBind Solutions Sandeep Agarwal Visionet Navaneet Mishra HCCI Raghu Ravinutala Yellow.ai V Anand Raksha Technologies Y Srinivasa Rao Niha Technologies Sivarajan R Alt F9 Technology Solutions Manish Agarwal Aim Technosoft India LOOKING BACK www.dqchannels.com 20 pages including cover Rs 300 Vol. 26 l No. 1 l January 2024 l Subscriber copy not for resale RNI NO-DELENG/2005/15197. Published on 1st of every month Posting Date: 4 & 5 of every month. Posted at Lodi RMD HPO DPR NO. DL(S)-17/3077/2023-2025 Licensed to Post WPP. U(SE)03/2016
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A CyberMedia Publication 3 January 2024 n DQ CHANNELS Greetings friends! Happy New Year to all! As the 2023 comes to a close and 2024 is on the horizon, we look back at major developments in 2023 which will shape the IT trends of 2024. Some of these trends are very powerful and may change the technology landscape as never before. 2024 is also the year when India goes to vote and there is much speculation whether a new government will come into power or if the present government shall continue. In the latter event, the present acceleration of digital trends will likely continue and India may never be the same again. If a new government comes to power, it may have its own priorities. However, there may be many decisions taken during the present government’s regime, which cannot be reversed for reasons of global policy. The large economies of the world may try to protect the interests of their conglomerates and thus, no matter what government is in power in India, it may have to take the large dimensions of the impact of their decision into account. Hence, there is no cause to be concerned over whether the digital trend may take a different track in India in 2024. The larger question is whether India can establish itself as a powerhouse of technological innovation, manufacturing and becoming a leader in the realm of technological innovation, instead of simply being a market for the imported technologies. That’s a very long shot and perhaps not possible in the near future, regardless of the government in power. The technology professionals of India need to identify the emerging trends closely and to make the most of them by devising strategies that can exploit the opportunities to the fullest. The manufacturers of hardware and digital solutions need to look at the problems on the ground and provide solutions if they have to reap the fullest benefits of these emerging trends. On that note, let’s hope that India will emerge as the winner. Read, download, share and give us your comments for this very important issue. www.dqchannels.com For subscription queries contact our reader service executive at [email protected] or call on 0124-4822222 extn 156 For Subscription For editorial queries: [email protected] For sales queries: [email protected] Printed and Published by Pradeep Gupta, on behalf of CyberMedia (India) Ltd at D-74, Panchsheel Enclave New Delhi - 110017 Printed at M/s Archna Printers, D-127, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase 1, New Delhi-110020 Associate Editor: Dr. Archana Verma All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission from the publishers. 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We welcome your valued articles. Write to [email protected] DQW NEWS .....................................17-18 COVER STORY ................................4-6 Looking Back; Looking Ahead PERSPECTIVE ....................................6 2024 Technology Trends for Cloud, Datacenter, Hardware and Cybersecurity GUEST ARENA ...................................8 Maximizing Efficiency HARDWARE ..........................................13 Strong Emphasis on Research and Development MAKE IN INDIA .....................................12 Continue to Provide Innovative Solutions MAKE IN INDIA .....................................14 Revolutionising Laptop Manufacturing in India CHANNEL PULSE PUNEET GUPTA VP & MD NetApp India/SAARC PRASHANTH GJ CEO TechnoBind Solutions DEEPAK GUPTA Director ITSM EverestIMS Technologies SOLUTIONS, SECURITY & SERVICES ......10 Innovation and Adaptability Keys to Success in Cybersecurity LAKSHMI DAS Co-Founder and COO Prophaze Technologies CHITRANSHU MAHANT Co-Founder and CEO Primebook SUSHIL VIRMANI MD Best Power Equipments India MARKETS | INTERNATIONAL .................11 Where are the Remote Software Professionals in Highest Demand? SMART TECH.....................................9 Five Factors that Will Drive Unified Data Storage in 2024 Sandeep Agarwal Navaneet Mishra Raghu Ravinutala V Anand Y Srinivasa Rao Sivarajan R Manish Agarwal
DQ CHANNELS n January 2024 4 A CyberMedia Publication COVER STORY services and infrastructure. Integrated AI and Cloud can also help in Cloud computing in hybrid and edge models. Hence, Cloud combined with AI may become a popular usage in 2024. Quantum Computing and Hardware Quantum computing is on the rise and may influence computer hardware of future along with the usage of AI. Following trends may become strong in 2024 – • Hybrid Computing –There may be a rise in the emergence of hybrid computers, combining classical and quantum computing machines. This integration is expected to generate efficient and powerful computing systems. • Quantum AI – The integration of quantum computing and AI could give rise tomany possibilities. Quantum algorithms may bring about more efficient machine learning processes, leading to more accurate predictive AI technologies. A related development is that of Quantum sensors. Quantum computing can strengthen sensor technology, enabling more accurate measurements with sensorial data. • Quantum Internet – With quantum computing as the backbone, we may get quantum Internet which may provide greater cybersecurity. Quantum Internet may become a secure and advanced computing means of digital communications. Quantum computing will ultimatelybring innovative computer hardware into existence and we may see this happening in 2024. If the mega-companies in the IT sector and the government agencies invest appropriately in these directions, we can change the way technology is used to our advantage. It is important for the partner community to explore possibilities in these domains to stay ahead in their work. As the 2023 ends and 2024 is on the horizon, there ae some clear images taking shape in the technology domain. 2023 began with the emergence of ChatGPT, which evolved into several models of conversational AI. This was a revolution that the businesses lapped up immediately. In the Cloud and datacentre segments, hybrid model of data management eventually became very popular, with Cloud computing engaging the focus of the Cloud professionals. In the cybersecurity segment, the ever-increasing security breaches which have never been completely checkmated by the security companies, new ways of approaching security solutions emerged on the scene. The above developments in 2023 have to a great extent shaped the vision of the technology landscape of 2024. Hardware, the foundation of technology, has to continue to mould itself to accommodate these developments. Cybersecurity with AI-ML AI and ML have evolved significantly and are being used in technology in various ways. In the field of cybersecurity, AI can be used for predictive analysis to gain an insight into the emerging threats and thus, to counter-check the new security breaches. The machines can be trained to use these predictive models. Thus, integration of AI and ML in cybersecurity solutions may become a major development in 2024. Cloud with AI Cloud expands the widespread usage of AI services. On the other hand, AI helps the Cloud professionals to evolve their Looking Back; Looking Ahead [email protected] [email protected] Reflections on 2023, glimpses into 2024 DR ARCHANA VERMA SWAMINATHAN B The convergence of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and the immersive internet is dismantling the barriers between the physical and digital realms. In 2024, this trend is expected to intensify. —Sandeep Agarwal, MD, India-based Offshore Delivery Centres, Visionet
A CyberMedia Publication 5 January 2024 n DQ CHANNELS COVER STORY Perspectives from the IT Business Leaders Sandeep Agarwal, Managing Director for India-based Offshore Delivery Centres, Visionet says about the emerging trends in 2024, “Reflecting on the insights from 2023 and looking ahead at the trajectory of the Indian IT sector in 2024, the momentum of digital transformation emerges as a pivotal lesson. The transformative trends of last year, notably the widespread integration of generative AI into daily applications, are poised to redefine innovation in India. As generative AI becomes an integral part of search engines, office software and communication tools, its potential as a savvy personal assistant, enabling efficiency and productivity, becomes increasingly evident in the Indian tech landscape.” He adds, “Furthermore, the convergence of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and the immersive internet is dismantling the barriers between the physical and digital realms. In 2024, this trend is expected to intensify in India, blurring the lines between reality and the virtual, making the digital experience more realistic while imbuing the real world with digital-like flexibility.” “Sustainable technology is also set to play a prominent role in India throughout 2024, aligning with the nation’s commitment to environmental responsibility. As the country strives for net-zero goals, both corporations and individuals in India will leverage technology to minimise their ecological impact, contributing to the global movement towards a greener future,” continues Agarwal. He concludes, “In conclusion, 2024 holds the promise of an Indian IT landscape defined by continuous digital transformation, the pervasive influence of generative AI, seamless integration of physical and digital realms, a steadfast commitment to sustainable practices, and an unwavering focus on cybersecurity. The Indian tech ecosystem stands at the forefront of these innovations, poised to shape the future of technology in the country.” Navaneet Mishra, Senior VP& Head, HexagonR&D Centre India (HCCI), Hyderabad says, “We are seeing an increased emphasis on technologies and solutions that drive performance. This is a trend that cuts across industries and will continue to dominate in the foreseeable future. The primary reason for this is that with Cloud-based digital experiences, a dip in performance translates to escalated costs and customers are doubling down to avoid this.” He adds, “Security continues to remain an important consideration. In 2023, Information and cybersecurity have witnessed an unprecedented surge in the priority stack for all industries.” Mishra points out, “AI has in the last year evolved from a buzzword to a practical necessity. Customers are willing to invest if AI solves specific, pressing issues they face today. The specificity of AI applications will continue to see an uptick in the next several years.” He concludes, “The most interesting trend; and this