The adoption of Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) has become a strategic imperative for organisations in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, and aims to bolster cybersecurity, improve network performance and enhance business agility.

The case studies in the qualitative research commissioned by S&P Global Market Intelligence on behalf of Verizon Business Group¹ shows a timeline of APAC organisations’ journeys.

Source: Shutterstock

“We learned that the global pandemic was an accelerant of digital transformation that underpinned a broad spectrum of readiness and capability for customers. Initially, they were compelled to change their operating environments very rapidly, then many went through a process to understand and appreciate the value they can unlock from that transition by migrating to a SASE environment,” said Rob Le Busque, Regional Vice President at Verizon APAC.

“We see the adoption of SASE continue to accelerate among enterprise and government customers in this region for two reasons. First, there is an intrinsic cost benefit to moving to SASE architecture. Second, the cyber attack surface is increasing and becoming more complex; SASE provides the ability to containerise applications or servers under attack,” said Le Busque.

Delivering outcomes from SASE

The research revealed the value for CIOs in examining the differences between a project’s expected outcomes versus the reality. For SASE, many expect reduced risk, cost savings and improved productivity and/or user experience.

While most participants with complete (or nearly complete) SASE projects reported that they achieved their expected outcomes, they also discovered some unexpected results.

For example, a large mining and metals organisation in Singapore reported: “One unexpected benefit of a SASE framework is to have synergies and convergence of interests between infra/network and security where usually it is a fight between what performance/user experience versus security constraints will be considered (which is rare enough to be highlighted!). Here we have a common ground where both can be conciliated.”

Effects of SASE on the overall digital transformation journey

While most participating organisations in the research did not consider their SASE deployment a part of a larger digital transformation initiative, some said that SASE helped their larger transformation project by reducing risk and simplifying user experience.

“We started off with streamlining connectivity and the effort that spearheaded the related identity and access management projects are now supporting almost all the other applications as well. So, yes, there was an acceleration effect in our DX journey,” said a regional information security manager for a large IT services firm in Australia.

“We hear from our customers that SASE shortened provisioning times and access to networks on traditional VPN architectures. This solves the first principle issue of connecting dynamic users to dynamic applications. SASE provides capability and uplift to do that as organisations,” said Rob Le Busque.

Key benefits from SASE, according to the research, included:

• Unified security architecture,
• Enhanced user experience,
• Scalability and flexibility,
• Improved compliance and governance.

Source: Shutterstock

Identifying top SASE deployment roadblocks

Several themes emerged regarding the barriers participants encountered and expected to encounter during SASE implementation.

Technical debt was most cited as the barrier to overcome before gaining the rewards of SASE. “You need to invest time up front to fully understand all aspects, rather than piecing it all together in a troubleshooting mode during project implementation,” said a CIO of a large Hong Kong-based Insurance organisation.

The main deployment roadblocks included:

• Legacy infrastructure challenges: Legacy systems and outdated network architectures pose integration challenges during SASE adoption. CIOs should address compatibility issues, data migration complexities, and ensure integration with existing IT environments to maximise the benefits of SASE while minimising disruptions to business operations.
• Skills gap and talent acquisition: The shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals and network engineers is a significant barrier to effective SASE implementation. CIOs should invest in talent development, upskilling initiatives, and partnerships with managed security service providers (MSSPs) to bridge the skills gap and build internal expertise for managing SASE solutions effectively.
• Change management and organisational alignment: Implementing SASE often requires cultural and organisational changes to move to a Zero Trust security model, including the adoption of agile practices, and increasing collaboration between IT and business functions. CIOs must address resistance to change, communicate the benefits of SASE to stakeholders and align the organisation’s goals with security and digital transformation initiatives.

Lessons Learned from SASE Implementation

The final section of the study focused on gathering participants’ insights they gained during a SASE implementation project.

• Needs assessment: Participants noted the need for a strong requirements framework and business case development before initiating the project. They recommended taking a ‘security first’ approach and advised prospective implementors not to run SASE implementation like a network infrastructure alteration. They cited the importance of obtaining support from key stakeholders and establishing strong governance structures.
• Upskill, plan and prepare: Participants emphasised increasing internal competencies and resources in advance. A common theme was the importance of understanding the data, application and device assets involved in or affected by SASE.
• Vendor/partner selection: Study participants recommended focusing on vendor competencies, examining specific SASE requirements and comparing vendor claims versus actual competencies, although they reported this was difficult. Participants also mentioned the importance of using a tried-and-tested partner and establishing strong vendor and partner relations.
• Deployment planning: Respondents said using a standardised deployment model was particularly important, as well as planning and scheduling the rollout.

Conclusion

SASE implementation offers significant outcomes such as unified security, enhanced user experience, scalability and compliance for organisations in APAC. However, barriers such as legacy infrastructure, skills gaps, and resistance to organisational change require planning, talent development, and effective change management.

