Wipro to offer Advanced Cybersecurity Services layered with Microsoft Security Capabilities

Press Release Wipro, Bangalore, India – February 26, 2019

Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company, is announcing the expansion of its global relationship with Microsoft Corp. to offer digital security services to their clients across the globe. As part of this relationship, Wipro will offer integrated digital security services, including Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 based security services.

Wipro is helping global clients in their journey of digital innovation, optimization and transformation, and enabling business to be more secure and compliant to regulatory requirements. This initiative will focus on various security services integrating Microsoft Azure and Microsoft advanced security capabilities, including Identity and Access Management, Data Protection and Threat Protection.

Sheetal Mehta, Senior Vice President and Global Head, Cybersecurity & Risk Services, Wipro Limited said, "Wipro has been investing in building security capabilities for the cloud and digital areas and we have seen a good amount of success. We have bet big on cloud security and digital risk management capabilities to secure our clients' business. Our innovative Cyber Defense Platform, that integrates with multiple cloud environments can assist customers with security operations, security monitoring and risk governance in their cloud migration journey. This relationship with Microsoft will offer a unique value proposition for our customers, as it will provide differentiated digital security capabilities coupled with unmatched risk governance-based digital services."

“Customers tell us they need security solutions that offer deeper technical expertise, greater flexibility and the ability to stay ahead of emerging threats as the marketplace evolves,” said Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President, Cybersecurity Solutions Group, Microsoft Corp. “By extending our relationship with Wipro, customers can better secure their environment with integrated, end-to-end protection, through new options in security that combine Microsoft’s advanced cybersecurity capabilities with Wipro’s extensive IT services.”

Press Release

https://www.wipro.com/newsroom/press-releases/2019/wipro-to-offer-advanced-cybersecurity-services-layered-with-microsoft-security-capabilities/

Red Hat Launches New Certification Program to Support the Future of Telecommunications Innovations

Press release RALEIGH, N.C. — February 27, 2019 — Red Hat, Inc. 

Red Hat, Inc. (NYSE: RHT), the world's leading provider of open source solutions, today announced a new training and certification program emphasizing the next-generation of telecommunications innovation. The Red Hat Certified Architect Program in Telco Cloud focuses on the skills that telecommunications engineers need to build network functions virtualization (NFV) clouds, critical technologies that can help drive advanced services like 5G. Used by Rakuten Mobile Network, Inc., as part of their collaboration with Red Hat in building a fully virtualized core-to-edge NFV cloud, the program is designed to help Red Hat Certified Engineers and Red Hat Certified Architects gain the knowledge needed to effectively use virtualized and cloud-native functions in building telecommunications infrastructure and services.

Through the Red Hat Certified Architect Program in Telco Cloud, our engineers have been able to develop the skills to build and maintain the network, bringing us one step closer to making our vision of creating the world’s first fully-virtualized, end-to-end cloud-native network a reality.

TAREQ AMINCTO, RAKUTEN MOBILE NETWORK, INC.

Red Hat Certified Architect in Infrastructure and Red Hat Certified Architect in Enterprise Applications are Red Hat’s highest certifications, representing both depth and breadth of skills and knowledge. The Telco Cloud Program consists of a certification path specifically recommended for professionals in the telecom industry that will lead to RHCA in Infrastructure. Available now, engineers taking the program can gain the skills needed to build open, innovative next-generation infrastructure that covers core to edge processes and technologies, enabling them to more effectively create full-scale NFV clouds.

Participants must first become certified as Red Hat Certified Engineers, and then must earn the following additional certifications:

Supporting Quotes

Red Hat Certified Architect Program in Telco Cloud

• Red Hat Certified System Administrator in Red Hat OpenStack
• Red Hat Certified Engineer in Red Hat OpenStack
• Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ceph Storage Administration
• Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Automation
• Red Hat Certified Specialist in Configuration Management

Red Hat offers training aligned to all these certifications, available worldwide in a variety of self-paced and instructor-led options and languages. The Red Hat Learning Subscription provides the most flexible, cost-effective means of achieving RHCA.

