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PUBLICATION
Providing Unparalleled Technology Intelligence
ISSUE 42 // www.intelligentcio.com
Optimising passenger
experience
Airline flydubai deploys
global booking platform on
Platform Equinix
Spotlight
on Bahrain
Expert analysis on
the country’s
cybersecurity scene
Smart
training
Oil company utilises
Virtual Reality for
knowledge transfer
Transformational change
As Group Head of IT at the AZIZI Group, Hashim Saeed has led
multiple infrastructure implementations. We discuss Digital
Transformation strategies, effective managerial approaches and
future technological investments.
Intelligent
ITSM Partner
Intelligent
Phishing Partner
Intelligent Business
Solutions Partner
Global ICIO
Knowledge
Partner
Intelligent
Partner
GISEC
Partner
Intelligent Threat
Management
Partner
Intelligent Data
Management
Partner
Global Innovation
Partner
Intelligent Data
Security Partner
Intelligent
Partner
Enterprise
Firewall Partner
Intelligent Access
Management
Partner
EDITOR’S NOTE
H
ello and welcome to the latest
edition of Intelligent CIO. For our
cover article this month we feature
an exclusive interview with Hashim Saeed,
Group Head of IT at the AZIZI Group in
Dubai. Saeed has an impressive CV that
marks him out as one of the leading IT
figures in the Middle East.
He has a near two-decade long career
behind him where he has more than
demonstrated his worth managing and
delivering integrated IT enterprise solutions.
Our interview covers a range of topics
including how he has successfully executed
Digital Transformation strategies and
demonstrated effective managerial
approaches. We also talk about his plans for
technological investments in the future.
In addition, we also discuss the personal
skills he has developed at the AZIZI Group
which is the parent company to the high-
profile AZIZI Developments, the group’s real
estate investment arm. You can read the full
interview by turning to p58.
This month we also take an in depth look at
how Equinix has successfully implemented a
major solution for the airline flydubai.
Over the next decade, flydubai will see
its fleet grow by up to 237 aircraft. As a
result, the company wanted to upgrade
its IT infrastructure to create one that was
global, agile and flexible, and capable of
www.intelligentcio.com
connecting to other carriers and providers of
cloud services. It looked to Equinix, a global
company which connects the world’s leading
businesses to their customers, for a solution. recommends achieving full visibility and
deploying a multi-layered approach as well
as putting an emphasis on training all levels
of staff about the threats lurking out there.
To solve the challenges, Equinix helped
flydubai deploy a high-performance, resilient
infrastructure within the Equinix Dubai (DX1)
International Business Exchange (IBX) data
centre. By building a digital edge alongside
the largest industry ecosystems on Platform
Equinix, flydubai placed strategic control
points next to its customers, clouds and
networks to reach everywhere, interconnect
everyone and integrate everything. We have all the usual features and news
from around the region. If you would like to
get in touch please send an email to
[email protected].
In fact, Ramesh Venkat, Chief Information
Officer, flydubai, told us that: “Equinix
DX1 promises the same in terms of digital
connections. It provides us with connections
to cloud service providers, along with
onshore connections within the UAE.” You
can find out more by turning to p55.
Enjoy the read!
Mark Bowen
Editor
In this month’s Country Focus we shine a
light on the cybersecurity scene in Bahrain
by talking to Mirza Asrar Baig, CEO and
Founder of CTM360 and other technology
companies, about the threats facing the
country. We discuss whether the country
faces any unique cybersecurity challenges
and the preparedness of enterprises in the
country to deal with attacks.
On page 48 he also gives CIOs advice
for increasing their level of protection
in an increasingly dangerous world. He
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