By learning from industry best practices, and emphasising user-centric design and continuous monitoring, CIOs can collaborate with CISOs to successfully navigate SASE adoption, strengthen cybersecurity resilience, and drive business agility.

Download the full report to read the findings in detail, and to talk to an expert on SASE deployment best practices and technologies, contact a Verizon representative near you.

¹ “SASE Enables Zero-Trust Networking, Improves Business Agility, Reduces Costs and Streamlines Digital Transformations”

The post Enhancing Business Agility with SASE: Insights for CIOs in APAC appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

A change is occurring in how organisations secure their network perimeters, users, applications and data. Secure access service edge (SASE) is starting to disrupt traditional approaches to networking and security, and is giving IT professionals an opportunity to fundamentally reimagine how they design their network and security architectures.

Previously, enterprise network architecture was based on discrete silos of network and security controls, with remote access provided via virtual private networks (VPNs). These approaches are being rapidly replaced by SASE and zero-trust network access (ZTNA) architectures.

Source: Shutterstock

Getting SASE right can be a complex proposition that presents significant challenges. While major elements that make up SASE have been around in some form for at least 10 years, it is still an evolving technology.

A case study in SASE Success: India Insurance Company

As part of the research commissioned by Verizon Business to help companies cut through the noise to get a true picture of obstacles and opportunities in implementing SASE, S&P Global Market Intelligence conducted 10 in-depth interviews with decision makers and those purchasing SASE technology.

One successful SASE implementation case study was shared in an interview with a VP at one of the largest insurance companies in India, which we will refer to as “IIC” (India insurance company).

“The primary driver [for SASE] was the pandemic. Before, we had a traditional bricks-and-mortar office infrastructure. When the pandemic hit, everything was being provisioned by the company. There was no way to use ‘bring your own devices (BYOD) – only company-owned, hardened machines could be used […] which took 10-15 days to provision,” he said.

Suddenly, many users, particularly contractors, did not meet security requirements because controls were not designed for off-site workers. In response, IIC implemented a SASE project focused initially on data access, followed by applications.

“Now, we can fully support BYOD, which was the hardest problem to solve. We were forced to go with an agentless approach, through an outside portal […] new employees and contractors are now productive from day one instead of waiting for their machine to arrive,” said the respondent, an Executive Vice President and Head of Business Systems and Infrastructure at the IIC, which currently employs over 10,000 people..

The company could immediately improve the user experience, meet remote worker security and compliance requirements, and improve productivity by supporting BYOD, which enabled employees and contractors to begin work immediately.

What is driving SASE adoption?

Some compelling factors driving SASE adoption are the size and maturity of organisations. For more mature, technically sophisticated enterprises, SASE implementations are motivated more by business and digital transformation needs than technical requirements.

Common business drivers include improved business agility, cost reduction, support for hybrid work (office-based and remote workers), improved end-user experience, reduced threat impact and risk, improved compliance and competitive pressure.

Source: Shutterstock

Larger organisations, especially those with over 10,000 employees, tend to suffer from technical debt and incompatible legacy systems that slow down deployments. Conversely, smaller organisations tend to adopt solutions faster and can often source the entire SASE stack from a single vendor.

Common technical drivers include network, security, IT modernisation and simplification, and simplified management of rapidly growing networks.

Key considerations for implementing SASE

Research participants indicated a variety of deployment approaches. None indicated embarking on a “big bang” implementation: some organisations rolled SASE out to high-risk users and apps first, while others chose lower-risk users and applications.

For example, some organisations with high short term risk exposures, such as the potential for breaches or failing compliance audits, chose to solve the issue for those groups first. Others, less concerned about short-term risk, took a more conservative approach like deploying to staff already using modern cloud apps.

“It was all about basic access first to support the remote workforce. Subsequently, it was about business-critical targets and high-risk estates, with quick wins peppered in between,” said one respondent, a Regional Information Security Manager for a large Australian IT services company.

“Any users who can migrate without losing any access to unsupported apps naturally will do so. This provides a faster, better user experience that rewards the user to move to SASE. They were excited to move away from VPN and use [it] as a […] fall-back plan,” said another, a Regional CISO at a large Singapore engineering firm.

Overall SASE projects vary in duration (from initial sign-off to production) from 6-12 months to over three years. Nearly half (45%) of all respondents indicated durations of 12 months or less; another 45% fell in the 13 to 36 month range; and the remaining 10% indicated more than three years to complete a SASE implementation.

In Asia Pacific, only one-third of participants indicated that SASE was deployed as part of a digital transformation initiative, as compared with three-quarters of their counterparts in Europe.

