Category: #IT/CYBER/TECHNOLOGY

Singapore, 26 June 2014 – The shining stars in Asia’s ICT industry received due recognition at the 11th annual Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Awards held at the Alkaff Mansion earlier this evening.

In its 11th consecutive year, the Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Awards program seeks to recognize companies and individuals that have demonstrated best practices in their industry, commending the diligence, commitment, and innovative business strategies required to advance in the global marketplace.

At the Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Awards, a total of 37 awards across 4 categories were presented. Esteemed award recipients include BT, Managed Service Provider of the Year; Huawei, Telecom Equipment Vendor of the Year and Masayoshi Son, SoftBank Chief Executive Officer as Service Provider CEO of the Year.

“Against the background of the ever changing ICT industry, these leading companies have demonstrated a commitment to best practices, be it through customer appreciation, product and service innovation. These factors, together with sound business strategies and a robust business model have made them worthy industry leaders in Asia Pacific as they shape the ICT landscape of this region,” said Manoj Menon, Senior Partner and Managing Director at Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific.

Frost & Sullivan identifies outstanding industry achievements in the past year by companies in regional and global markets, through in-depth interviews, market analysis, performance measurements, and benchmarking of market participants to bring unique best practices to the forefront.

Award recipients are evaluated based on their revenue growth, market share gains, leadership in new product introduction and innovation, breadth of products and solutions, major customer acquisition, and business and market strategy.

The results are then presented to an independent panel of judges, comprising of influential personalities, decision-makers and thought leaders from the ICT sector across Asia Pacific. To view the complete list of judges on the 2014 ICT Awards judging panel, please visit http://ict-awards.com/judges.shtml

For more details on the 2014 Asia Pacific ICT Awards log-on to http://www.ict-awards.com/or follow #apictawards on Twitter. You can also connect with Frost & Sullivan on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, SlideShare, and LinkedIn, for the latest news and updates.

Media partners for the Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Awards include CIO Asia, Top 10 of Asia, Telecoms Watch and Asia Pacific Broadcasting magazine.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today’s market participants.

Our “Growth Partnership” supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.

• The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation.
• The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices.

For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?

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Media Contact:

Melissa Tan
Corporate Communications, Asia Pacific
P: +65 6890 0926
E: melissa.tan@frost.com

http://www.frost.com

2014 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Awards Recipients

ENTERPRISE VENDORS
Network Security Vendor of the Year	PALO ALTO NETWORKS
Web Security Vendor of the Year	BLUE COAT
Web Application Firewall Vendor of the Year	IMPERVA
Advanced Persistent Threat Solution Vendor of the Year	FIREEYE
Application Delivery Controller Vendor of the Year	F5 NETWORKS
Unified Communications Vendor of the Year	MICROSOFT
UC as a Service Vendor of the Year	BT
Enterprise Video Vendor of the Year	POLYCOM
Collaboration Service Provider of the Year	ARKADIN
Contact Center Applications Vendor of the Year	VERINT
Contact Center Outsourcing Service Provider of the Year	TELEPERFORMANCE
Business Process Outsourcing Service Provider of the Year	TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES
Data Communications Service Provider of the Year	TATA COMMUNICATIONS
Data Center Service Provider of the Year	NTT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
Software as a Service Provider of the Year	SALESFORCE.COM
Infrastructure as a Service Provider of the Year	AMAZON WEB SERVICES
Telecom Cloud Service Provider of the Year	TELSTRA
Managed Service Provider of the Year	BT
TELECOMS VENDORS
Telecom Carrier Data Infrastructure Vendor of the Year	HUAWEI
Telecom Optical Vendor of the Year	ALCATEL-LUCENT
Fixed Broadband Equipment Vendor of the Year	HUAWEI
Telecom OSS Specialist Vendor of the Year	NETCRACKER
Telecom BSS Specialist Vendor of the Year	NETCRACKER
Telecom OSS/BSS Vendor of the Year	HUAWEI
Mobile Social Network of the Year	LINE CORPORATION
eCommerce Provider of the Year	ALIBABA
Telecom Equipment Vendor of the Year	HUAWEI
SERVICE PROVIDERS
LTE Service Provider of the Year	NTT DOCOMO, INC.
M2M Service Provider of the Year	TELSTRA
Emerging Market Telecom Service Provider of the Year	DIALOG AXIATA PLC
Most Innovative Telecom Service Provider of the Year	PT XL AXIATA TBK
Fixed Broadband Service Provider of the Year	TELEKOM MALAYSIA BERHAD
Wireless Service Provider of the Year	TELSTRA
BEST OF THE BEST
Telecom Service Provider of the Year	SOFTBANK TELECOM CORP.
Telecom Group of the Year	AXIATA GROUP BERHAD
Telecom Service Provider CEO of the Year	MASAYOSHI SON, SOFTBANK TELECOM CORP.

