Mobile broadband is becoming a key telecoms industry focus in the Middle East, as more and more investments are made into building mobile broadband infrastructures, according to Bob Cai, Vice President, Wireless Marketing Department, Huawei, who spoke to 60 Minutes yesterday.

Cai explained that, from a vendor perspective, this would lead to impressive growth for Huawei’s

HP today unveiled the industry’s first enterprise-class software-defined networking (SDN) open ecosystem with the HP SDN Developer Kit (SDK) and the HP SDN App Store, creating new business opportunities for partners, and providing a simple way for customers to purchase and deploy network services.

Legacy network rollout typically requires months of extensive

‘human middleware’ and customization, delaying potential application deployment while limiting agility. SDN promises to automate network operations, however closed, proprietary SDN technologies inhibit innovation, prevent interoperability and limit creation of a marketplace. An open

HP unveils SDN open ecosystem

60 MinsShow dates: 20-24 October 2013, Dubai World Trade Centre | AT GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK | Exhibition hours: 11am -6pm

FOLLOW US

4 CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 4 CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Strategic ICT Partner Technology Partners

Huawei outlines mobile broadband as key industry focus

@computernewsme

WHAT’S INSIDE

GITEX Interview: Firebrand Training

Microsoft Gulf announces initiative to support graduate employment in regional technology

ManageEngine promotes Improved Network Monitoring software

4 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

HP...SDN ecosystem and application development platform can unlock innovation as well as enable collaboration.

The HP SDN Developer Kit provides developers the essential tools to create, test and validate SDN applications, leveraging HP’s SDN infrastructure and full complement of support services. The HP SDN App Store lets customers browse, search, purchase and directly download SDN applications onto their Virtual Application Networks SDN controller, creating a new business model for how network services are purchased and implemented.

“With SDN the networking industry has an opportunity to disruptively innovate and is now primed for a monumental leap forward,” said Ziad Mortaja, Networking Director, HP Middle

East, Mediterranean and Africa. “HP has created the industry’s most comprehensive SDN product portfolio as well as an open SDN ecosystem, which offers an environment for enterprises and partners to rapidly tune the network to their business and application needs.”

Current SDN ecosystem partners registered for the HP SDN Developer Kit include Aastra, Blue Coat Systems, BlueCat, Citrix Systems, Ecode Networks, F5, Infoblox, Infranics, Intel, Microsoft, MIMOS, PwC, Qosmos, Radware, Real Status, Riverbed, RMIT University, ShoreTel Inc., SAP, Tech Mahindra, VMware, Versatile and Websense.

The HP SDN Developer Kit provides HP AllianceOne partners, as well as independent software developers, access to the tools

necessary to develop, simulate and validate enterprise-grade SDN applications to sell on the HP SDN App Store.

Alongside these resources on HP.com are SDN developer forums that encourage collaboration including creation of private working groups and support services from HP.

“Applications are what will drive SDN technology into mainstream networking prominence,” said Rohit Mehra, Vice President, Network Infrastructure, IDC. “The catch 22 is that to innovate through applications requires a large investment in infrastructure to develop, which becomes prohibitive. The advent of an SDN App Store, together with an SDN Developer Kit, makes this an accessible alternative for developers.”  

HP SDN App Store creates an

open marketplace for ecosystem partners to sell SDN applications which customers can deploy on their network with a few simple mouse clicks. The SDN App Store will include applications developed by HP, applications jointly-developed with partners, and partner-certified and community-created applications.

The HP SDN App Store delivers the front- and back-end infrastructure necessary for an online store, avoiding additional investment for ecosystem partners. Every application sold through the HP SDN App Store is approved by HP, ensuring they are enterprise-grade SDN applications.

Enterprise customers create a secure, private portal accessible only by employees to download and run the HP VAN SDN controller via their private server environment for customers.

P4 @computernewsme

4 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Huawei...ManageEngine promotes Improved Network Monitoring software

ManageEngine has been promoting its improved network monitoring software, OpManager LEE at GITEX Technology Week 2013.

Technical specialists from the company are holding demos of the recently launched large enterprise version of OpManager for customers and partners and share their global success stories with them.

“OpManager is fast emerging as the preferred choice in private cloud and data centre infrastructure management (DCIM) market today,” said Dev Anand, Director of Product Management, ManageEngine.