Randy Russell, director, Certification, Red Hat

"To deliver the future of telco innovation, engineers and architects need the proper skillsets to use emerging technologies like cloud-enabled NFV and Linux containers to their fullest. The Red Hat Certified Architect Program in Telco Cloud is designed to help these individuals gain a greater understanding of the technologies and processes underpinning next-generation telecommunications infrastructure and provide them with the knowledge to bring these advancements to their respective organizations. We’re pleased to have Rakuten Mobile Network as the first organization taking advantage of this program as they work to launch a fully virtualized, end-to-end cloud-native mobile network."

Tareq Amin, CTO, Rakuten Mobile Network, Inc.

"The infrastructure of our new, innovative mobile network leverages complete virtualization of network functions across a telco cloud. This differs dramatically from traditional networks, and requires an entirely new set of skills and knowledge. Through the Red Hat Certified Architect Program in Telco Cloud, our engineers have been able to develop the skills to build and maintain the network, bringing us one step closer to making our vision of creating the world’s first fully-virtualized, end-to-end cloud-native network a reality."

Press release

https://www.redhat.com/en/about/press-releases/red-hat-launches-new-certification-program-support-future-telecommunications-innovations?source=pressreleaselisting

Immagine tratta da : https://ttboj.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/working-at-redhat/

Après Daech, un nouvel Irak

Lunedi 25 febbraio 2019, sala conferenze dell'Institut français des relations internationales (ifri) - Parigi

Qualche minuto dopo le 18 ha inizio la conferenza dal titolo: "Après Daech, un nouvel Irak". Conferenziere d'eccezione il Presidente dell'Irak Barham Saleh.

Il dibattito è guidato da Thierry de Montbrial, presidente dell'ifri, uno dei più influenti think tank al mondo.

Il Presidente Barham Saleh, eletto lo scorso 2 ottobre 2018, si presenta come una persona pacata, paziente, convinto delle sue idee ma aperto alla discussione.

Il suo paese, dice, è un paese che sta uscendo dalla distruzione dell'ultima guerra, mettendo davanti a tutto la voglia di creare qualcosa da lasciare ai giovani, mettendo da parte odio e risentimenti. Dalla sua elezione ha iniziato a visitare i suoi vicini, l'Iran, l'Afghanistan, la Russia... e con tutti si è parlato della volontà di cambiare corso, della necessità che l'Irak torni un paese stabile e sicuro, perché dalla stabilità e dalla sicurezza possono guadagnare tutti, non solo gli iracheni ma anche tutti coloro che hanno dei legami con l'Irak. 

Un esempio colpisce il nostro immaginario di occidentali, la distruzione delle due guerre mondiali, rievocata dal Presidente  Barham Saleh per paragonarla alla distruzione subita dal suo popolo. Se l'Europa è riuscita a risollevarsi dopo un simile massacro, beh, dice allora possiamo essere ottimisti e dire che possiamo riuscirci anche noi iracheni...

La politica è importante, afferma, ma anche il lavoro per i giovani, la crescita della popolazione, i guadagni, l'industria, la lotta alla corruzione, la cultura...

Ci sono ancora tante cose da fare, dice, tante sfide non da poco, sfide difficili, ma vogliamo tutti dare un segnale forte, che si può tornare alla normalità.

Un segnale di speranza dal Presidente di una terra distrutta dalla guerra ma che, almeno così si spera, ha voglia di andare avanti, superando gli ostacoli che ha davanti e ritornare a vivere.

Questi, in breve, i concetti espressi nella serata e per i quali mi sento di augurare al Presidente i migliori auguri per il futuro.

Alessandro RUGOLO

https://www.ifri.org/fr/debats/apres-daech-un-nouvel-irak

Business-Critical Cloud Adoption Growing yet Security Gaps Persist, Report Says

Oracle Press release 

Oracle and KPMG study finds that confusion over cloud security responsibilities, lack of visibility and shadow IT complicate corporate security

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. and NEW YORK—Feb 20, 2019

Companies continue to move business critical workloads and their most sensitive data to the cloud, yet security challenges remain, according to the second annual Oracle and KPMG Cloud Threat Report 2019 released today. The report found that 72 percent of respondents feel the public cloud is more secure than what they can deliver in their own data center and are moving data to the cloud, but visibility gaps remain that can make it hard for businesses to understand where and how their critical data is handled in the cloud.