End matters

In the next part of this article, we’ll be looking more deeply into the study’s results, and getting the thoughts of Rob Le Busque, Regional Vice President at Verizon, APAC. In the meantime, head to this page to learn from the experiences of enterprises who have already migrated to SASE, detailed in the report produced in collaboration with S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Continue your exploration of SASE adoption with Part 2 of this feature, which will cover in-depth study results and insights from Rob Le Busque. Check back in the coming weeks for the next instalment and in the meantime, you can explore the research and business impact briefs for comprehensive insights at the following links: Research | Business Impact Briefs.

The post Deploying SASE: Benchmarking your approach appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

In a move set to redefine Malaysia’s digital landscape, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has forged strategic partnerships with two of the country’s leading telecommunications giants, Maxis and CelcomDigi, at the Mobile World Congress 2024 (MWC 2024) in Barcelona. The announcements mark a significant step forward in Malaysia’s local technological innovation, as the collaboration promises to unleash the potential of generative AI and 5G connectivity like never before.

By integrating generative AI into its suite of cloud services, AWS has been empowering businesses to extract valuable insights from data, enhance customer interactions, and drive innovation at scale. But perhaps most exciting of all is the potential for generative AI to democratize creativity and innovation. By providing businesses access to powerful AI tools and resources, AWS is leveling the playing field and enabling organizations of all sizes to compete globally.

Multiple Amazon AWS announcements at MWC demonstrate how telecom and technology markets are merging. Cloud/hyperscaler companies are crtical parts of telecom service providers' infrastructure #mwc24 pic.twitter.com/9sjRo3dTE8

— Ian Fogg (@ianfogg42) February 26, 2024

AWS & CelcomDigi at MWC 2024

By harnessing the power of AWS’s cloud capabilities, CelcomDigi aims to co-create innovative generative AI solutions tailored to the telecommunications industry. CelcomDigi will be tapping into Amazon Bedrock’s cutting-edge technology to revolutionize its operations. This fully managed service provides access to top-tier AI models and ensures security, privacy, and responsible AI practices. 

Through its Innovation Centre, CelcomDigi is establishing an AI Sandbox, offering its employees a playground to explore and implement generative AI solutions. This initiative isn’t just about experimentation but driving innovation across various departments, including HR, customer service, legal, and finance. 

AWS and CelcomDigi sign Letter of Collaboration at MWC 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.

With the combined expertise of CelcomDigi’s IT engineers and AWS AI specialists, the company is poised to unlock the full potential of generative AI and integrate it seamlessly into its operational platforms. CelcomDigi and AWS are also teaming up to provide AI training for CelcomDigi staff. 

“CelcomDigi is already integrating its knowledge-based AI chatbot with Amazon Bedrock, crafting a comprehensive platform for accessing organizational and HR data. This innovative approach streamlines workflows enhances employee experiences, and fosters a culture of continuous learning and development,” AWS said following the signing of a Letter of Collaboration at MWC 2024.

CelcomDigi is also teaming up with Amazon’s Bedrock, diving into linguistic diversity, to develop Bahasa Melayu language algorithms. Using Amazon Titan and Anthropic Claude models equipped with cutting-edge deep learning algorithms, CelcomDigi aims to create innovative solutions such as chatbots tailored to its culturally diverse customer base. 

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But the collaboration continues beyond there. CelcomDigi and AWS are trying to revolutionize the Malaysian business landscape with personalized generative AI applications spanning various industries and consumer experiences.

“CelcomDigi’s collaboration with AWS is a great example of how telcos can enhance end-to-end operational efficiency and redefine the user experience for both employees and customers with the power of generative AI technology,” Pete Murray, Country Manager, Malaysia at AWS, said in a press release. Murray reckons with AWS, CelcomDigi can drive new use cases at scale with AI-optimized infrastructure and the flexibility to choose fit-for-purpose foundational models through Amazon Bedrock. 

“This collaboration also accelerates the delivery of innovative AI services to Malaysian enterprises. We are excited to support CelcomDigi in advancing its 5G and AI transformation with our upcoming AWS Region in Malaysia and our joint commitment to develop AI talent in the country,” he added. 

AWS and Maxis at MWC 2024

In 2019 when Maxis joins Amazon Partner Network (APN) to deliver cloud solutions to businesses in Malaysia. Maxis currently has the largest pool of AWS-trained employees in Malaysia.

As for Maxis and AWS, the two took the stage at MWC 2024 to share the announcement that they are joining forces to bring cutting-edge 5G and generative AI innovations to the forefront of business. Targeting critical sectors like retail, manufacturing, logistics, and financial services, this collaboration hopes to ignite innovation, helping Malaysian enterprises to thrive in the digital age.

By integrating advanced AI technologies into real-world use cases, Maxis will offer tailored solutions designed to adapt and evolve alongside the ever-changing needs of businesses.

Central to this collaboration is the integration of generative AI and language models tailored to support the Bahasa Melayu language. This strategic move accelerates the digital transformation journey for Malaysian businesses.

