On the sidelines of GITEX Technology Week 2013, Dubai Municipality (DM) has revealed its endorsement of “ICDL IT Security”, a module that explains the main concepts underlying the secure use of ICT in daily life.

The move is part of the Municipality’s commitment towards the provision of best practices in maintaining higher levels of IT security and safety.

The Dubai Municipality Training Centre will be introducing the module under the supervision of ICDL-certified experts. This ensures that candidates taking the security module training will learn more on new technologies, and acquire the necessary skills needed to combat cyber crimes and maintain the privacy and confidentiality of customer data.

ICDL’s IT security module has been designed to provide computer and Internet users with the necessary

In an age where customer exper ience management has become the hot tes t buzzword fo r te lecom serv ice prov iders a l l over the wor ld , Empi r i x , wh ich o f fe rs end- to-end network v is ib i l i t y, i s fas t

ga in ing popu la r i t y.The company, wh ich was

recent l y acqu i red by the pr i va te equ i ty investment f i rm Thoma Bravo, i s

Empirix keeps an eye on the network

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

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Dubai Municipality endorses ICDL certification for employees

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WHAT’S INSIDE

Red Hat, SAP showcase collaborative solutions

DAFZA launches first mobile app at GITEX

GITEX interview: Kingfisher International

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Empirix ...par t ic ipat ing in G ITEX fo r the f i r s t t ime th rough i ts d is t r ibut ion par tner Pro log ix , demonst ra t ing i ts range o f serv ice assurance and network per fo rmance products .

“We entered th is market jus t two years ago and the response has been overwhe lming. What i s rea l l y un ique about i s the fac t that we serve both enterpr ise and serv ice prov ider markets w i th the same p la t fo rm. T i l l 3 years ago, we were focused on the w i re l ine market and w i th the acqu is i t ion o f Mut ina Techno log ies now we have a mob i le p lay, wh ich was the miss ing l ink , ”says Gerhard

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company’s USP is i t s ab i l i t y to conso l idate the number o f repor ts to dr i ve improvements in customer exper ience. “Th is market i s a l ready legacy and serv ice prov iders a re no longer look ing fo r h igh per fo rmance hardware or techno logy a lone. What they a re look ing fo r a way to conso l idate the number o f repor ts down to a leve l where you get on ly mean ing fu l in fo rmat ion . Th is b iggest cha l lenge fo r opera tors in the reg ion i s how to f ind out wh ich event i s happen ing in the network in rea l - t ime, and ana lyse i ts impact on user g roups and app l ica t ions . Th is i s where we s tep in . ”

Gerhard Auer, SVP of Sales and Services, Empirix.

Auer, SVP o f Sa les and Serv ices , Empi r i x .

He adds that Empi r i x ’ p la t fo rm wh ich was bu i l t f rom the scra tch us ing o f f - the-she l f indust ry components a l low the company to in tegra te not jus t i t s own products but f rom others as we l l . “We don’t do anyth ing propr ie ta ry and our core i s the med ia t ion layer, wh ich a l lows us to be in tegra ted w i th the ex is t ing in f ras t ructure . Th is means serv ice prov iders don’t have to r ip and rep lace. ”

Empi r i x in the Midd le East i s par t icu la r l y focused on 3G, LTE and mob i le broadband networks and Auer says the

“We entered this market just two years ago and the response has been overwhelming. What is really unique about is the fact that we serve both enterprise and service provider markets with the same platform. Till 3 years ago, we were focused on the wireline market and with the acquisition of Mutina Technologies now we have a mobile play, which was the missing link.”

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Red Hat, SAP showcase collaborative solutionsRed Hat and SAP have joined forces at GITEX Technology Weeks 2013 to showcase to the Middle East their collaborative technologies.

The companies are demonstrating how Middle East enterprises can further optimise their implementation of SAP software integrated with Red Hat technologies, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, Cloud, and Red Hat JBoss Middleware.

Running SAP solutions on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization helps enterprises address the challenges of flexibility, price/performance, reliability, and security, Red Hat said.

skills to ensure robust defenses for their digital data while also addressing security gaps found in home and office networks as cybercrime rates continue to rise in the region.

Dubai Municipality has a track record of excellence in IT Security, having obtained the international ISO27001 certificate in 2010 in information security for e-services rendered to the public. The ISO certification reflects the Municipality’s high levels of personal and corporate data protection that fall in accordance of the highest international standards.

importance as the competent authority dealing with a lot of data related to both individual and corporate customers.

“It has further achieved remarkable success over the past years at the level of establishing an integrated framework to secure information privacy at a time where cybercrimes continue to increase in line with the higher rates of internet proliferation. Through ICDL’s IT Security module, we look forward to support DM’s efforts to raise more awareness among employees on the best online security practices to ensure delivery of best services to customers.”

It added that Red Hat and SAP customers can benefit from the integration of the SAP Solution Manager application management solution, and Red Hat’s customer support ticketing system by gaining a single point of contact for support issues, streamlined resolution of incidents, and continued collaboration for running SAP

applications on Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

With the integration of the ticketing systems, Red Hat and SAP will be able to more easily liaise on support-issue resolutions, providing enhanced support services to customers.

Cooperation between Red Hat and SAP has resulted in the development of a scalable, standardised and highly available SAP solution-based platform that is cloud-ready. Red Hat Enterprise Linux for SAP Business Applications includes the infrastructure software stack in a ready-to-use package for the operation of SAP applications.