is not just about technology, is how the customers experience tech; broadly called visualisation.Thisis emerging as a strong thread. Customers demand intuitive, visually engaging solutions that necessitate minimal training and maximize ease of use.As we stride into 2024, meeting these customer and consumer driven imperatives will define technological innovation and adoption.” Raghu Ravinutala, CEO& Co-founder, Yellow.ai says, “Looking back at 2023, it was the year where generative AI took centre stage, transforming the global tech landscape at an unprecedented pace with far-reaching impact across industries. With 2024 just around the corner, we envision a deeper undertone of transformation driven by AI. And it will not just be generative AI alone. In 2023, the synergy between conversational and generative AI hinted at the potential of combining AI forms.Tech providers will increasingly see the benefits of blending generative AI with other types. Additionally, the open-source movement will continue to popularise generative AI across industries and fuelling the development of fine-tuned LLMs for enterprise use. The Indian market will also see a surge in multilingual LLMs, bridging language barriers and enhancing AI accessibility like never before.” Ravinutala continues, “In 2024, the push for robust AI regulations will continue, signalling a national and global commitment to ethical and responsible AI deployment. We AI has in the last year evolved from a buzzword to a practical necessity. Customers are willing to invest if AI solves specific, pressing issues they face today. The specificity of AI applications will continue to see an uptick in the next several years. —Navaneet Mishra, Senior VP & Head, Hexagon R&D Centre India (HCCI), Hyderabad In 2023, the synergy between conversational and generative AI hinted at the potential of combining AI forms. Tech providers will increasingly see the benefits of blending generative AI with other types. Additionally, the open-source movement will continue to popularise generative AI across industries. —Raghu Ravinutala, CEO & Co-founder, Yellow.ai SAAS come with very basic cybersecurity solutions which are not enough against the increasing threats. The coming trend in 2924 should show the OEMs providing better security and the clients should also go for advance defence mechanisms. —Y Srinivasa Rao, Owner, Niha Technologies
DQ CHANNELS n January 2024 6 A CyberMedia Publication COVER STORY Anand, CEO, Raksha Technologies. Y Srinivasa Rao, Owner, Niha Technologies says, “With the increase in the SaaS solutions, many customers think that solutions, bundled with cybersecurity are enough for any threats. This should change. On one side, we truly believe it is the duty of the OEMs to secure the solutions. However, on the other hand, with the attacks we come across, such basic solutions are not going to help us for the long run and we need advanced defence mechanisms.” Sivarajan R, Owner, Alt F9 Technology solutions says, “Earlier customers were cutting-cost on cybersecurity. However, now the demand for quality products has come up. Customers do not look at other antivirus solutions. They also look for a secured network, thanks to the recent attacks. The market is still attractive if there are new solutions.” “The Government is bringing in new standards and regulations which are required at this point. But when you compare it globally, there are more standards which we do not have in India. While this might not be a challenge, the problem comes when there is an issue and we do not have standards or regulation in the country. We need a clear understanding of what to do and what not to do. These are why we need standards in the country. The regulation should be placed between system and individual, as cybersecurity involves every individual,” said RB Rajesh, CEO &MD, Mirox Cybersecurity & Technology. Manish Agarwal, Founder & MD, Aim Technosoft India says, “AI will continue to influence conversational search, visual search and voice search next year. Consider how often we talk about desktop operating systems, or even Cloud for that matter. In the year ahead, AI will also start to melt behind the scenes. While 2023 was a relatively quiet year for laptops, 2024 is going to be a shake-up. With everything from AI chips to an embrace of ARM, we’re about to see some things come to fruition that have been bubbling in the background for years. Even PC sales are expected to receive a bump as a result of it. Many users demand flexibility and while the typical convertible 2-in-1 and tablet with detachable keyboard are a start, nothing provides the same kind of flexibility as laptops with multiple displays. More than that, they’re just fun new explorations of a form factor that goes beyond a conventional clamshell.” The interaction with IT business leaders of organisations of various sizes shows that they are optimistic about improved technology. The tech landscape will become much more efficient and powerful with the strengthening of IT trends in 2023 which will pace up in 2024. However, there are also some wrinkles in the tech fabric which need to be straightened out. These concerns are raised by the business leaders who deal with the end clients. The larger enterprises have to look into these problems and provide solutions for them, otherwise the momentum gained from the emerging trends may get lost. A prevailing trendin India often perceives cybersecurity tools as optional expenses rather than essential protections. This view contrasts starkly with global standards, where such tools are deemed indispensable. —V Anand, CEO, Raksha Technologies also expect a major leap in multimodal AI, notably in customer support. Chatbots will evolve beyond text, embracing dynamic, human-like interactions. Users will utilise visual, auditory and potential sensory cues, enriching chatbot communication to understand diverse inputs and drive the hyper-personalised experiences that customers are looking for today.” He adds, “It will also mark the year when the industry starts its journey towards a fully autonomous customer support model. Through leveraging a combination of conversational, generative and interactive AI, we can expect to see customer service moving towards a fully autonomous customer support stack. In practice, this means that the AI will eventually be able to handle 100 percent of customer interactions without human intervention. To make this possible, businesses will acknowledge the importance of investing in full-stack integration of their CX tools and platforms.” He gives his final remarks, “As a company, for 2024, we’re committed to reshaping the future of customer support through our differentiated fullstack AI-powered customer support suite. The synergy between generative and conversational AI is pivotal to this endeavour, and we are already making significant progress towards our goal, having already gone live with over 100+ generative AI deployments globally in just three months.” V Anand, CEO, Raksha Technologies says, “In the context of global Cloud cybersecurity trends, India boasts rapid digital growth and a significant IT talent pool. However, a prevailing trend in India often perceives cybersecurity tools as optional expenses rather than essential protections. This view contrasts starkly with global standards, where such tools are deemed indispensable. As a result, even as India progresses digitally, we face rising cyberattacks, laws requiring fortification, and increased vulnerabilities for businesses holding critical data, positioning them as attractive targets for adept hackers,” said V While 2023 was a relatively quiet year for laptops, 2024 is going to be a shake-up. With everything from AI chips to an embrace of ARM, we’re about to see some things come to fruition that have been bubbling in the background for years. —Manish Agarwal, Founder & MD, Aim Technosoft India The emerging trend is that the client has become more quality conscious. They want the best for themselves. This places the onus on the manufacturers to roll out the best products in the market. —Sivarajan R, Owner, Alt F9 Technology Solutions
A CyberMedia Publication 7 December 2023 n DQ CHANNELS PERSPECTIVE 2024 Technology Trends for Cloud, Datacenter, Hardware and Cybersecurity [email protected] Embracing these trends will empower businesses, governments and individuals As we usher in the new year, the rapidly evolving landscape of technology continues to reshape the way we live, work, and interact. As we delve into 2024, the realms of cloud computing, datacentres, hardware advancements and cybersecurity are poised for groundbreaking transformations. The convergence of these key domains is driving unprecedented innovation, enabling businesses to thrive in an increasingly digital world while also presenting new challenges that demand cutting-edge solutions. In this exploration of the technology trends shaping 2024, we will unravel the latest developments that promise to redefine how we store, process and secure information, laying the foundation for a future where the boundaries of what’s possible are continually pushed. Cloud Technology The emerging trends in Cloud technology will be the driving force behind reaching this number and those trends are – Serverless Cloud Computing Serverless architectures, such as AWS Lambda and Azure Functions, enable developers to focus on writing code without the hassle of managing servers. This paradigm shift not only enhances agility but also optimizes resource utilization, paving the way for cost-effective and scalable solutions. Expect to see an accelerated adoption of serverless computing as businesses seek streamlined and efficient approaches to meet their evolving application needs. AIaaS (Artificial Intelligence as a Service) Cloud providers are offering a spectrum of AI services, ranging from pre-trained models to custom machine learning solutions. This trend enables businesses of all sizes to harness the power of AI without extensive expertise in the field. Expect to witness accelerated innovation across industries as organizations integrate AIaaS into their workflows, driving efficiency, personalization, and data-driven decision-making. Datacentre As the demand for computational resources continues to surge, datacentres are not merely infrastructure hubs but dynamic ecosystems evolving to meet the challenges of the digital age. 2024 promises a transformative chapter in the evolution of data centers, shaping the digital landscape for years to come through these trends – Edge Computing In 2024, the deployment of edge datacentres is on the ascent, driven by the need for low-latency processing and real-time data analysis. As the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices proliferates, edge computing enables data centers to move closer to the data source, reducing latency and enhancing the performance of applications. This trend opens up new possibilities for applications like autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and augmented reality. On-Premises Cloud The Cloud is no longer confined to