The collaboration cements Maxis’ status in the realm of cloud services. As Malaysia’s first telco to achieve AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner status, Maxis is leading the charge in delivering unparalleled connectivity and cloud solutions to enterprises nationwide.

“We are pleased to expand our collaboration with AWS to bring next-generation digital capabilities to Malaysian businesses. As Malaysia’s leading integrated telecommunications provider, we look forward to enabling our customers with the power of 5G and Generative AI,” Maxis CEO Goh Seow Eng said.

Since forging their partnership in 2019, Maxis and AWS have been at the forefront of driving technological innovation in Malaysia. Through strategic collaborations and a shared vision for the future, Maxis continues to leverage the power of partnerships to meet the diverse digital needs of enterprises, ensuring they stay ahead in today’s fast-paced digital landscape. 

The post AWS strikes AI collaboration deals with Malaysian telcos at MWC 2024 appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

In the dynamic telecommunications landscape, TD Tech stands as a testament to the intricate interplay of collaboration, evolution, and strategic partnerships. Established in 2005 as a joint venture between Siemens (51% stake) and Huawei (49% stake), TD Tech found its roots in the shared vision of pioneering wireless technology solutions. However, the landscape shifted in 2007 when Siemens sold half of its stake to Nokia, introducing a new player to the collaborative equation. 

That marked a pivotal moment, steering TD Tech on a new trajectory under joint ownership. Siemens gradually divested its remaining shares in 2013, leaving Nokia as the major shareholder in TD Tech. This strategic move altered the company’s ownership structure and set the stage for further developments in its market presence and product offerings.

A notable chapter in TD Tech’s narrative emerged in 2021 when the company diversified its portfolio by venturing into rebranded phones from Huawei. One such model, the M40 5G, utilized a 7-nanometer chip from Taiwan’s MediaTek instead of Huawei’s Kirin processors. Due to Washington’s sanctions, companies are prohibited from providing Huawei with advanced chips containing US-origin technology, including MediaTek processors, manufactured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world’s largest contract chipmaker. 

Nokia, in the thick of geopolitical challenges, clarified that TD Tech operates independently and is not linked to Nokia’s operations or supply chains in China. A year and a half later, in April 2023, Nokia revealed plans to leave TD Tech. The Finnish telecommunications equipment giant said its decision was driven by TD Tech’s expanded business scope, which now includes handsets, modems, and other devices. That broadened scope no longer aligns with Nokia’s strategic focus as a B2B technology innovation leader.

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“Nokia decided to divest its 51% stake in TD Tech for an estimated price of EUR 285 million (US$ 305.7 million), with an estimated gain of EUR 227 million (as of June 30; US$ 243.58 million), to New East New Materials, a company involved in raw materials manufacturing for the flexible packaging industry. However, the finalization of the deal was subject to conditions that included a pre-emption right (refusal of sale) of the joint venture partner, which is Huawei in this case,” Nokia said in September 2023.

New buyers from China to partner with Huawei

Over the weekend, reports surfaced that the Finnish telecom equipment giant had secured new buyers for its significant stake in a Beijing joint venture with Huawei. The deal, which faced protests from the Chinese company last year, is now back on track. Nokia’s attempt to sell its majority stake to Shanghai-listed ink maker New East New Materials in 2023 faced a hurdle when Huawei threatened to stop technology licensing to TD Tech. 

The prospective deal eventually fell apart. Analysts speculated that Huawei was likely unwilling to relinquish control of TD Tech, seeing it as a strategic asset to navigate US sanctions and enhance efficiency in specific market segments, as noted by Yang during that period. 

Now, according to a disclosure published on Friday by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), under the latest agreement, wireless technology firm TD Tech will be jointly controlled by Huawei and a group of entities that include the government-owned Chengdu High-Tech Investment Group and Chengdu Gaoxin Jicui Technology Co, as well as venture capital firm Huagai.

The equity distribution among the new stakeholders remains undisclosed, pending final government approval. Regulators said they harbor no antitrust worries about the deal and are open to public input until January 28. According to the SAMR, Huawei and TD Tech jointly oversee less than 10% of China’s smartphone market, though the specific timeframe for this data was not provided.

China’s market regulator has solicited public opinion on Huawei and Chengdu Hi-Tech Investment Group’s proposal for a complete acquisition of TD Tech.

**MARKETLYT –>** China's market regulator is soliciting public opinion on the proposed acquisition plans by Huawei and Chengdu Hi-Tech (000628 CH) to acquire TD Tech.

**Market Impact Rating –>** 89

**MARKETLYT Analysis –>**
The request for public opinion on the…

— Instant headlines & Analysis (@marketlyt) January 19, 2024

The post Huawei’s TD Tech shake-up: Nokia sells majority stake appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

Amid all the talk that Huawei Technologies Co may make a comeback in the global 5G smartphone race, the Chinese telecommunications giant quietly launched a new smartphone – the Mate 60 Pro. At first look, the Mate 60 Pro looks like any other Chinese phone, with advancements that set it apart from its predecessor. By the time local reviews started pouring in, talk was mainly focused on the phone’s shockingly impressive network speeds – speeds that match a typical 5G chip-powered smartphone.