Furthermore, virtualisation capabilities through Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, like

Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) and management console, help reduce power, cooling, and space requirements, and can result in up to 95 percent to 140 percent performance gains for real-world enterprise workloads running enterprise application software, Red Hat said.

Red Hat JBoss Middleware developer tools help cut down the speed of development to create custom applications to call out services for SAP solutions. Engineers from both companies are currently working together with a focus on developing new tools to further the integration of SAP Business Suite software with enterprise Java applications running on Red Hat JBoss Middleware.

Amani Aljassmi, Head of IS Security Section at the IT Department, Dubai Municipality.

“As a public-oriented government entity, we are committed to develop the IT infrastructure and improve the ability of human competencies to respond effectively to digital violations and cybercrimes, as part of our efforts to promote corporate performance and achieve highest levels of customer satisfaction.”

For his part, Jamil Ezzo, Director General, ICDL GCC Foundation, said: “Dubai Municipality is one of the largest government entities in the emirate and embraces a strategic

“We are pleased to cooperate with ICDL on the implementation of the “ICDL IT security”, which represents an important step forward in our efforts to create a positive work environment that complies with the highest standards of information security to protect the privacy and safety of customer data,” said

DAFZA launches first mobile app at GITEX Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZA) this week used GITEX as a platform to launch its first official mobile app.

The objective behind the app is to make DAFZA services more accessible to existing and new businesses, DAFZA said in a statement. The app will feature most of DAFZA’s electronic services currently online, servicing tenants and potential business investors around the clock.

Buthaina Hamad bin Fahad, Information Communications & Technology, DAFZA, said, “Dubai Airport Freezone’s first app will provide potential and existing tenants with highly engaging and qualitative services, already available on an online platform, but made more convenient through their smartphones.

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“Currently, according to Google, smartphone penetration is at 62 percent in the UAE - one of the highest penetration rates on earth.

This platform will help DAFZA build an interactive relationship with customers, potential investors and employees.

The app boasts distinct navigation tools. Users will have access to, and can request, over 120 services, such as new business enquiries, forms, finder options and a listing of client directories that include details of over 1,600 companies, DAFZA said in its statement.

The app also features location maps and directions to DAFZA, along with other information based on the timings and routes of the buses and metro services within Dubai.

Bin Fahad added that DAFZA was shifting towards smart-government services, in line with the Dubai Government’s wishes to make more services available online and through mobile. DAFZA’s plans would run from October until April 2014, Bin Fahad said.

GITEX interview: Kingfisher International What is the main theme of your presence at GITEX this year?We’re proud to be supporting Prologix Distribution this year. Our new range of advanced fiber testers has recently been launched, and we’re very excited to be showing them for the first time in the Middle East. These new products have many unique features which we feel will be very compelling for our users.

Are you releasing or launching anything new at GITEX 2013? If so, what?We’ll be showing our premium KI 2000 range of handheld fiber testers for the first time at GITEX. This is our new range of meters, sources, and loss test sets for installation and maintenance of fiber optic cable.

How is your company presenting itself at GITEX this year to differentiate it from competitors?As a company, we’re completely focussed on providing productivity and flexibility for a very specific set of users and tasks. We’ve had that focus for 27 years, which has allowed us to build the most productive testers and the most comprehensive breadth of product options for our target audience. In 1989, we created the world’s first return loss meter. We’ve since been first

to market on variable optical attenuators, interchangeable connectors, the world’s fastest two-way testers, world’s first Encircled Flux compliant testers, the world’s first MPO testers, and we’re introducing the world’s first source-integrated-VFL here at GITEX.

Unlike many well-known brands who make their products in China, our products are designed, built, and calibrated

by our experienced engineers and technicians at our purpose-built facility in Australia.

What are the key trends influencing your approach to GITEX 2013 and the offerings you are pushing? For 27 years, we’ve has tracked the trend of increased bandwidth requirements around the world. More bandwidth requires more fiber, and that means that

fiber has become increasingly a mainstream solution. For Instance, in cloud datacentres, the new MTP connectors are providing much more bandwidth. We’re also seeing bandwidth demand resulting in more fiber-to-the-premesis and 4G wireless infrastructure. We’re excited to be able to assist Prologix in meeting the latest wave of bandwidth demand.

How have you seen the Middle East respond to those trends in question, and how did you think that will change over the next year?Interest in fiber optics is growing. The industry has responded through the development of better standardisation and high quality requirements.

What are the key offerings you are presenting at GITEX – sum up their key and unique features. We’ll be presenting our advanced meters for the first time, plus we have our ‘pocket testers’– about half the size of other major power meters or light sources. It always gets attention.

How important is GITEX as a platform and event to your organisation?We make equipment designed to survive in the deserts of

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Rosmin and Bruce Robertson, Kingfisher International

Highlights

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Australia, and so we find customers in the Middle East face many of the same challenges as our local market. The Middle East market is very important to us, and GITEX is central to our communication with the Middle East.

What is the top reason you invest in GITEX — do you see a healthy return on your investment, or is it more about presence/visibility?We enjoy building our relationships, trust and visibility. We think these are important to our customers around the world. Our products have a very long lifecycle, with some product lines even lasting up to 25 years. So our recent refresh of nearly all products over the past five years is a very significant development for our customers.

What does your company hope to achieve by appearing at GITEX 2013?In supporting our new distributor, Prologix Distribution, we believe we can take our brand to the next level of awareness at GITEX.

What are your company’s main recent achievements in the Middle East market?Over the past few years, Kingfisher has been strongly focussed on product development. We hope to share the fruits of that with the market at GITEX through our new partner, Prologix.

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