[Source: Frost & Sullivan] – http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/press-release.pag?docid=291223374

Hundreds of millions of people around the world, including me, are cheering on the football games that comprise the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which bills itself as the biggest single-event sporting competition in the world. This is truly a global force of an event, with 204 entries across six continents competing for 31 available spots in the finals.

As I watched a recent close football match, it was clear that no matter what a sports organization (or governmental agency or enterprise) does as its core business, its relevance, value and reach depend on the team members driving strategy and activities forward. This is true for ISACA as well, and it is one more reason I am so honored to be elected international president and work with an excellent board of directors. The time and expertise they volunteer for the benefit of ISACA members is truly amazing. We recently installed our 2014-2015 ISACA Board of Directors and I would like to recognize them individually.

Reelected vice president are:

• Ramsés Gallego, CISM, CGEIT, CCSK, CISSP, SCPM, Six Sigma Black Belt, security strategist and evangelist at Dell Software, Spain
• Theresa Grafenstine, CISA, CGEIT, CRISC, CIA, CGAP, CGMA, CPA, inspector general of the US House of Representatives, USA
• Vittal Raj, CISA, CISM, CGEIT, CRISC, CFE, CIA, CISSP, FCA, partner of M/s. Kumar & Raj and director at Pristine Consulting Private Limited, India

Newly elected vice presidents are:

• Steven Babb, CGEIT, CRISC, ITIL, technology risk management, compliance and assurance leader at Vodafone, UK
• Garry Barnes, CISA, CISM, CGEIT, CRISC, MAICD, managing consultant at BAE Systems, Australia
• Rob Clyde, CISM, CEO of Adaptive Computing, USA

Directors are:

• Debbie Lew, CISA, CRISC, executive director within Ernst & Young LLP Advisory practice, USA
• Frank Yam, CISA, CCP, CFE, CFSA, CIA, FFA, FHKCS, FHKIoD, FHKITJC, CEO of Focus Strategic Group Inc., Hong Kong
• Alexander Zapata Lenis, CISA, CGEIT, CRISC, COBIT Certified Assessor, COBIT 5 Implementation, PMP, ISO 22301 Lead Implementer, ITIL, ISO 27001, IT consultant in Latin America, Mexico

These ISACA leaders represent a diverse cross-section of geographies, industries and expertise, and I am confident that together we will serve our members and other constituents with drive, dedication and direction throughout the year.

As a team, we will accomplish several key activities this year:

• We will continue to focus on cybersecurity. Through the Cybersecurity Nexus, we will do for the cybersecurity profession what we’ve done (and will continue to do) for assurance and governance.
• We will also focus on providing tools and guidance on privacy, full-spectrum career development, expanded COBIT, and emerging business and technology.
• We will serve our assurance base. Audit and assurance professionals founded ISACA 45 years ago and are still central to our mission to create trust and value through information and technology.
• And, above all, we will provide more value to our members than ever before. We exist for you—to help you drive your careers and serve your enterprises. Be assured that you are at the forefront of every decision we make.

This is an era of incredible change and strategic advancement for ISACA, especially as our new CEO, Matthew Loeb, takes the helm of the ever-growing and evolving association in early September. I look forward to Matt’s business acumen and eye for global service and growth. I also want to give a sincere thank you to Ron Hale, who stepped up and has served as ISACA’s acting CEO after the retirement of former CEO Susan Caldwell in 2013. Ron provided guidance and oversight for ISACA’s momentum over the past year and we deeply appreciate his contributions. I also want to thank our prior board members, who have shared so much of their knowledge, other global leaders, and all members, no matter your level of involvement, because you embody the spirit of ISACA.