off-site servers. The integration of cloud principles on-premises is gaining traction as organisations seek a hybrid approach that combines the benefits of cloud computing with the control of on-premises infrastructure. This trend enables businesses to leverage cloud-like flexibility, scalability and automation within their own datacentres. Hardware Technology From advancements in processing power to novel materials and PRASHANTH GJ transformative design principles, the hardware landscape is evolving at a rapid pace. Let’s explore the key hardware technology trends that will shape the year 2024 – 5G-Optimised Hardware The widespread implementation of 5G networks is driving a demand for hardware optimized to harness the full potential of hyper-connectivity. In 2024, hardware technology is adapting to the high-speed, low-latency capabilities of 5G, enabling a new generation of devices to seamlessly connect and communicate. This trend is not limited to smartphones; it extends to a wide range of IoT devices, autonomous vehicles and smart infrastructure, fostering an era of unparalleled connectivity. Augmented and Virtual Reality Hardware Immersive technologies, including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), are experiencing a hardware renaissance in 2024. Advanced sensors, improved display technologies, and ergonomic designs are enhancing the user experience and driving the adoption of AR and VR in various industries. Expect to witness the emergence of more compact, powerful, and user-friendly AR and VR hardware, blurring the lines between the physical and digital worlds. Cybersecurity From the integration of emerging technologies to the emphasis on proactive defense strategies, the cybersecurity trends for 2024 reflect a concerted effort to stay ahead of cyber adversaries. Here are some key trends that will shape the cybersecurity landscape in 2024 – Extended Detection and Response (XDR) Extended Detection and Response (XDR) platforms are emerging as a comprehensive solution to unify security operations. In 2024, the integration of XDR platforms will become more widespread, allowing organizations to correlate and analyze data from various security components. This holistic approach enhances visibility, accelerates incident response, and streamlines cybersecurity operations. Protecting Dynamic Cloud Environments The widespread adoption of Cloud services demands a shift in security strategies. In 2024, organisations will prioritize cloudnative security solutions designed to protect dynamic and distributed cloud environments. This includes container security, serverless security, and the integration of security measures into the DevOps pipeline, ensuring that security is an integral part of the development lifecycle. In conclusion, as we navigate this era of rapid technological progress, collaboration and adaptability will be key. The synergy between cloud technologies, data centers, hardware innovations, and cybersecurity solutions will play a pivotal role in shaping a secure, efficient and interconnected digital future. Embracing these trends will empower businesses, governments, and individuals to harness the full potential of technology while navigating the challenges that come with an increasingly interconnected world. As we move forward, stakeholders need to stay vigilant, remain informed about emerging trends, and actively contribute to the ongoing dialogue that shapes the trajectory of our technological landscape. The year 2024 promises to be an exciting chapter in the evolution of technology, marked by transformative changes that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on how we live, work, and interact with the digital realm. The author is CEO, TechnoBind Solutions The synergy between Cloud technologies, datacentres, hardware innovations and cybersecurity solutions will play a pivotal role in shaping a secure, efficient and interconnected digital future. —Prashanth GJ, CEO, TechnoBind Solutions
DQ CHANNELS n January 2024 8 A CyberMedia Publication GUEST ARENA Maximising Efficiency [email protected] A Deep Dive into AIOps To Enhance ITSM S ervice delivery and management have become pivotal in today’s digital economy. IT Service Management (ITSM) offers the ideal structure for organizations to align their IT services with business needs. The demand for smart solutions has risen as IT environments have grown increasingly complex. Enter AIOps (Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations), where AI meets ITSM, resulting in a transformative approach to service management. Understanding AIOps Before diving into its implications from an ITSM perspective, it’s essential to understand what AIOps is. It integrates AI technologies like machine learning and big data analytics into ITSM operations. This integration allows systems to self-monitor, self-analyse and self-correct, leading to automated problem resolution and insightful decision-making. Essentially, AIOps is the application of ML and data science techniques to automate and enhance IT operations processes. The primary goal of AIOps is to enable organizations to analyse large volumes of operational data, detect anomalies, predict potential issues, and automate resolutions in real-time. The Role of AIOps in ITSM and Service Desk Frameworks AI offers potential solutions and benefits to multiple business areas. However, the significance of AI in ITSM is often overlooked. This might be because of the conventional perception of ITSM. Ideally, IT service management should enhance as many IT functions as possible, extending beyond service desk activities to synchronize ITSM and IT operations management (ITOM). But most often, ITSM addresses the issues end-users face at the service desk. AI hasn’t fully penetrated ITSM because many IT units, especially service desks, find automating repetitive and smaller-scale operations challenging. This results in them investing more time in manual processes rather than observing ITSM from a comprehensive perspective. Nevertheless, AIOps offers a solution to this inefficiency. By leveraging AIOps, service desk requests can be cut down by more than half, enabling service desk teams to focus on other critical issues. Emerging AIOps solutions are tailored to tackle standard ITSM challenges, including poor performance, login issues and troubles with other devices. The automation facilitated by AIOps ensures: • Fewer tickets • Less time spent per ticket • Shorter Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) and Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) • More time for IT to focus on intricate problems • Higher job satisfaction and customer satisfaction • Increased agility and operational flexibility Best Practices for AIOps in ITSM If you’re considering introducing AIOps for your IT team, here are a few best practices – • Familiarise yourself with AIOps technologies, including AI, ML and data science. • Introduce AIOps in increments, evaluate the outcomes and refine accordingly. • Find areas of improvement, anticipate issues and discover actionable remedies. • Upgrade your ITSM platform to be AIOps-ready, ensuring it integrates data-driven insights. • Synchronise ITSM and ITOM frameworks for seamless workflows across all IT divisions. • Eliminate data siloes. The solution must offer customization and integration capabilities with a clear roadmap. • Expand the scope of AIOps across all business units. Remember, the goal is to transition from AIOps theory to its practical implementation to leverage its benefits. Benefits of Merging AIOps with ITSM ITSM, traditionally focusing on aligning IT services with the needs of the enterprise, can greatly benefit from the infusion of AI and machine learning capabilities that AIOps offers. Here are some key benefits – Enhanced Incident Management • Integration of ChatBots ChatBots powered by AI can offer first-level support in incident management, quickly gathering essential information and escalating issues as needed. This leads to faster incident identification and resolution. • Predictive Analytics AIOps can anticipate and identify potential incidents before they occur, using historical data and predictive analytics, thereby proactively preventing issues. Service Desk Optimisation • GenAI-Based Workspace Integration Integrating GenAI into service desks can provide a more dynamic and responsive user interface, where complex queries are handled more effectively, augmenting the service desk’s capabilities. Improved Change Management • Change Risk Analysis AI-driven tools can conduct in-depth risk analysis for proposed changes, predicting potential impacts and success rates, thus enhancing decision-making in change management processes. Root Cause Analysis • Advanced Pattern Recognition AIOps tools, with their advanced pattern recognition capabilities, can more accurately identify the root causes of issues, even in highly complex IT environments. Enhanced Reporting and Dashboards • Real-Time Analytics Real-time data analytics and visualization offered by AIOps can provide more up-to-date and comprehensive insights for ITSM teams. Knowledge Management • Automated Knowledge Base Updating AI can continually refine and update knowledge bases, ensuring that the latest solutions and insights are readily available to ITSM personnel. Customised User Experience • Personalization through AI AI can tailor user experiences based on individual user patterns and preferences, further enhancing the effectiveness of IT service management. By incorporating these advanced AI-driven functionalities, the merger of AIOps with ITSM streamlines IT operations and significantly enhances the quality and efficiency of IT service delivery. Merging AIOps with ITSM is a strategic move that can transform IT service delivery. It enables more proactive, efficient, and user-centric IT service management, driving both operational excellence and business value. Wrapping up The alignment of AIOps with ITSM is not merely a technological shift but a paradigm change. It marks the evolution of IT service management from a reactive approach to a proactive, data-driven one. With AIOps, ITSM is not just about managing services but optimizing, innovating, and delivering unparalleled value to businesses. While challenges exist, the potential rewards in efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced user experience make AIOps an irresistible proposition from an ITSM angle. As we move into a future where IT complexity will only increase, the fusion of AI capabilities with ITSM seems not just desirable but essential. The author is Director ITSM, EverestIMS Technologies As IT environments grow in complexity and scale, AIOps offers a transformative approach to IT operations, emphasising automation, intelligence and predictive management. —Deepak Gupta, Director ITSM, EverestIMS Technologies DEEPAK GUPTA