The survey also found a projected 3.5 times increase in the number of organizations with more than half of their data in the cloud from 2018 to 2020, and 71 percent of organizations indicated that a majority of this cloud data is sensitive, up from 50 percent last year. However, the vast majority (92 percent) noted they are concerned about employees following cloud policies designed to protect this data.

The report found that the mission-critical nature of cloud services has made cloud security a strategic imperative. Cloud services are no longer nice-to-have tertiary elements of IT—they serve core functions essential to all aspects of business operations. The 2019 report identified several key areas where the use of cloud service can present security challenges for many organizations.

• Confusion about the shared responsibility security model has resulted in cybersecurity incidents. Eighty-two percent of cloud users have experienced security events due to confusion over the shared responsibility model. While 91 percent have formal methodologies for cloud usage, 71 percent are confident these policies are being violated by employees, leading to instances of malware and data compromise.
• CISOs are too often on the cloud security sidelines. Ninety percent of CISOs surveyed are confused about their role in securing a Software as a Service (SaaS) versus the cloud service provider environment.
• Visibility remains the top security challenge. The top security challenge identified in the survey is detecting and reacting to security incidents in the cloud, with 38 percent of respondents naming it as their top challenge today. Thirty percent cited the inability of existing network security controls to provide visibility into cloud-resident server workloads as a security challenge.
• Rogue cloud application use and lack of security controls put data at risk. Ninety-three percent of respondents indicated they are still dealing with “shadow IT”—in which employees use unsanctioned personal devices and storage or file share software for corporate data. Half of organizations cited lack of security controls and misconfigurations as common reasons for fraud and data exposures. Twenty-six percent of organizations cited unauthorized use of cloud services as their biggest cybersecurity challenge today.

“The world’s most important workloads are moving to the cloud, heightening the need for a coordinated, integrated and layered security strategy,” said Kyle York, vice president of product strategy, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. “Starting with a cloud platform built for security and applying AI to safeguard data while also removing the burden of administrative tasks and patching removes complexity and helps organizations safeguard their most critical asset—their data.”

“As organizations continue to transition their cyber security thinking from strictly risk management to more of a focus on business innovation and growth, it is important that enterprise leaders align their business and cyber security strategies,” said Tony Buffomante, U.S. Leader of KPMG LLP’s Cyber Security Services. “With cloud services becoming an integral part of business operations, there is an intensified need to improve the security of the cloud and to integrate cloud security into the organization’s broader strategic risk mitigation plans.”

Oracle Press release

ExxonMobil to increase Permian profitability through digital partnership with Microsoft

February 22, 2019 | Microsoft News Center

• Permian application to generate billions of dollars in value over the next decade and drive capital efficiency

• Potential to expand production by as much as 50,000 oil-equivalent barrels a day by 2025

• Largest-ever oil and gas acreage to use cloud technology

IRVING, Texas — February 22, 2019 — ExxonMobil said today a new partnership with Microsoft Corp. will make its Permian Basin operations the largest-ever oil and gas acreage to use cloud technology and is expected to generate billions in net cash flow over the next decade through improvements in analyses and enhancements to operational efficiencies.

The application of Microsoft technologies by ExxonMobil’s XTO Energy subsidiary – including Dynamics 365, Microsoft Azure, Machine Learning and the Internet of Things – is anticipated to improve capital efficiency and support Permian production growth by as much as 50,000 oil-equivalent barrels per day by 2025.

“The combination of Microsoft’s technologies with our unique strengths in oilfield technologies, production efficiency and integration will help drive growth in the Permian and serve as a model for additional implementation across the U.S. and abroad,” said Staale Gjervik, senior vice president, Permian Integrated Development for XTO. “The unconventional business is fast moving, complex and data rich, which makes it well suited for the application of digital technologies to strengthen our operations and help deliver greater value.”

ExxonMobil’s partnership with Microsoft includes an integrated cloud environment that securely and reliably collects real-time data from oil field assets spanning hundreds of miles. The data will enable ExxonMobil to make faster and better decisions on drilling optimization, well completions and prioritization of personnel deployment. Importantly, leak detection and repair response times could be further reduced with enhanced access to emissions data, strengthening XTO’s voluntary actions to manage methane emissions.