I want to hear from you. Please follow me on Twitter at @RobertEStroud and share your comments below. This is going to be an exciting year for all of us. Together, just like the World Cup champion, we can achieve great things.

Robert E Stroud, CGEIT, CRISC
International President, ISACA and the IT Governance Institute

[Source: ISACA]

The more we talk about the Internet of Things (IoT) the more we have to talk about securing it. Gartner forecasts that by 2020, the IoT will comprise 26 billion devices and will generate incremental revenues of $300 billion, along with some $1.9 trillion in what the researcher describes as “global economic value-add through sales into diverse markets.”

But before we start seeing wireless diapers and connected beer kegs everywhere, there are significant concerns about IoT and security that need to be addressed. Every IoT security headline, whether it’s about hacked baby monitors or compromised insulin pumps, is a reminder that as a community, we’re still weighing the benefits of a hyper-connected lifestyle against potential security risks.

At Palo Alto Networks we’re in constant discussion about how the IoT concept will affect different enterprises and markets, from healthcare to retail, as well as how a next-generation enterprise security platform is crucial to securing so much connectivity. Here are a few recent examples of our global colleagues sharing IoT insights:

• Sharat Sinha talked with MIS Asia about the challenges of securing so many IP-enabled devices
• Arthur Capella offered IoT security perspective for Brazil’s CanalTech (Portuguese)
• Gavin Coulthard addressed securing SCADA infrastructure with CommsCritical in Australia
• Armando Decal shared four best practices for securing IoT devices with TechDay and ZDNet

How is your organization approaching good security for the Internet of Things? Leave a comment below and let us know.

[Source: Palo Alto Networks]

Photo: Sharat Sinha

A few years ago, the idea of having home and office appliances connected to a network may have seemed like something straight out of science fiction. Today, however, as technology continues to develop and evolve, this is fast becoming a reality that is increasing in complexity and sophistication.

Commonly referred to as the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT), this connectedness is seeing a surge in growth, as everyday appliances are being IP-enabled and connected to the network. Clearly, it is a trend which seems set to continue.

Last month’s Internet of Things (IoT) Asia Exhibition and Conference, held in Singapore, reflected the direction local enterprises are moving towards to enhance their competitive advantage, with devices in the IoT used to better address their consumer and/or enterprise needs. But the benefits of IoT, while often cited as significant, have been countered with talks of increased security risks, which could be substantial, particularly in areas such as critical infrastructure, where they become targets for nation states and criminal organisations intent on accessing confidential data and information.

What are the vulnerabilities posed by IoT?
Analyst group Gartner projected that by 2020, the number of IP-enabled devices, not including PCs, tablets and smartphones, will hit 26 billion units globally, while IDC’s assessment pegged that number at 212 billion units. These numbers are significant, as each device represents another potential entry-point for hackers to launch targeted attacks on enterprises. With more devices communicating and sharing potentially confidential and sensitive data, coupled with the emergence of unprotected networks, the conclusion is obvious: there will be far more vulnerability points for security breaches.

Secondly, vendors with little or no security expertise are likely to overlook the security aspect of their low-cost IP-enabled devices that can be hooked up to the IoT. Thus, it may not be surprising to find basic security features absent in these devices. Moreover, there are no security standards to conform to in the majority of these devices—each differing in purpose and construction, utilising different operating systems and plugging into different parts of a network or system. As a result, protecting these devices and the communication between them has become a big challenge.

The third major risk is the devices’ connection to cloud-based applications and services. New data is constantly being uploaded, processed and deposited in the cloud, bringing the issue on data sovereignty into question. Moreover, data collection is often vague, with little clarity on access control and management, resulting in further complexities to segment and secure these massive volumes of data.

How to secure the Internet of Things
Fortunately, securing the multitude of potential attack points exists. This involves leveraging the same strategy as other IP-based communications.

Firstly, it is important to identify and understand which devices are part of the IoT network. Crucial knowledge about the nature of IoT devices is one of the stronger approaches in making decisions to protect the device and manage its data, similar to the security functions currently in existence for mobile endpoints. If a device is infected with malware, for example, it can be blocked from accessing the IoT network.