A CyberMedia Publication 9 January 2024 n DQ CHANNELS SMART TECH Five Factors that Will Drive Unified Data Storage in 2024 [email protected] As the Cloud industry continues to move towards widespread adoption of AI at scale, 2024 is poised to see unified data storage solutions take centre stage I n the current landscape of technological prowess, businesses are rapidly moving to the Cloud. Interestingly, three out of four still depend on on-premises storage, emphasising the ongoing importance of in-house infrastructure. This data emphasises the need for a unified approach to hybrid multiCloud architectures in 2024 and beyond. Such an approach seamlessly combines on-premises all-flash storage with public Cloud solutions, ensuring top-notch performance and accessibility. Emerging Trends As the industry continues to move towards widespread adoption of AI at scale, 2024 is poised to see unified data storage solutions take centre stage. Following are the main aspects of these trends – Cloud Adoption – Businesses today have a unique opportunity to strategically align their IT infrastructure with the evolving needs of an increasingly digital and interconnected world. In the near future, this alignment will enable agility and scalability for future growth and innovation. However, it’s important to note that Cloud migration is not a linear process. Among tech executives planning to migrate workloads to the cloud, three out of four still retain the majority of their workloads on-premises. More precisely, 84% of the organisations are either in the mid journey or in the mature phase. Integrating AI into this dynamic landscape further enhances the potential for transformative innovation and efficiency gains. The Rise of AI – India’s swift adoption of AI prioritises GenAI, the leading use-case for AI in the country. It emphasises boosting performance, cost efficiency; and highlights the crucial role of flash innovation in supporting AI and ML workloads. The pivotal force propelling Cloud migration is the widespread embrace of AI, as evidenced by our findings, where a substantial 74% of respondents leverage public Cloud services for AI and analytics. Tech executives across the globe resoundingly articulate the essentiality of Flash innovation in optimising AI performance, cost and efficiency, with a notable 39% acknowledging its crucial role. Enterprises are progressively integrating AI into their frameworks, with a significant emphasis on harnessing generative AI and tapping into public Cloud AI and analytics services. As AI becomes more ingrained in infrastructure, IT leaders advocate for augmented funding, with 63% of AI budgets stemming from new funding sources. The anticipation is palpable, with leaders expecting to forge alliances with new vendors to navigate the expanding influence of AI within their organisational framework. Data Security & Protection – In the era of AI, security threats are a major concern for C-level executives and IT decision makers in India. A majority of Indian IT leaders see data security as the primary challenge for realising AI’s potential, with security threats ranking as the leading cause of complexity in storage infrastructure. NetApp’s report underscores the critical role of AI in safeguarding against cyber threats. Moreover, executives consider ransomware attack mitigation as a top priority, emphasising the indispensable nature of AI in addressing these challenges. Notably, companies anticipate it would take days or weeks to recover from cyberattacks, underscoring the significant risk posed to their business and reinforcing the crucial role of AI in fortifying cybersecurity measures. Sustainability – A growing number of Indian organisations now view mitigating environmental impact not only as an option but as an essential aspect of their sustainability efforts. This commitment extends to flash storage innovation, where prioritising energy and carbon footprint metrics is deemed crucial for future sustainability. The Data Complexity Report underlines the significance of sustainability as a critical factor in choosing storage vendors, with a notable percentage recognising the reduction of energy and carbon footprint as integral to responsible AI practices. Moreover, a substantial majority agrees that reducing their company’s carbon footprint is a vital aspect of broader sustainability initiatives. This underscores the imperative for forward-thinking organisations to align AI advancement with environmental responsibility in navigating the rapidly evolving technological landscape. The Cloud-Driven Flash Storage Revolution Looking ahead, Cloud-enabled flash storage will reshape technological innovation and business operations. As organisations tackle data complexity, integrating this technology will be crucial for agility, scalability and efficiency in handling AI-driven workloads. Leveraging this transformative tech will help businesses adapt to digital demands, fostering streamlined operations, better performance, and accelerated innovation for success in the global market. These emerging trends in smart techs are going to help the businesses in the IT sector in the coming future. Hence, organisations need to strategise their policies with these trends in mind. The author is VP & MD, NetApp India/SAARC PUNEET GUPTA Looking ahead, Cloud-enabled flash storage will reshape technological innovation and business operations. Puneet Gupta, VP & MD, NetApp India/SAARC
DQ CHANNELS n January 2024 10 A CyberMedia Publication SOLUTIONS, SECURITY & SERVICES Innovation and Adaptability Keys to Success in Cybersecurity SWAMINATHAN B [email protected] Lakshmi Das, Co-Founder and COO, Prophaze Technologies talks about her work in cybersecurity for Cloud technologies customer-centric approach and global reach, Prophaze is well-positioned to experience significant growth in the web application and broader web security industry in 2024. Key factors contributing to this potential – Comprehensiveness– Prophaze’s web security platform offers a comprehensive suite of solutions, addressing diverse customer needs and providing a one-stop shop for web security. Customisation – By tailoring solutions to individual customer pain points, Prophaze stands out in a market often dominated by standardised offerings. This personalized approach fosters trust and long-term relationships. Global presence – Prophaze’s established reach across various regions demonstrates its ability to adapt to diverse markets and cater to a global clientele. Strong partnerships – Collaboration with distributors and channel partners expands Prophaze’s reach and offers efficient market access, accelerating its growth. Early traction – With 70+ existing customers, Prophaze has already proven its market viability and gained valuable insights to guide future strategies. By leveraging these strengths and focusing on innovative strategies for R&D, Prophaze can further solidify its position as a leading web security solution provider in 2023 What are your predictions for 2024? Building upon the momentum of 2023, Prophaze is poised for further success and increased impact in the web security landscape in 2024. Here are some specific predictions based on its current strengths and opportunities – Technological advancements and innovation Leveraging proprietary AI and ML algorithms, our behavioral detection system is adept at identifying anomalies and uncovering even the subtlest and sophisticated attacks. Growing recognition and industry impact Increased brand awareness – Prophaze’s targeted marketing efforts and strategic partnerships will enhance brand awareness and establish Prophaze as a leading player in the web security market. Industry recognition – Prophaze’s innovative solutions and commitment to customer success are likely to lead to further industry recognition and awards. Thought leadership – Prophaze’s expertise and experience will position it as a trusted advisor and thought leader in the web security community. Challenges and opportunities Evolving threats and vulnerabilities – The cyber threat landscape constantly evolves, requiring Prophaze to remain vigilant and adapt its solutions accordingly. Talent acquisition and retention – Attracting and retaining top cybersecurity talent will be crucial for Prophaze’s continued success. Overall, Prophaze is well-positioned for a successful and impactful 2024. By leveraging its strengths, embracing innovation, and adapting to the evolving market landscape, Prophaze can continue to grow its business, make a significant impact on web security, and establish itself as a leading force in the industry. Tell us about your profile and your role in this business My journey began with a degree in Computer Science Engineering and flourished at Infosys, where I was working in their banking product. Over a decade of experience across diverse industries, including banking, healthcare, cybersecurity, retail, and logistics, I got a chance to honed my expertise in data security and international regulations. This knowledge became the cornerstone of Prophaze’s early development. Leveraging my extensive background in corporate culture, I now lead operations at Prophaze as COO. I guide the company’s strategic direction, cultivates a thriving work environment, and ensures smooth execution across all departments. I regard dedication to customer success and unwavering commitment to ethical practices as the foundational principals to establishing our organisation as a trusted partner for organisations worldwide. Your strategy for meeting competition and challenges In the ever-shifting sands of cybersecurity, maintaining a competitive edge requires a relentless commitment to innovation and adaptability. Prophaze, a rising companyin the Web Application Security, understands this all. We have built our company on a foundation of three key pillars – continuous innovation, unwavering differentiation, and an unwavering focus on customer success. At Prophaze, we understand that standing still is the same as falling behind. We dedicate significant resources to exploring emerging threats, developing cutting-edge solutions and staying ahead of the curve. Our team of passionate cybersecurity professionals is constantly encouraged to think outside the box, experiment with new ideas, and collaborate on innovative solutions. This culture of innovation has led to the development of the world’s first Web Application Firewall built entirely on the Kubernetes platform, offering unparalleled scalability and flexibility. In a market saturated with WAF solutions, Prophaze has carved out its own niche by focusing on unparalleled customisation. We understand that every organisation has unique security needs and challenges. That’s why we go beyond simply offering a one-size-fits-all product. We work closely with each client to understand their specific requirements and develop tailor-made solutions that address them head-on. This commitment to customisation has allowed us to build strong relationships with our clients and earn their trust as a reliable and trusted partner. We believe that customer success is not just a goal, but a way of life. We prioritise building strong relationships with our clients, actively seeking their feedback, and providing exceptional service and support 24/7. This customercentric approach has allowed us to continuously improve our offerings and ensure that they meet the evolving needs of our clients. While our core strategy rests on the pillars of innovation, differentiation and customer focus, we recognise the importance of additional elements in ensuring long-term success. We actively build relationships with industry partners, participate in conferences and events; and contribute to the cybersecurity community through certification programmes and content rich webinar initiatives. We also prioritise building a strong employer brand, attracting top talent and providing them with opportunities for growth and development. Where is this business going in 2024? Prophaze is poised for growth in 2024.With its diversified offerings,