ExxonMobil’s application of these technologies in its Permian Basin acreage, which covers a 9.5 billion oil-equivalent barrel resource base and more than 1.6 million acres, represents industry’s largest acreage position using cloud technology.

Alysa Taylor, corporate vice president of Microsoft Business Applications and Industry, said ExxonMobil is taking a leadership approach in its digital strategy.

“ExxonMobil is leading the way for industry, grounding its goals in making data-driven decisions that will result in safer operations for its employees and more profitable activities for the company,” said Taylor. “Our cloud infrastructure and business applications will continue to support ExxonMobil as it fully realizes its strategy across the Permian.”

Microsoft’s platforms, including Azure Data Lake, will enable ExxonMobil to rapidly incorporate third-party solutions at scale across the Permian. Examples include mobile field data apps to optimize well performance, and AI algorithms for analyzing drilling and completions data to improve performance.

With the additional layer of Microsoft’s intelligent business applications, such as Dynamics 365, ExxonMobil and XTO will have a complete, end-to-end view of the Permian operations.

“Digital technology is a fundamental enabler for our Permian development,” said Gjervik. “Through our partnership with Microsoft, we’re combining our technical and engineering expertise with cloud and data analytics capabilities to develop the Permian resource in the most capital-efficient manner. Collaboration with Microsoft is key to our future development efforts, which include predictive maintenance capacities, innovative tools for employees, and artificial intelligence and machine learning integration.”

Press release

Sophos Central Management Platform Now Features All Next-Gen Cybersecurity Protection from Sophos

Press Release Sophos  19 feb 2019

Addition of Sophos XG Firewall provides advanced Synchronized Security capabilities for accelerated response to cyberattacks from a single cloud-based management console

OXFORD, U.K. – Feb. 19, 2019 – Sophos (LSE: SOPH), a global leader in network and endpoint security, today announced that the next-gen Sophos XG Firewall is now available through Sophos Central, bringing Sophos’ complete portfolio of cybersecurity solutions into a single, cloud-based management platform. Sophos partners and customers are now able to manage their next-gen endpoint and network protection from a single pane of glass.

In addition to the efficiency of managing multiple products through a single, cloud management platform, threat detection and response times are improved by the Security Heartbeat in Sophos’ Synchronized Security technology. This advanced approach shares security incident alerts directly between Sophos network and endpoint protection products. The XG Firewall will automatically communicate with Sophos’ endpoint products to proactively protect against threats, interrupt the attack chain by isolating machines, and take steps to remediate the attack. Sophos Central effectively creates a system of security that can leverage the artificial intelligence in Intercept X with EDR to respond faster and more effectively than individual products alone.

“IT organizations do not have the resources to respond to the volume of constant and constantly shifting cyberattacks. Sophisticated threats require intelligent security solutions that are predictive, multi-layered, and can work together as a system. With Sophos Central, partners and their customers have access to all Sophos next-generation security technologies and can benefit from the advances in Synchronized Security from one single location,” said Dan Schiappa, senior vice president and general manager, Products, Sophos. “The threat landscape has evolved and now our approach to protecting the IT infrastructure that supports our businesses must evolve. Every IT organization, large or small, needs security that is innovative, integrated and scalable. Sophos Central provides all of this, plus vital visibility into what’s happening and where.”

First launched in 2015, Sophos Central now processes more than 8 million transactions a minute for more than 82,000 customers worldwide.

In addition to XG Firewall and artificial intelligence-driven endpoint security, partners and customers can manage web, email, wireless, server, and mobile device protection through Sophos Central. A dedicated partner dashboard simplifies business management for Sophos partners and enables streamlined multi-customer management for MSPs.

“By completing its vision to unify XG Firewall and Intercept X endpoint protection in Sophos Central, Sophos is putting us ahead of our competition. The platform is now even more powerful because of the added benefits of synchronized security in an easy-to-manage cloud-based platform that seamlessly integrates with the entire Sophos security products portfolio,” said Ryan Lipschitz, vice president of engineering, Virtual Graffiti, Inc., a Sophos partner based in Irvine, Calif. “We are also excited about the lateral movement protection added to XG Firewall. We see a lot of cybercriminals trying to harvest credentials, which would allow them to move undetected through a network to steal and exfiltrate high-value data. With XG Firewall on Sophos Central, Sophos has made game-changing advancements no one else offers.”