First, it is fair to note that despite rumors, Huawei had denied planning 5G phone releases, citing US sanctions. But then the Mate 60 Pro release last week, unaccompanied by any huge teaser campaign or major event, as Huawei would usually organize for a major launch, raised eyebrows.

To top it off, Huawei declined to provide details about the handset’s processor – or whether it supports 5G mobile networks – during the launch.

Some users tested the speed of mobile Internet and found that it was higher than on smartphones with support for 4G networks only. Source: Twitter

Industry analysts and consumers didn’t take long before they began speculating on the embattled Chinese giant’s unlikely behavior.

The launch, intentionally or otherwise, coincided with US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s visit to China last week. Raimondo’s visit was the fourth high-level US official to visit China this summer, as the relationship between the nations has grown increasingly intense.

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Chinese state media declared the timing of the phone announcement was a show of defiance, indicating to the US that the trade war was a “failure.” Not too long after speculation on this point began in China, there were hushed concerns in Washington, too. Countless reports suggested that the US sanctions had manifestly failed to prevent China from making a critical technological advance. 

It seemed that, for now at least, the US chipmakers were right when they warned that far-reaching sanctions would not stop China, but instead spur it to redouble its efforts to build alternatives to US technology.

Details on the Huawei Mate 60 Pro

Details regarding the device’s processor and network support were notably absent from the published spec sheet, leaving consumers and industry watchers curious about the device’s true capabilities. Yet, many local reviewers claimed that the phone reached 5G speeds. The only giveaway from Huawei, based on its statement on August 29, was a statement that the Mate 60 Pro was the “most powerful Mate model ever,” with no mention of its CPU or the handset’s 5G connectivity.

The Huawei Mate 60 Pro teardown proves the speculation to be right. Source: Twitter

Based on tests, the Chinese benchmarking website AnTuTu identified the central processing unit (CPU) in the Mate 60 Pro as the Kirin 9000s from Huawei’s chip design unit, HiSilicon. The CPU has a 12-core configuration and a top clock speed of 2.62 gigahertz, according to AnTuTu. For context, Shenzhen-based Huawei and its chip design arm HiSilicon were added to the US government’s trade blacklist, known as the Entity List, in 2019.

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Tightened US restrictions imposed in 2020 restrict Huawei from obtaining advanced integrated circuits (ICs) from major contract chipmakers, such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. or Samsung Electronics. Although HiSilicon’s website did not provide information about that CPU, the firm’s existing Kirin 9000 and 9000e chipsets support 5G connectivity and artificial intelligence applications. They are built on the advanced 5nm manufacturing process. 

The Mate 40 series, released in October 2020, was the last 5G smartphone launched by Huawei, which used the HiSilicon-designed Kirin 9000 system-on-a-chip in the device. “The new Mate’s download speeds can reach 500 megabits per second, which exceeds the 100Mbps speed requirements for 4G networks, according to independent tests run by some consumers,” the South China Morning Post (SCMP) wrote. 

China’s official broadcaster, CGTN, in a post on X, called the phone Huawei’s “first higher-end processor” since US sanctions were imposed, and said the chip it contains was made by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, a company partially owned by the Chinese government.

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Separately, Nikkei Asia reported that SMIC would be using what’s known as the “7nm process” to make the chips for Huawei, the most advanced level in China. 

In simple terms, that’s on par with the process used for the chips inside Apple’s iPhones launched in 2018. The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company made the latest iPhone chips using what is known as the 4nm process. As for the graphics processing unit in the new Mate, AnTuTu identified it as another Chinese-designed chip, the Maleoon 910.

The post Huawei Mate 60 Pro: Everything we know about the new 5G Kirin chipset appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

These favorable factors have prompted businesses to expand their IT budgets. In 2021, the Philippines’ internet economy doubled to $17 billion, and it is expected to reach $40 billion by 2025, driven by various government initiatives and the continued acceleration of digital adoption.

As the country’s internet economy grows, so does the demand for data center services. Today, data center capacity in the Philippines is concentrated in the Greater Manila metropolitan area, but cities like Cebu and Davao are catching up rapidly.

The Philippines offers tremendous potential for data center operators and developers to succeed, supported by four key pillars.

1. Enabling faster cloud adoption by businesses

The Philippine digital economy is growing amid an increased adoption of cloud services by businesses looking to improve their operations, reduce their IT costs, and cater to consumer demand for novel services.

Post-pandemic, the e-commerce sector in the Philippines has experienced promising growth driven by increased smartphone adoption and internet penetration, which reached an estimated rate of 55.82 percent in 2022. As digital consumers embrace e-commerce – with 88 percent already doing so, according to e-Conomy SEA Research 2022 – business and consumer demand for robust cloud adoption continues to rise.