As IP-enabled devices differ in functionality, the most logical solution is to secure these devices at a network level rather than the endpoint level, thereby overcoming the limitations present in endpoint security functions. Depending on the support of inspection of IoT communications protocol, IoT can also leverage on existing network security solutions like firewall and IPS. In addition, by using the Zero Trust principles of least privilege access with granular segmentation, enterprises can secure IoT data and application access.

While the IoT may offer potential for improving the way that enterprises and government currently operate, it is fundamental to overcome the biggest challenge faced: the regulation surrounding IoT data collection system and the way these records will be used, shared and secured. To achieve this, it is imperative for enterprises, governments and standard organisations to collaborate and leverage expertise to overcome IoT’s complex, multi-faceted security vulnerabilities.

Sharat Sinha is Vice President, Asia Pacific, Palo Alto Networks

[Source: MIS Asia]

Rolling Meadows, IL, USA (5 June 2014)—ISACA, a global professional association serving 115,000 information systems assurance, security, governance and risk professionals, has selected Matthew S. Loeb, CAE, as its new chief executive officer. With a strong background in enterprise strategy, corporate development, global business operations and governance, Loeb brings his extensive experience in leading innovation and strategic growth to ISACA.

“The ISACA Board of Directors welcomes Matt, and we look forward to working closely with him and building on our 45-year history helping our members and their enterprises drive value through information and information systems,” said Tony Hayes, 2013-2014 international president of ISACA and chair of the CEO search panel. “Matt is the right person to lead ISACA and is an ideal match for the execution of ISACA’s Strategy 2022, a long-term plan to expand the association’s reach into critical areas impacting business and technology, including cybersecurity and privacy. His experience in digital publishing, certification, global expansion and new programs in emerging technologies is key as we continue to enhance our resources for enterprises and members.”

He will assume his role as ISACA CEO on 1 September 2014. Loeb will come to ISACA after having completed a 20-year career as staff executive for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and as the executive director of the IEEE Foundation.

“As enterprises continue to invest in information systems to build personal relationships with their customers and gain business efficiencies, challenges of compliance, risk, big data, privacy and cybersecurity are increasing complexity for ISACA members in their work to ensure trust and value from these systems.” said Loeb. “While ISACA already delivers resources to help, we have the opportunity to do even more, including increasing appreciation for the role our professionals play in advancing economic prosperity and keeping the digital world safe. I am privileged to have the opportunity to partner with ISACA’s board and employees to grow the organization’s influence and impact globally.”

Established in 1969, ISACA serves members in more than 180 countries and offers four globally recognized certifications: Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) and Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC). ISACA developed the COBIT framework, which helps companies govern and manage their information and technology, and recently launched the Cybersecurity Nexus program to help enterprises develop their cybersecurity work force and address the global skills shortage.

Loeb takes over the position from Acting CEO Ron Hale, Ph.D., CISM, who has filled the role since Susan M. Caldwell retired in September 2013 after 21 years as CEO of ISACA.

Additional information about ISACA is available at www.isaca.org.

 

About ISACA

With more than 115,000 constituents in 180 countries, ISACA (www.isaca.org) helps business and IT leaders build trust in, and value from, information and information systems. Established in 1969, ISACA is the trusted source of knowledge, standards, networking, and career development for information systems audit, assurance, security, risk, privacy and governance professionals. ISACA offers the Cybersecurity Nexus, a comprehensive set of resources for cybersecurity professionals, and COBIT, a business framework that helps enterprises govern and manage their information and technology. ISACA also advances and validates business-critical skills and knowledge through the globally respected Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) and Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) credentials. The association has more than 200 chapters worldwide.

Participate in the ISACA Knowledge Center: www.isaca.org/knowledge-center

Follow ISACA on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ISACANews

Join ISACA on LinkedIn: ISACA (Official), http://linkd.in/ISACAOfficial

Like ISACA on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ISACAHQ

 

Contact:

Kristen Kessinger, +1.847.660.5512, news@isaca.org

Joanne Duffer, +1.847.660.5564, news@isaca.org

[Source: ISACA]