Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 53 | Page 17

NEWS Cisco launches a comprehensive security architecture for Industrial IoT Networks have become the foundational backbone for the operational technology (OT) that underpins critical infrastructure including energy, transportation and manufacturing. Organisations increasingly require real-time access into the data these systems hold to improve production, manage costs and enhance safety metrics. Cisco has introduced an IoT security architecture that provides enhanced visibility across both IT and OT environments and protects industrial processes. Cisco’s new solutions enable the collection and extraction of data from the IoT Edge so organisations can increase efficiencies to make better business decisions and accelerate digitisation projects. “Organisations need complete visibility into the most disparate of network environments in order to secure their industrial edge, lower the risk of cyberthreats and optimise industrial processes,” said Osama Al-Zoubi, Cisco CTO for Middle East and Africa. Cisco’s new IoT security architecture innovations include securing the Industrial Network Environment. Cisco Cyber Vision is the first software-based security solution for automated discovery of industrial assets delivered via Cisco’s Industrial IoT (IIoT) networking portfolio. Osama Al-Zoubi, Cisco CTO for Middle East and Africa Cisco Cyber Vision analyses traffic from connected assets, creates segmentation policies in Cisco ISE and DNA Centre to prevent lateral movement of threats across the operational environments and is powered by Cisco Talos’ threat intelligence. This provides real-time monitoring of cybersecurity threats to industrial assets and processes that impact uptime, productivity and safety. ///////////////// Zain Group signs MoU with Commercial Bank of Kuwait to provide data centre services Zain Group has signed a MoU with the Commercial Bank of Kuwait to provide cloud solutions and data centre services Kuwait-based Zain Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Commercial Bank of Kuwait to provide cloud solutions and data centre services to aid the bank’s Digital Transformation journey. The telecom company said that it will provide a set of the latest innovative cloud solutions to enhance the digital infrastructure of Commercial Bank, which includes the services of Zain Business Centre for data hosting, such as the bank data storage service, and the provision of information protection and communications services. The MoU will include providing services for managing cables and protecting data and through a secure infrastructure consisting of a set of equipment, technologies and security measures. “The MoU that we signed with Commercial Bank represents another step for us in our continuous co-operation with the corporate sector, through which we will establish common foundations to explore new horizons in the areas of smart solutions and digital innovation,” said Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zain Group, Nasser Al-Kharafi. “Through this agreement, Zain will provide technical support and the latest digital solutions, to assist Commercial Bank in employing modern technologies that serve its strategy towards Digital Transformation, as the company will volunteer its technological capabilities to enhance the efforts of Commercial Bank management in building an integrated digital infrastructure to keep pace with developments that the banking industry is witnessing.” www.intelligentcio.com INTELLIGENTCIO 17