In addition, the government has plans to fortify and improve broadband connectivity nationwide. Data centers are a vital link between cloud adoption and economic regeneration, with each component mutually supporting the other.

Lastly, the Philippines has been actively nurturing a startup ecosystem, providing a platform for developing innovative enterprises. These startups rely heavily on data usage for various operations, from product development to artificial intelligence and user experience development.

2. Instituting favorable government policies for digital transformation 

The Philippine government has fostered a favorable regulatory environment to encourage data center growth, driven by a focus on promoting economic growth through job creation, investment flows, and a robust digital transformation agenda. Initiatives, such as the National Broadband Program and the Digital Philippines campaign, are aimed at improving the country’s digital infrastructure and supporting the growth of the IT industry, including the data center market.

Last year’s amendments to the Foreign Investments Act have played a crucial role in making the Philippines a digitally hospitable environment for people and businesses. These amendments, combined with streamlined bureaucratic processes, increase the Philippines’ attractiveness to foreign investors and position it to receive foreign direct investments. With increased resources and capital from foreign investments, businesses have a greater capacity to implement advanced cloud technologies into their operations and services.

Data centers are a vital component in supporting the government’s pursuit of a flourishing digital economy and are backed by various initiatives; these policies are aimed at driving stronger economic growth.

3. Building a renewable energy infrastructure

A steady supply of power is critical for data centers. The Philippines is making significant strides in developing its sustainable energy infrastructure and actively promoting renewable sources, such as wind and solar power. The country’s ‘National Renewable Energy Program for 2020-2040’ aims to generate half of the country’s power from renewable energy by the end of 2040. Numerous renewable energy projects are underway, projected to increase the combined solar and wind power by 15-fold by 2030. Industry players in the data center sector consider these developments crucial in maintaining the delicate balance between reliability, reducing carbon footprints, and lowering costs.

4. Developing a robust telecommunications infrastructure

The Philippines has a robust telecommunications infrastructure with an extensive fiber optic network. With ongoing subsea cable developments seven trans-pacific cables will connect the Philippines to the US by next year. Notable networks include Bifrost, Jupiter, and AAG. Furthermore, the Philippines government has collaborated with Facebook to implement the significant subsea cable Pacific Cable Light Network (PCLN), which will provide rapid internet services to the Philippines, matching the speed at which telecommunications giants operate. These developments and projects position the Philippines as a flourishing telecommunications location in the APAC region, supporting the country’s growing demand for data center services.

With Filipinos clocking in the region’s highest average of internet use per day, averaging almost four hours daily, the Philippines has the potential to become a hub of innovation and a key player in the APAC region. The country’s business environment and government policies provide a fertile ground for developing the data center industry, poised to play a crucial role in shaping the country’s digital future.

The post Cloud to the Islands: How the Philippines is positioning itself as a data center hotspot appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

SASE – Secure Access Service Edge – first emerged in 2019 but has risen to prominence in recent months. According to Cognitive Market Research, the SASE sector was valued at US$1.92 billion in 2022 and will reach US$6.57 billion by 2030. This equates to CAGR growth of more than 25 per cent, and is a good reason to take a closer look.

Source: Shutterstock

While it has not yet expanded into common lexicon, Robert Le Busque, regional vice president for Verizon Business in Asia Pacific, says it’s only a matter of time.

“We haven’t yet seen 2023 become ‘the year of SASE’, but we’re definitely entering an era of SASE architecture,” Mr Le Busque said. “It’s not a trend that will be here for 18 months then move on; it will be the defining architecture for the next five to ten years.”

Varying degrees of readiness

According to Mr Le Busque, organisations in the Asia Pacific region are leading the way in the implementation of SASE in many ways. But the level of adoption varies depending on the sector and maturity of their network architecture lifecycle.

Many organisations moved towards software-defined networking (SDN) more than six years ago, which provided a boost in digital transformation funding for the region. Those early adopters of SDN are now well prepared to move to a SASE architecture.

“Some organisations are already well advanced in cloud migration at scale and were already preparing to move to cloud network architectures,” says Mr Le Busque.

“We are seeing pockets of early adoption within Singapore, Malaysia, parts of India and parts of Australia. Interestingly, countries that have not been as far advanced in cloud network architectures – such as Japan – are now catching up very rapidly.”

The benefits of SASE

Any company with a significant number of remote workers will benefit from adopting SASE architectures, as it makes secure connections faster and more resilient. It also provides advanced network security and scalability that is fit for purpose to combat modern-day cyber threats.

One example of this can be seen at a large global healthcare company that employs tens of thousands of staff distributed across the globe and spans a number of business units, each with its own teams, technologies and security policies.