Recent threats like Emotet and targeted ransomware, such as Matrix and SamSam, demonstrate the ways cybercriminals are constantly changing their tactics to stay effective and profitable. The next-gen advancements of XG Firewall and Intercept X, combined with the intelligence of Synchronized Security and easy management of all products within Sophos Central, are essential for maintaining protection and responding quickly to any attack.

“Our goal at Opus is to provide customers with simplicity and features that add layers of protection, so every area of their environment is secure. With XG Firewall now on Sophos Central, Sophos is providing complete ‘edge to end security’ that is managed centrally in a cloud. This is the simplicity customers are looking for, and the addition of the XG Firewall means they have the benefit of Sophos’ security heartbeat technology for bilateral communication between the endpoint and firewall,” said Mehernosh (Nosh) Chemi, senior account manager at OPUS Consulting Group Ltd., a Sophos partner in Vancouver, Canada. “Moving forward, we are focusing our customers on Intercept X with EDR and XG Firewall. The two go hand-in-hand. Having these next-gen products integrated with Sophos’ complete portfolio in Sophos Central is the protection customers need to stay secure. Conventional security doesn’t cut it anymore because today’s threat landscape is too fast-paced and complex.”

A free trial of XG Firewall is available for Sophos’ customers and partners worldwide. Additional information about XG Firewall Sophos Central is available on Sophos.com.

https://www.sophos.com/en-us/press-office/press-releases/2019/02/sophos-central-management-platform-now-features-all-next-gen-cybersecurity-protection.aspx

THALES TO HIGHLIGHT COMMITMENT TO ‘MAKE IN INDIA’ AND DEFENCE MODERNISATION AT AERO INDIA 2019

• Thales will demonstrate its ‘Make in India’ plans and endeavors to support the modernization plans of the Indian armed forces at its stand AB2.21
• At Aero India 2019, Thales will provide a digital experience of its cutting-edge technologies that are crucial for safeguarding the nation
• Thales will also be present at the Aero Skills Pavillion at Hall F and share various job opportunities it is creating through its footprint in the country

Thales is all set to participate in the upcoming 12th edition of Aero India - India’s premier Aerospace and Aviation exhibition - from 20-24 February 2019 in Bengaluru. With a focus on “Make in India”, Thales will reaffirm its commitment towards the development and modernisation of the Indian Armed Forces.

Through a series of demonstrations, Thales will showcase cutting-edge capabilities across civil and defence aerospace at its booth AB2.21.

Thales ‘Makes in India’: As a major player in the Indian defence and aerospace sector, Thales has been continuously supporting the Indian armed forces and the government’s flagship ‘Make in India’ programme. Thales has a rich experience in liaising with numerous local players who are part of its global supply chain. It takes pride in onboarding Indian solutions in several worldwide product lines and creating employment opportunities for hundreds of people. The solutions being developed through several Indian companies – joint venture partners, global supply chain partners – will be under the spotlight at Thales’ stand at Aero India this year.

Digital experience at the booth: Thales’ strong innovation capabilities prepare its customers to achieve their big ambitions and master every decisive moment. The company has been on the cutting edge of connectivity and a driving force in the digitalisation of the defence, aerospace and space markets. At Aero India, the Thales stand will highlight all these efforts and provide an insight into its extraordinary high-technology solutions across airborne solutions, air defence, radars, optronics, radio communications, among others through special digital experiences.

Some of the main highlights at Aero India this year would be Thales’ optronic pod - TALIOS; latest generation mini-UAS - Spy’Ranger; high-velocity missile - STARStreak; tracking and illumination radar - STIR; airborne rockets and a range of products from Radio Communications among others.

“Aero India is a prestigious event providing us with an opportunity to showcase how our word-class technology and solutions help our customers achieve their big ambitions. This year, we would also take a step further and present our efforts supporting the “Make in India” initiative of the Indian government. We would have solutions being manufactured in the country through our local partners – global supply chain partners and joint ventures, among others. In addition, we will also be highlighting our hiring plans, and skilling and upskilling endeavours through our presence at the Aero Skills Pavillion this year.”

Emmanuel de Roquefeuil, VP and Country Director, Thales in India

Thales Press Release 12 feb 2019