A CyberMedia Publication 11 November 2023 n DQ CHANNELS MARKETS | INTERNATIONAL Where are the Remote Software Professionals in Highest Demand? Software services providers of India may find demand from abroad S oftware industry is in among the IT segments that are in highest demand. A look at the international software markets shows that even the top countries in the IT sector may have a severe shortage in this domain. Since some time, offshore jobs have been keenly watched in India, especially from the US. This has resulted in a backlash in the US where the people feel that these offshore jobs are taking away opportunities from the American citizens. A look at the international scenario shows however, that the US may have more requirements for software specialists than it has in its own country pool and further, there are some more attractive shores where the Indian software service providers can look for opportunities. The software professionals in Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, Germany and Canada are in severe short supply and therefore, the remuneration for a skilled software professional is quite high in these countries. They can’t fill the supply of software professionals from their own population and hence, are quite open to getting professional expertise from overseas. The focus on general roles is because the technology evolves fast and hence, they need professionals who can evolve with the evolving trends and the company doesn’t have to get stuck in the cycle of looking for new roles professionals all the time. Demand for Remote Software Professionals There are many countries where software jobs are in shortage and they are open to getting their requirements fulfilled by remote, offshore software professionals. Remote work offers many possibilities to the professionals, who don’t have to worry about getting a visa and a work permit from the host country in order to carry out the software services. There is also a certain degree of flexibility in the work environment. By far, US has been the most attractive country for Indian software professionals. However, there are several other countries that requite remote software professionals from around the world. Countries that Encourage Remote Software Work • Canada • Australia • Netherlands • Germany • Sweden This information can be useful to the software professionals of India, who can export their software expertise abroad to the countries that are actively looking for remote software jobs. Since India has a vast pool of software professionals, it can become a hub for exporters of software jobs for countries across the world. DR ARCHANA VERMA Despite the increased focus on AI, almost half of the top IT sector leaders tend to go for more general roles in software engineering. Almost half of these top leaders are looking for software generalists, while one-third of them are looking for full-stack developers India has the highest population of software professionals Countries Where Software Professionals are in Highest Demand ä Sweden ä Switzerland ä Australia ä Germany ä Canada Skills Required for a Software Professional in 2024 ä AI and ML, including GenAI ä Cloud Computing ä Data Analytics ä DevOps and Continuous Integration ä User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design ä Risk Management [email protected] NEWS CHANNEL E2E Networks Launches HGX H100-Powered AI Platform for Developers E2E Networks has made a landmark achievement in India’s technological landscape with the launch of the HGX H100 GPU powered TIR, its flagship AI platform, specifically designed for startups, researchers and enterprises focusing on building foundational AI models, such as Large Language Models (LLMs). This state-of-the-art AI building platform sets a new standard for AI model development in India, offering seamless training, inference, and model deployment capabilities. Speaking about this development, Mohamed Imran, CTO, E2E Networks said, “HGX H100 is the AI supercomputer designed to provide efficiency and speed required for building advanced AI models. TIR, our AI platform, simplifies complex AI workflows, enabling innovators to harness advanced AI capabilities effortlessly. By bringing the capabilities of HGX H100 GPUs to TIR, we are enabling businesses of all sizes to harness the power of advanced machine learning without the complexities of infrastructure management. Through this launch, we are not just leveling the playing field; we are empowering Indian organizations to lead in the global AI revolution and drive significant advancements in AI development.” With this launch, E2E Networks has become a hyperscale Cloud service provider in India. It brings the HGX H100- powered AI building platform for developers, data scientists and researchers working on foundational AI models and Indic-language LLMs.
DQ CHANNELS n January 2024 12 A CyberMedia Publication MAKE IN INDIA Continue to Provide Innovative Solutions DR ARCHANA VERMA [email protected] Chitranshu Mahant, Co-Founder and CEO, Primebook talks about his Made in India laptop What are the technological features of Primebook? How advanced is it and for whom is it useful? Primebook is an Android-based laptop designed to provide students with the best learning experience. The laptop comes with multi-window support and a Desktop experience with Android apps so that users can work on multiple tasks simultaneously. Primebook is 4G sim enabled with calling and internet connectivity, which allows students to stay connected with their peers and teachers at all times. One of the best things about Primebook is its high price-to-performance ratio. Despite being a high-performance device, it is relatively affordable, making it an ideal choice for students who want a trustworthy and robust device without breaking the bank. The device has various education tools, including a Pop-Up Browser, AI assistant and Pop-Up toolkit, which can help students learn more effectively. Additionally, PrimeCoding is a coding terminal that has been designed specifically for K12 students. Another interesting feature is PrimeSecure which is a parental control feature that ensures students’ safety and privacy while using the device. Furthermore, another notable feature worth mentioning is PrimeFiles which is a student-focused file manager that makes it easy for students to manage their files and documents. And, Prime browser is a safe student browser that provides a secure browsing experience. Primebook provides access to over 50,000 apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Gmail, Browser, Whatsapp, Zoom, PW and many more. Overall, Primebook is an excellent choice for students who want a reliable and robust laptop that offers advanced features and great value for its price What is Primebook’s standard quality testing standard? How durable is it? Primebook laptops undergo rigorous stress testing by our manufacturing partner, which holds ISO ISO 9001:2008, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and IATF 16949:2016 certifications, ensuring that each device meets industry standards for durability and reliability. The company provides a free one-year warranty and free software upgrades for up to three years, giving customers peace of mind that their device is covered in case of any issues. Primebook devices are built to last five years without accidental damage, making them a long-term investment for users. With a NEWS CHANNEL Konica Minolta’s PrintXpress Resumes Nationwide Tour Across the Hinterland of India Reviving the campaign that brought cutting-edge technology to the hinterland of India, Konica Minolta successfully commenced a fresh leg of the PrintXpress - Innovation in Print on 11th December 2023. This endeavour will take Konica Minolta to 93+ new cities, across Tier-2, 3 and 4 locations, to understand what the technology and strategy gaps are, in the daily operations of these print businesses that require revision and network support. The unique roadshow aims to garner an attendance of potential small to medium print businesses, across an area of over 25 thousand kilometres. Focused to create business touchpoints across geographies, there are 2 campaign buses, will travel all 4 regions of India, catering to both direct channel and indirect channels, in collaboration with partners KMI and Technova. Outfitted with Production Print Engines, the campaign will showcase live demonstrations to the visitors to experience the benefits and explore new business opportunities with Colour - AccurioPrint C4065 and the Monochrome – AccurioPrint 2100. commitment to quality testing and a dedication to customer satisfaction, Primebook devices are designed to withstand the demands of everyday use and provide a reliable computing experience for years to come. What components are manufactured in India and which ones are imported? Which companies are involved in manufacturing this laptop? Primebook laptops are made in India; around 62% of the laptop’s components, such as the motherboard, operating system, charger, packaging consumables, and other parts, are manufactured in India. Primebook is manufactured by VVDN Technologies and Optiemus Electronics, two companies that have made a name for themselves. It’s worth noting that while Primebook is predominantly made in India, some components like processors, memory and storage are imported from other countries. What is your resource base? How do you expect to grow? What is your go-to-market strategy? We are a team of 40 experienced professionals based in New Delhi, with a resource base that includes partnerships with edtech players and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for operating systems. Our products are available only on major E-commerce portals, but we are expanding to other E-commerce channels, direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales, offline retail, education B2B, B2G, exports and OS licensing. Our growth strategy involves expanding our product offerings and marketing efforts while building solid relationships with strategic partners. We plan to licence our operating system to other brands outside India, similar to Microsoft’s business model; and further increase our reach and brand awareness. Our goal is to establish ourselves as a leading player in the tech industry and continue providing innovative solutions to our customers.