Source: Shutterstock

The company wanted to improve security and harmonise its processes and technology, so it turned to SASE and Verizon’s network-as-a-service offering. First trialled in one business unit, SASE eventually enabled this healthcare company to provide staff with secure internet and application access through mobile devices from anywhere, as well as access to IT resources on both physical and cloud-based servers, all through one tech stack and one service desk.

Choosing the best SASE approach

Currently, most SASE solutions will involve a range of providers offering their individual services.

According to Mr Le Busque, companies can currently choose between implementing a single stack from a single vendor or a best-of-breed offering with a range of services from different vendors.

“Ultimately, organisations that need to scale and have increasing levels of complexity are more likely to go for the best-of-breed stack they build and manage and define themselves,” says Mr Le Busque. “Those with less sophisticated, single-stack network architectures can drive simplicity and cost out of the model.”

Why Verizon?

Verizon has helped its customers to transform their networks and core architectures for 25 years and is now leading the way on SASE.

“We’re now helping companies figure out what multi-cloud and industry-access cloud architecture they need, and what they want is secure-by-design, cloud-ready and agile,” says Mr Le Busque.

Discover how SASE can benefit your organisation with Verizon today.

The post The era of SASE is beginning appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

It becomes crucial for institutions to compare their strategic priorities, product roadmaps, and plans for future innovation against their competitors. These valuable insights into market trends, customer demands, and emerging opportunities allow them to make informed strategic decisions.

For example, a 2022 report from Bottomline revealed that 66% of banks and financial institutions (FIs) think that compliance and RegTech will become more important over the next year, and 87% thought it would be somewhat or very challenging to remain compliant.

This knowledge allows executives to make the right decisions regarding resource allocation and investment in technology, helping them meet regulatory requirements effectively. If this isn’t prioritised, companies face significant challenges with compliance, potentially exposing themselves to regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and loss of customer trust.

Benchmarking against peers enables banks to identify areas of improvement and best practice. Analysing successful institutions can help them identify gaps in their operations and implement necessary changes to enhance efficiency, customer experience, and overall performance. The process fosters innovation in the industry and boosts the institution’s growth.

Source: Shutterstock

The report from Bottomline, which surveyed  more than  500 banking and FI players across Treasury, Fraud, Operations, and Product at C-suite level in 34 countries, revealed that 64% view digital transformation as their biggest focus, with 27% of banks and FIs specifically identifying the need to address legacy payments infrastructure as a priority. Those not prioritising technological updates – like integrating a SaaS communication platform to reduce data silos and improve customer experience – may fall behind in the future.

In most industries, surprise outcomes are a hindrance to a competitive business. Keeping abreast of the latest developments and having a healthy insight into what is around the corner is essential to remain a key player. Being unaware of the latest shift in customer expectations regarding fraud protection, for example, can mean competitors meet demand, and create a drop in your company’s revenue.

To alleviate this danger, leverage benchmarking activities, like taking the annual survey from Bottomline. After answering just 12 questions (it takes  around 5 minutes only), you will receive a personalised comparison of how your strategy and pain points compare to those of your peers in banking and payments.

Once the survey is completed by what’s expected to be more than double last year’s participant numbers, you will receive a comprehensive report highlighting insights from the full data picture.

The 2022 report showed that the top priority of most banks and FIs was real-time payments, an increase of 15% from 2021.

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Zhenya Winter, the Head of Financial Messaging Marketing at Bottomline, said the increased interest in real-time payments can be linked to schemes and mandates such as SEPA Inst and SIC IP, which provide more accessible access models for banks and FIs. A good example would be the UK’s New Payments Architecture and Europe’s Target2, which champion  how real-time payments can provide new revenue streams by using digital overlays and, of course, meeting customer demand.

Winter said: “The business case for real-time is no longer in doubt, whereas previously, banks were concerned about having enough volume and value to justify the spend on implementation.”

Riccardo Colnaghi, the Head of Business Development at Solarisbank AG, agreed. “Not adopting real-time payments would mean ruling out the upfront opportunity to join a wider set of longer-term payment trends that are likely to be key for future competitiveness.” Indeed, 54% of survey respondents said they have either completed planning and want to start implementation or are already ‘live.’

The report also highlighted that many banks and FIs consider prioritisation in a busy roadmap the biggest barrier to adopting real-time payments. In 2022, financial institutions were caught up with maintaining regulatory and industry compliance, and educating customers on new digital platforms implemented since the pandemic. With access to this kind of insight, you can take advantage of the shortcomings of your competitors to stay ahead.

Can you afford to fall behind your peers’ strategic priorities, technological advancements and innovation? Ultimately, having access to industry insights provides an essential competitive advantage and the opportunity to stay at the forefront of the banking and financial landscape.

If you want to take advantage of a personalised comparison of your business against its competitors and get access to the full 2023 report, take the Bottomline survey today.