“The new large enterprise edition has improved scalability and can monitor up to 1million interfaces or 50,000 servers in a single server without requiring additional pollers. We believe data centre admins in Middle East and Africa

would be thrilled to witness its rich functionalities and speed. We are very happy to demonstrate this software in GITEX 2013.”

OpManager helps large enterprises and SMEs manage their data centres and IT infrastructure efficiently and cost effectively. Automated workflows, intelligent alerting engines, configurable discovery rules, and extendable templates enable IT teams to setup a 24x7 monitoring system within hours of installation.

Do-it-yourself plug-ins extend the scope of management to include network change and configuration management and IP address management as well as monitoring of networks, applications, databases, virtualisation and NetFlow-based bandwidth.

OpManager has over 10,000 small

and medium enterprise customers and over 200 large enterprise customers. The OpManager Large Enterprise Edition gains an ultrafast discovery engine that discovers 15,000 interfaces or 5,000 devices in a minute. Large enterprises and service providers can start monitoring their IT with OpManager in just a couple of hours instead of days.

Along with the other OpManager editions, OpManager Large Enterprise Edition differentiates from legacy solutions by adopting the do-it-yourself model favored by IT admins running modern data centres.

From acquiring and installing the product to running network discovery and adding performance monitors, OpManager provides a very simple approach that most admins can easily follow without any training and consultation.

Apart from OpManager, ManageEngine is also showcasing some of its key products including solutions for Network Performance Management, Server & Application Management, IT Help Desk, Active Directory Management, Log Management & SIEM, Privileged Password Management, IT Security Management, Desktop and Mobile Device Management and Unified IT Management.

Product managers and technology experts from the company are available at their stand in Hall 7 (A7-10).

network and telecoms business in the region. Out of 15 recent telecoms deployments in the Middle East, Huawei has been heavily involved in 11 of them, he said.

“We see a lot of opportunity here. You can see at GITEX a lot of different applications and services in vertical markets. We believe that, by 2020, operator revenue is going to double from today – it’s going to be worth up to $2 trillion,” he said.

Cai said that operators such as du and Etisalat in the UAE, and Oreedoo in Qatar, were already showing strong growth, thanks to the growing demand for data-centric services. These operators were showing great foresight in adapting to market demands for data services, he said, and that the growth in 3G and 4G services was only going to mean higher revenues.

“Some of them have even more than 10 percent revenue growth, and that’s very good,” he said.

Indeed, telecoms-related services in the Middle East looks so promising, Cai explained, that Huawei now believes the region has some of the biggest potential to be found anywhere in the world. He said that events like GITEX showed that there was a real hunger for taking wireless services to the next level.

“With 3G and LTE adoption growth, we’re really starting to see great revenue growth. This year, in the first half of the year, compared with last year, we’ve seen more than 10 percent growth because of the investment in mobile broadband. I think that mobile broadband is the industry focus,” he said.

REAL-TIME VIDEOCOLLABORATION FOR

YOUR BUSINESSMove to the Avaya Video Collaboration Solution

Video built-inOn the go, with Avaya Flare® Experience

Best-in-class Video Collaboration

prologixdistribution prologixuae

Learn More : www.prologixme.com Reach Us : avaya@prologixme.com Call Us : 00971 4 3626218

Office# 1602, Y Cluster, Swiss Tower, Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) Dubai, UAE

Visit Us NowZabeel Hall(Z-M10)

Microsoft Gulf announces initiative to support graduate employment in regional technology

P5@computernewsme

Microsoft Gulf has announced plans to further support the next generation of technology experts in the regional marketplace through its Student-to-Business programme, Fursati, with a view to enhancing their employability and inspiring their future in the regional technology sector.

Students are given three month internships with Microsoft Gulf, with access to some of the industry’s most advanced expertise and technology, as well as the opportunity to secure employment interest from Microsoft partners.

“Finding the right platform and environment to build a career in the technology industry can be complex and daunting,” said Samer Abu Ltaif, Regional General Manager at Microsoft Gulf. “Through Fursati, students will have an excellent platform to learn integral skills and gain significant experience that can provide them with access to unique opportunities to support their future careers.

“Several of our partners have already enquired about the potential developers we will be supporting through this unique initiative, as they

are keen to hire candidates with the type of skills that Microsoft helps foster.”

One of the key areas that students have access to during their internship is within the app development team, which is currently one of Microsoft Gulf’s leading innovations.

