Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 54 | Page 16

NEWS CRA publishes a public consultation on a Cloud Policy Statement in Qatar The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) in Qatar launched a public consultation on a draft Cloud Policy Statement with the aim of receiving views and the content of the draft from all interested parties and stakeholders. The CRA developed the Cloud Policy Statement within the framework of the its Strategy 2020–2024, where it supports the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar National Second Development Strategy 2018–2022. The CRA sets within the statement the current scene and provides recommendations for an overall policy and regulatory review that is instrumental to the development of a solid cloud computing industry in Qatar. In line with the strategy, the CRA has identified in the Cloud Policy Statement a comprehensive set of legal and regulatory requirements that competent government entities should adopt or update. Similarly, the Cloud Policy highlights recommendations for stakeholders of the cloud value chain to ensure compliance with national and international laws and best practices. HE Mohammed Ali Al-Mannai, President of CRA, said: “It is paramount to enable cloud services as it facilitates Business Continuity from anywhere and under any circumstances. Cloud computing is an opportunity for Qatar-based businesses to grow, for private and public entities to provide better services and, ultimately, for Qatar to become a regional hub and key player in the region. In addition, it will benefit consumers, stakeholders and national economy by attracting domestic and foreign investments.” ////////////////// Vodafone Qatar: Technology will be decisive for business and academic continuity Vodafone Qatar has equipped their employees with the tools needed to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mahday Saad Al Hebabi, Business Services Director, Vodafone Qatar, said Vodafone Qatar has empowered their employees to work from the safety of their own homes as part of their Business Continuity planning. Communication and connectivity – especially now when virtual connections are taking the place of face-to-face dialogue – have never been more important. He said that many businesses have welcomed this chance to flex the backbone technologies they have in place, such as Unified Communications (UCs), Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and cloud capabilities, to enable remote working and studying. Mahday Saad Al Hebabi added: “For our part, Vodafone Qatar is supporting our customers across all sectors to put the right technology in place. Vodafone IP-VPN lets workers connect to cloud apps via the office network, while our cloud services and colocation services offer the level of security they need. In turn, GigaHome and 5G MiFi hotspots lets individuals rely on our seamless connectivity to deliver on work and academic responsibilities in their homes. “The Coronavirus situation highlights the need to accelerate the development of technology infrastructure that supports alternative types of working and learning.” 16 INTELLIGENTCIO www.intelligentcio.com