A CyberMedia Publication 13 January 2024 n DQ CHANNELS HARDWARE Strong Emphasis on Research and Development DR ARCHANA VERMA [email protected] Sushil Virmani, MD, Best Power Equipments India talks about the organisation’s business and growth How has BPE expanded overseas in last 1 year? In addition to being a leading provider of UPS solutions in India, BPE has consistently broadened its reach on a global scale. Earlier this year, the company extended its operations into Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Recently, BPE inked three major international collaborations with Eternal Asia based in Singapore, IDC Group in Vietnam and Business Partners Enterprise (BPEIP) in the Philippines. Through these partnerships, BPE intends to fortify its presence and market positioning in the Southeast Asian regions, specifically Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The group aims to further leverage its manufacturing capabilities and establish more international collaborations to enhance its global presence. What customer expectations do you see in these countries vis a vis Indian market? The global landscape is shifting towards efficient, sustainable and digital, fundamentally changing the dynamics of manufacturing and operations. Moreover, in order to thrive in a volatile global economy, it is essential for every company to outperform its market competitors. This level of performance is attainable only through uninterrupted, 24/7 operations. To meet these worldwide demands, BPE designs intelligent UPS solutions in sync with Industry 4.0 technology. These solutions ensure seamless power backup and facilitate faster, flexible and efficient processes, to produce high-quality goods at reduced costs. What are the challenges in competing with other brands overseas? How do you resolve these challenges? There are undoubtedly numerous players in this domain, both nationally and internationally. Nevertheless, we firmly believe that a brand’s strong positioning is achieved with cutting-edge technology, forward-thinking innovation, tailor-made solutions, customer-centric approach, prompt after-sale service and competitive pricing. BPE fulfills all these criteria, positioning itself as a leading manufacturer in the industry. What has been BPE’s strategy for growth? What new outlooks are you integrating in your future plan? Founded in 2000, BPE has established itself as a leading supplier of Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems, widely distributed through channel partners and system integrators. Our array of customized UPS units includes IoT compatible monolithic UPS up to 8MW & modular UPS up to 6MV with all options to meet a variety of customers’ requirements. All our products have international certifications to meet the requirements of our global clients. Driven by its business maxim “Power is On,” BPE is committed to delivering 24X7 uninterrupted power supply to its customers. This is especially crucial amidst the robust global industrialization that heavily relies on a consistent power supply. BPE manufactures a broad spectrum of power solutions, including Line Interactive UPS, Single Phase Online UPS, Three Phase Online UPS, Rack Mount/Modular UPS, and IDU. The company has effectively served more than 3 million customers across diverse industries, encompassing, data center industrial and plant automation, IT/ITES BPO services, banking, insurance, finance, government, corporate, and smallscale businesses globally. The company sells over 60,000 UPS units in India and various other countries every month. To ensure readiness for the future and provide sustainable power solutions tailored to the specific needs of every industry, BPE places a strong emphasis on innovation, research and development, and technological advancements to align its products with Industry 4.0 technologies. This strategic focus enables quicker, more adaptable, and efficient processes, resulting in higher-quality products at reduced costs. The ultimate objective is to establish BPE as the leading manufacturer of power-quality products with swift adaptability to changing market dynamics. NEWS CHANNEL ONDC and Meta Partner to Support MSMEs on Digital Network ONDC and Meta have partnered to help MSMEs unlock the power of digital commerce by enabling and educating them to build seamless conversational buyer and seller experiences on WhatsApp through an ecosystem of Meta’s business and technical solution providers. Meanwhile, ONDC will help these business solution providers become seller apps, bringing the businesses they service onto the ONDC Network and helping them drive commerce. T Koshy, MD & CEO, ONDC said, “At ONDC, we are committed to accelerating and expanding the digital landscape and towards that, we aim to empower MSMEs, help them build digital visibility and boost their businesses. Today, for any business to grow, it is critical for them to market themselves and reach a wider audience. Our partnership with Meta will not only digitally upskill these businesses but will also enable them to connect with a customer base far and wide. We are confident that our collaborative efforts will pave the way for millions of small businesses by providing them with the right impetus for growth.”
DQ CHANNELS n January 2024 14 A CyberMedia Publication MARKETS | INDIA I Indian IT spending is projected to total $124.6 billion in 2024, an increase of 10.7% from 2023, according to the latest forecast by Gartner. While investments in AI and in GenAI will contribute to IT spending growth in India, their impacts on IT spending levels will not be evident until 2025. Indian organisations are expected to make investments in AI and automation during this time, as a strategic effort to improve operational efficiency and address the ongoing shortage of IT talent. However, it is not until 2025 that GenAI will begin to carve its place in IT budgeting amongst Indian organisations. Impact of Digital Priorities on Software and IT Services Spending “As Indian organisations accelerate the adoption of digital technologies such as AI, machine learning, secure access service edge (SASE), there will be a greater implementation of cloud services, resulting in growth for both software and IT services,” said Mishra. “The lack of internal skills within Indian businesses will also contribute to the growth of IT services spending in 2024.” Spending on software and IT services is projected to experience the highest annual growth rates in 2024 in India with software spending expected to increase 18.5% and IT services forecast to grow 14.6.. Despite facing a sluggish phase in 2022 and 2023, primarily due to inflationary pressures, devices spending in India is projected to witness a strong resurgence in 2024, growing 10.1% year-over-year. “The doubledigit growth can be attributed to Indian consumers’ willingness to pay a higher price for better experience when upgrading to new smartphones,” said Mishra. Define Your AI Ambition and Become AI-Ready In the future, as GenAI continues to present unique opportunities for organizations and become part of IT budgets, CIOs and IT leaders must define their organisation’s AI ambition by examining the opportunities and risks of using GenAI in four areas viz., the back office, the front office, new products and services, and new core capabilities. Additionally, CIOs and IT leaders must be able to navigate decisions about AI within their organizations by having lighthouse principles – a vision for AI that lights the way and says what kind of human-machine relationships they will and will not accept. However, few organisations have established lighthouse principles or even a clear vision for AI. A Gartner survey in June 2023 of 606 CIOs and technology leaders found that only 9% of organizations have an AI vision statement in place, and more than one-third of respondents had no plans to create an AI vision statement. To facilitate swift and safe adoption of generative AI in the next 12 months, organisations must do three things: • Establish AI-ready principles Lighthouse principles must align with the values of the organization. The organization’s values must be the guiding light for navigating the unknowns of how humans and machines will interact. • Make data AI-ready For data to be AI-ready, it must meet five criteria. It is secure, enriched, fair, accurate and is governed by the lighthouse principles. • Implement AI-ready security For every positive use of AI, someone is putting that same technology to negative use. This is the dark side of AI. CIOs should prepare for new attack vectors and work with the executive team to create an acceptable use policy for public generative AI solutions. Keeping an eye on these trends and being prepared shall help the organisations to achieve growth and stay ahead. Expenditure to Grow in India by 11% [email protected] What are the main focus areas as suggested by market research? “GenAI will account for a small portion of IT spending through 2024.” —Naveen Mishra, VP, Team Manager, Gartner DQC BUREAU NEWS CHANNEL Qlik Acquires Mozaic Data Qlik has announced the acquisition of Mozaic Data (Mozaic), an AI-driven data management technology. This timely acquisition marks an advancement in simplifying data handling for businesses, focusing on a data product-oriented approach for better data quality and governance. Integrating Mozaic into Qlik’s portfolio brings a transformative approach to managing data as a product. “Organisations are increasingly seeking to create domain-centric data products that transcend data integration and quality. There’s an elevated expectation within the industry,” explained Stewart Bond, VP, Data Intelligence and Integration Software at IDC. Sharad Kumar, Founder, Mozaic, joins Qlik as the Regional Head of Data Integration and Quality. His expertise will further enhance Qlik’s innovative capabilities, aiming to develop a next-generation Data Product Catalog solution and allowing customers to extract more value from their data quickly and effectively. Source – Gartner 2022 Spending 2022 Growth (%) 2023 Spending 2023 Growth (%) 2024 Spending 2024 Growth (%) Data Center Systems 3,607 18.6 3,766 4.4 4,121 9.4 Devices 49,853 2.0 46,309 -7.1 51,000 10.1 Software 13,115 15.1 14,931 13.8 17,689 18.5 IT Services 21,837 13.3 23,262 6.5 26,651 14.6 Communications Services 24,651 0.2 24,287 -1.5 25,148 3.5 Overall IT 113,063 5.5 112,554 -0.5 124,609 10.7 India IT Spending Forecast (Millions of U.S. Dollars)