There are 120,000 apps currently available in the Windows 8 Store, the fastest-growing store across all app markets, with a strong portfolio of local apps, including for partners such as DEWA, Dubai Metro, Sharaf DG and Dubai Taxi. Microsoft Gulf is working across a range of industries – including healthcare, oil & gas, aviation and media – to create app solutions that add real business value.

The students will be working across a range of different Microsoft lines-of–business, including

Apps, with access to regional and international expertise on some of the most innovative products and solutions.

Microsoft Gulf will be showcasing its latest technology innovation throughout GITEX 2013 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, including interactive demonstration stations, with experts on hand to provide insight into the ways in which Microsoft is helping to empower businesses, educators, governments and individuals to do more of the activities they value the most.

Launching at GITEX, Fursati will also provide students with technical trainings to help them expand their skill sets and provide them with skills

Huawei...

4 CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

In a candid interview with James Lapwood of Firebrand Training, we discussed some of the top IT challenges companies need to be prepared for…

Tell us a little bit about your company – Firebrand Training.Firebrand Training provides accelerated training by top industry professionals. We aim to deliver courses in half the time. That’s not all. We offer a raft of comprehensive training programmes – most of them globally well-known – including the ISO 27001 and ISO 22301 certification courses which train you to be an auditor or prepare you for an audit in your company.

What brings you to GITEX this year?I think my primary goal at GITEX 2013 is to increase awareness about the pivotal role of IT security and its various components. It’s exciting to interact with business professionals that are proactively trying to work on their security issues are keen to gain more information.

What are some of the major IT issues you would like to highlight at GITEX this year?I think it’s very important to raise awareness about IT security. The truth is that for every CEO who is informed about security, there are 50 which aren’t. We do see a lot of proactive measures been

implemented across business but there’s a long way to go.

Additionally, IT governance is another area that needs to be highlighted. Business owners have to realise the potential dangers of failing to incorporate IT risk management and compliance measures within their companies.

Finally, I think BYOD is one of the biggest issues companies are facing today. Employees bring their personal devices to work and increase the likelihood of a cyber-attack. Very often, companies ignore to address this issue which leads to a breach of security.”

What are some other courses that you offer for business professionals?Here are a few which, according to me, are exciting ones to look out for. First is the PMP certification - you can get geared up for this qualification faster with us than anywhere else. We prepare you for PMP exam in just four days.Second is the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH v8): get trained in a record time of five days. Then there is the BCI Certificate supported by the Business Continuity Institute – you can gain this internationally-recognised qualificati on in just three days through our accelerated programme.

P6 @computernewsme

GITEX Interview: Firebrand Training

James Lapwood of Firebrand Training

4 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Microsoft Gulf...that enhance their employability.

In addition to launching Fursati, Microsoft Gulf is also showcasing the Windows 8.1 during GITEX, bringing to life the new features on a range of the latest Windows devices, allowing users to rediscover cloud connectivity through the SkyDrive and the updated Windows Store.

Promoting the true spirit of personalization, Windows 8.1 advances the vision set forward with Windows 8 and delivers the experiences that people want on the latest PCs, tablets and other devices running their favorite modern apps along with exclusive cloud-connected services.

Microsoft Gulf is also showcasing the recently acquired Yammer, an enterprise social network that brings together people, conversations, content, and business data in a single location.

Over 20,000 organisations globally are using Yammer to connect to co-workers and information, collaborate with team members and make an impact at work.

Microsoft Gulf is also presenting updates to its cloud portfolio, including Office 365, Azure and Windows Intune. Additionally, there will be demonstrations from its latest line-of-business and consumer applications designed specifically for the needs of users in the UAE looking to utilise the creativity, flexibility and mobility of the Microsoft interface.

The Microsoft stand is located at Hall 7 B10.

Publisher Dominic De Sousa, COO Nadeem Hood, Commercial Director Rajashree R Kumar, Group Editor Jeevan Thankappan Editors Ben Rossi, Tom Paye, Janees Reghelini, James DartnellCirculation Manager Rajeesh M, Production Manager James Tharian, Senior Designers Analou Balbero, Glenn Roxas, Digital Services Manager Tristan Troy Magma

Web Coordinator Jarris Pedroso Photographers Jay Colina, Abdul Kader

P7@computernewsme

GITEX highlights