A CyberMedia Publication 15 January 2024 n DQ CHANNELS For more about Partners Strategies, log on to www.dqchannels.com NEWS CHANNEL PACT Holds General Body Meeting to Elect New Executive Committee ZNet Technologies, a Cloud distributor specialising in Cloud infrastructure and managed services, has unveiled a strategic distribution partnership with Akamai, a Cloud provider ensuring the performance and security of online experiences. This milestone collaboration positions ZNet, within the framework of the Akamai Partner Programme, as the inaugural official distributor of Akamai’s Cloud computing services in India. The alliance signifies a pivotal moment in bolstering Cloud capabilities and cybersecurity solutions, strengthening ZNet’s position as a key player in facilitating Akamai’s innovative technologies across the rapidly evolving Indian digital landscape. “This partnership aligns with our mission to provide exceptional digital solutions to our partners through which they can provide unparalleled digital experiences to their customers. By integrating Akamai connected Cloud’s open source and Cloud-agnostic solutions into their service offerings, our partners are poised to redefine the digital landscape in India, ensuring unparalleled cost-savings and performance for their clients,” said Munesh Jadoun, Founder and CEO, ZNet Technologies. In this strategic collaboration, ZNet Technologies will distribute Akamai’s Cloud computing services to customers through its extensive partner network in India. ZNet Technologies is Akamai Cloud Distributor in India Meeting of the all association members of PACT took place at Barog Heights, Himachal Pradesh. The main agenda of the meeting was to elect New Executive Body as the term of previous body has come to an end. Following is the new team who took over the charge as members of the Executive Body for this term – President – Vikas Narang – NV Computers, Amritsar Sr. Vice President – Prem Saini – Nice Computers, Hoshiarpur Vice President – Rahul Garg – RK Enterprises, Sangrur Vice President – Varinder Bansal – Mascot Enterprises, Bathinda Vice President – Davinder Singh Walia – Crown Computer Trade Links, Patiala Vice President – Supreet Singh Walia – Touch Automation, Jalandhar General Secretary – Devinder Mehandru – (3CM, Ludhiana Media Advisor – Rajiv Khanna – ITPro, Jalandhar Treasurer – Sanjay Nanda – Computer Concepts, Pathankot Media Advisor – Satpal Singh – Sun Solutions, Ludhiana Jt. Secretary – Vishu Middha – Computer Care, Abohar Executive Members consisted of the following – Jagmohan Kapoor – High-performance Computer, Amritsar Ram Sharma – Sehaj Peripherals Solutions, Ludhiana Hitesh – JD Computer, Jalandhar Meeting ended by the Thanks note by Gurpreet Singh Sunny, Sanjiv Walia, Gurpreet Singh Jagdev and newly elected President Vikas Narang. Acer Global CEO Jason Chen Announces Make in India Prospects Fortinet Expands SASE Footprint with Digital Realty Partnership During his visit to India, Acer’s Chairman and CEO, Jason Chen reiterated the company’s dedication to the flourishing Indian market. With a focus on growth, innovation and sustainability, Acer unveiled extensive expansion plans to explore new segments such as consumer electronics, E-Mobility and AI PCs. Recognising India’s pivotal role, the company is committed to introducing eco-friendly products and aligning its strategies with the evolving demands of the Indian market, showcasing a holistic approach to contribute to the country’s technological advancement. Jason Chen, Chairman and CEO of Acer, expressed his optimism about the Indian market, stating, “As we set our sights on the dynamic and rapidly growing Indian market, I am truly optimistic about the immense opportunities it presents for Acer. The Indian landscape is a thriving ground for innovation and expansion and we believe in the potential of the Indian consumer base. Acer is committed to delivering cutting-edge technology, including AI PCs, that aligns seamlessly with their evolving needs through conscious technology.” Fortinet expands strategic alliance with Digital Realty to drive global growth of Fortinet Universal SASE, surpassing 100 locations worldwide. Using Platform DIGITAL, Digital Realty’s global datacentre platform, customers can secure hybrid IT workflows seamlessly across various clouds and locations. This partnership integrates the Fortinet security fabric into the Digital Realty infrastructure, enhancing comprehensive protection across their entire perimeter from EMEA to Asia Pacific and the Americas. As a result, enterprise customers can efficiently and securely connect their hybrid workforce to crucial applications and resources from any location, underscoring the strategic importance of this alliance in promoting global connectivity and cybersecurity. The strategic vision involves delivering a globally trusted and secure SASE solution, emphasising a two-fold approach – • Persisting in investments for purpose-built and immensely scalable Universal SASE locations, with more announcements slated for the imminent future. • Continuing to scale its cloud network through trusted partners like Google Cloud and Digital Realty.
DQ CHANNELS n January 2024 16 A CyberMedia Publication NEWS CHANNEL For more about Partners Strategies, log on to www.dqchannels.com Responsive, which provides strategic response management (SRM) software, has announced the opening of its new office in Coimbatore, India. Need for the new space stemmed from Responsive’s rapid growth as the market leader in strategic response management, and to support that growth, the new space will accommodate nearly double the number of employees of the previous India office. “Our growth in Coimbatore is reflective of Responsive’s evolution and progress toward realizing our ambition to transform how global organizations share and exchange information,” said Ganesh Shankar, CEO at Responsive. “We’re thrilled to provide a new space to our local team members as they continue to rapidly innovate, and to have more space to support hiring additional employees in the area.” Responsive originally established its product development operations in Coimbatore, India. Since then, the company has built the majority of its product team in India while also adding other team members in sales, marketing, customer success, professional services, finance and beyond. Coimbatore has proven to be a very rich market of highly talented team members who play an integral part in Responsive’s rapid growth. In the context of AI’s growing significance across diverse fields, Google has partnered with Primus Partners, an Indian management consulting company. An interactive roundtable on Responsible AI for Online Adswas hosted in Chennai on December 14. The event brought together 20 thought leaders from various disciplines and was moderated by key government representatives, including Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh and Former Law Secretary P.K. Malhotra. Bringing in the government perspective, Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary at the Ministry of Consumer Affairs spoke about the use of responsible AI from a consumption economy standpoint. He said, “We have to be agile in our approach. Self-regulation as seen in some other emerging sectors, is a way with reasonable and responsible measures. A balance of regulation and innovation has to be a norm. Also, consumers have to be at the centre stage of the AI ecosystem.” Nilaya Varma, CEO and Co-founder of Primus Partners said, “The untapped potential of leveraging AI in online marketing requires to be unlocked, responsibly, which can further foster an environment for innovation and development in the country. This might initially require the regulatory authorities to create a framework, however, gradually evolving the framework with time and the needs of the industry, can help optimise the targeted outcomes.” NetApp Recognises InnovationDriven Partners at NetApp Xcelerate Event ONDC and Meta Partner to Support MSMEs on Digital Network NetApp organised Xcelerate 2023, a summit dedicated to honouring the resilience of their channel partner network. Over the three-day event in Udaipur from December 14th to 16th, NetApp leaders and channel partners gathered to deliberate on strategies for identifying opportunities in times of disruption and achieving a 2X growth. Speaking at the summit, Ganesan Arumugam, Director, Channel Sales, NetApp India said, “In an ever-evolving tech landscape, our partners play a pivotal role in enabling customers to keep pace with the latest advancements. Xcelerate 2023 provides a platform to celebrate their achievements while highlighting our vision for their continued growth and success. In a world where intelligent data infrastructure is a key driver of change within organizations, we are confident that our partners will continue to shine and help deliver innovative solutions to customers.” ONDC and Meta have partnered to help MSMEs unlock the power of digital commerce by enabling and educating them to build seamless conversational buyer and seller experiences on WhatsApp through an ecosystem of Meta’s business and technical solution providers. Meanwhile, ONDC will help these business solution providers become seller apps, bringing the businesses they service onto the ONDC Network and helping them drive commerce. T Koshy, MD & CEO of ONDC said, “At ONDC, we are committed to accelerating and democratizing the digital landscape and towards that, we aim to empower MSMEs, help them build digital visibility, and boost their businesses. Today, for any business to grow, it is critical for them to market themselves and reach a wider audience. Our partnership with Meta will not only digitally upskill these businesses but will also enable them to connect with a customer base far and wide. We are confident that our collaborative efforts will pave the way for millions of small businesses by providing them with the right impetus for growth.” Google India and Primus Partners on Responsible AI Responsive Expands Global Presence with Opening of New Office in Coimbatore, India
A CyberMedia Publication 17 January 2024 n DQ CHANNELS Lenovo has launchedthe business and consumer laptops with AI experiences and boost productivity, creativity and efficiency. The new Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, ThinkPad X1 2-in-1, and IdeaPad Pro 5i are Intel Evo laptops powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra processors and Windows 11. The new ThinkPad X1 Carbon and ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 have improved thermals and power consumption management, and Computer Vision features in Lenovo Commercial Vantage. MSI has introduced Prestige 16 AI Series laptops, featuring Intel Core Ultra 9 processors. It weighs 1.5kg with MagnesiumAluminum Alloy chassis and carries a 99.9WHr battery with up to PD 3.1 140W charging for longlasting usage to pump up productivity. It has Intel’s integrated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) technology, a dedicated AI acceleration core that generates a much more efficient CPU/GPU computing experience as well as enhances power efficiency. The Prestige AI series is set to be unveiled in India in2024, with availability slated by March 2024. ThinkPad and IdeaPad Laptops Powered by Intel Core Ultra Processors from Lenovo Gigabyte has launchedgaming laptops for 2024, the AORUS 17 and AORUS 15. Powered by Intel Core Ultra 7 processors and equipped with full-powered NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series Laptop GPUs alongside expandable DDR5 memory, the AORUS 17 and AORUS 15 give the demanding gaming and creative tasks on the go. The AI Boost, driven by Microsoft Azure AI, operates the CPU/GPU and fan settings based on detected game profiles, seamlessly streamlining the gaming experience. AORUS 17 and AORUS 15 Gaming Laptops from Gigabyte Prestige 16 AI Series Laptops from MSI AI Accelerators from Intel Vertiv is collaborating with Intel to provide a liquid cooling solution that will support the new Intel Gaudi3 AI accelerator, scheduled to launch in 2024. AI applications and high-performance computing emit higher amounts of heat, and organisations are increasingly turning to liquid cooling solutions for more efficient and ecofriendly cooling options. The Intel Gaudi3 AI accelerator will enable both liquid-cooled and air-cooled servers, supported by Vertiv pumped two-phase (P2P) cooling infrastructure. The liquid cooled solution has been tested up to 160kW accelerator power using facility water from 17°C up to 45°C. ASUS announced the all-new Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405), a premium ultraportable laptop in the Zenbook Classic series. The Zenbook 14 OLED is the Intel Evo Edition ultraportable laptop. It has extended-life 75 Wh battery and Intel Core Ultra 9 processor. Zenbook 14 OLED from Asus
DQ CHANNELS n January 2024 18 A CyberMedia Publication Lava has announced the powerhouse ‘Storm 5G’ at a special introductory price of Rs 11,999 with select bank offers.Storm 5G is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 6080, boasting an AnTuTu score exceeding 4,20,000 providing seamless gaming performance, thanks to its powerful processor. It comes with a segmentbest 8GB RAM for a lag-free user experience that is expandable up to 16GB, making it a perfect companion for avid gamers. The expansive 128GB ROM provides ample storage for games, apps, and multimedia content. Speaking about the product, Sumit Singh, Product Head, Lava International Limited, said, “The Lava Storm 5G is tailored to meet these demands head-on. With its MediaTek Dimensity 6080 processor, 8GB RAM, and a cutting-edge 50MP+8MP camera setup, the Storm 5G is not just a device; it’s a statement. At Lava, we understand and embrace the aspirations of the younger generation, and the Storm 5G is our answer to their desire for power-packed performance.” Consistent Infosystems has launched an all-purpose mini Wi-Fi USB Adapter. The portable product comes with a USB style form factor that connects easily to all devices supporting speed of up to 150 Mbps and 300 Mbps. Beneficial for those who live or work in remote areas where local internet is limited, or for those who travel a lot. The Consistent Wi-Fi USB Adapter is multifaceted as it comes with second generation high speed mode i.e. USB v2.0. “Consistent Infosystems continues to drive innovation in the technology landscape, and these newly launched USB Adapters showcase our intent to keep delivering cutting-edge innovative products with enhanced quality”, said Yogesh Agrawal, CEO & Co-Founder, Consistent Infosystems. The Consistent Wi-Fi mini USB Adapter 150 Mbps is available at RS 499/- while the USB Adapter 300 Mbps is priced at RS 999/-, both comes with a 1-year warranty period. Ambrane has brought out a 75W Charger Adapter with 5 Ports.The Ambrane RAAP Hub 75W delivers precisely tuned power distribution, ensuring that all your devices receive the perfect charge every time, eliminating the need for multiple adapters. The dual type-C port gives multiple charging options. It can charge laptop, mobiles at fast mode. GaN Tech makes this wall charger smaller in size, more efficient in performance and lower temperature in operation. The charger comes with multi-layer chipset protection that protects against short circuits, over-voltage and more. N E W S Mini Wi-Fi USB Adapter from Consistent Infosystems 75W Charger Adapter with 5 Ports from Ambrane Storm 5G Smartphone from Lava Wireless Speaker from Portronics Indian gadgets brand Portronics has added portable karaoke speakers Dash 4. This 50-watt, portable wireless speaker comes with a cordless microphone. This all-in-one karaoke machine is also IPX5 certified. The Dash 4 sports a premium design with a mesh-textured exterior topped off by a built-in 360-degree dynamic RGB light system, and a control panel. The Portronics Dash 4 can be purchased from the company’s official website at an introductory discounted price of Rs6,999/-, with a 12-month warranty. The speaker can also be bought from online and offline stores. Acer FA200 PCIe 4.0 SSD Biwin Storage Technology introduces the Acer FA200, a PCIe 4.0 SSD for the needs of gamers and content creators. With a combination of a high-performance controller, premium NAND flash ICs, and the latest NVMe 2.0 interface, the FA200 offers sequential read speed of up to 7200 MB/s. Acer FA200 PCIe 4.0 SSD would be made available across the country by Fortune Marketing and its channel partners.
A CyberMedia Publication 29 February 2018 n DQ CHANNELS We ENGAGE with your AudiENcE Large Enterprise / Medium Enterprise / Small And Medium / Channel Eco-System / Start-up / Developer / End Cosumers / Gaming Community “iN thE MiddlE Of difficulty liEs OppOrtuNity” Enable your business in this challenging time with digital offering... HOW TO BETTER A DIGITAL BRAND STRATEGY Branding Response Generation Webinar Virtual Round Table Virtual Event Custom Program Create a successful brand focused campaigns with : Harminder Singh, Associate Vice President - Online Expert, [email protected] Focused Digital Campaigns...
DQ CHANNELS n February 2018 28 A CyberMedia Publication RNI NO-DELENG/2005/15197 (published on 1st of every month) Posting Date: 4th & 5th of every month. Posted at Lodi Road HPO DPR NO. DL(S)-17/3077/2023-2025 Licensed to Post WPP. U(SE)03/2016 Coming soon 23nd ANNUAL MEETING OFTHE TELECOM ECOSYSTEM EMPOWERING LEADERS IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS #tlfindia24 #tlfawards For further information, write to Rajiv Pathak | Sr. Manager, Marketing [email protected] I +91 80107 57100 23rd edition Telecom Leadership Forum ‘24 will focus on the vision of a seamless, connected world brought about by advancements in telecommunication technologies, mobile platforms, and digital infrastructure. It will also highlight the potential for collaboration, innovation, and transformative changes that can occur when communication service providers, businesses, and individuals harness the power of connectivity. Key discussion points l Connected Future l 5G and Beyond l Satcom Innovations l Monetization and User Experience l Threats and Countermeasures l Digital Transformation l IoT in Business l Real-world Applications l Sustainable Connectivity Key Highlights l Full day conference & awards l Parallel Tracks [Strategy & Technology] l Reach 5,000+ industry professionals l Jury & Category Awards l Demo Zone Hall oF Fame Telecom Person of The Year @dataquestindia