The post Don’t get left behind: unlock competitive advantage in banking and payments appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

The Covid pandemic brought with it a huge uptick in remote working and the movement of apps to the cloud. These trends continued through the worst of the health crisis and into the post-Covid world.

And while the remote working, cloud-dependent model brings enormous benefits with it, it has also made it significantly more difficult to properly protect a network.

The number of companies facing this dilemma, in the presence of increased cyberthreats, will likely begin an economy-wide switch from the ‘castle and moat’-style protection of software-defined WAN capabilities to a new concept known as Secure Access Service Edge (SASE).

This is a network architecture that combines WAN capabilities with comprehensive network security services, including a secure web gateway, a cloud access security broker, zero-trust network access and firewall-as-a-service.

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While SASE has been around since 2019, it has risen to prominence as a cloud-native security solution in the last year. The approach offers a simple cloud-based solution to combat the rising security risk, reducing the amount of physical hardware necessary for a robust cybersecurity system.

At its core, SASE allows companies to create a unified, cloud-delivered service model that supports dynamic, secure access. That creates a new pathway for building networks, which makes it easier to connect resources and workers wherever they may be located. Once you can do that, you benefit from more flexible networking and improved application performance.

SASE helps organisations meet their business goals, too. If implemented correctly, it works to reduce risks and may help to reduce costs, while allowing businesses to scale dynamically. Because it simplifies operations and the addition and removal of users, this network architecture approach can also help simplify Merger & Acquisition (M&A) activity.

The approach can also help optimise network resources. Using SD WAN, deployment can be swifter than legacy network technologies and it enables network bandwidth to be shared and utilised across the network more efficiently.  It also helps security teams to scale security policy holistically, ensuring a consistent, identity-based approach to application and data access, regardless of where the user is located.

Get the lay of the land

The revolution is only just beginning. According to Gartner^®1, by 2025, 80% of enterprises will have adopted a strategy to unify web, cloud services and private application access using a SASE/SSE architecture, up from 20% in 2021.

But is SASE right for your organisation?

There are several critical elements to investigate to determine your answer to this question and discover whether SASE can offer your business the way forward to network security.

Firstly, it’s important to audit your organisation’s current secure network capabilities and WAN and security technology investments. This can help determine whether now is the right time to make the move towards SASE.

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Organisations that have recently invested in their existing network and network security solutions may decide that now is not the best time to jump on board the SASE train. However, it could be perfect for those facing the challenges of legacy networks in terms of cost and complexity.

Another important factor to consider is how many employees work from home or in a hybrid capacity. SASE is particularly effective at ensuring secure access for workers wherever they are, making this approach very useful for organisations with large remote workforces.

Plus, if your organisation is large, it can suffer from inconsistent security policies across different departments, leaving holes in the cyber posture. SASE helps to close those holes by providing a unified and comprehensive security framework.

Define the problem

Before beginning the transition to SASE, it’s essential to map out the challenges you hope to solve with this new model.

In most cases, complexity and costly networks that do not provide adequate security are good starting points. Another consideration is whether your organisation has a hybrid or remote workforce, as a SASE approach will make it easier to onboard new home-workers.

Broad support and broad expertise

Taking a new network approach is a significant decision, which may prove challenging initially, so securing buy-in from executive leadership is a critical success factor.

Engaging C-level and board support will provide the necessary momentum to allow a positive “trickle-down” effect throughout the rest of the organisation to assist in the transition.

A final factor in gaining support for this change will include assessing whether your enterprise has the broad range of expertise necessary to make the shift to SASE.

No “one-size-fits-all” approach

A modern SASE solution will involve a combination of technologies and offerings that will need to be integrated to deliver a customised solution to an enterprise’s networking needs.

According to Gartner’s research¹, by 2025, one-third of new SASE deployments will be based on a single-vendor SASE offering, up from 10% in 2022. By 2025, 65% of enterprises will have consolidated individual SASE components into one or two explicitly partnered SASE vendors, up from 15% in 2021.

The SASE revolution is coming, and coming fast, so now is the time to determine whether your company is ready to get on board and to understand the advantages it will bring. Find out more about what you can do with Verizon here.

¹Gartner, Market Guide for Single-Vendor SASE, Neil Macdonald, John Watts, Jonathan Forest, Andrew Lerner, 28 September 2022.

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

The post Are you ready for SASE? appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

The Mobile World Congress (MWC) kicked off in Shanghai on June 28, the first entirely in-person iteration of the event since 2019. Dubbed the leading Asian telecommunications show, vendors took the stage at the three-day event to showcase their cutting-edge breakthroughs across various sectors. As usual, Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies Co. came to the event in full force, flaunting their 5.5G achievements.

“5G has been in commercial use worldwide for four years. It’s driving new value creation, and 5.5G is the next step forward,” Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s rotating chairwoman and CFO, said in a keynote speech at the opening day of the MWC Shanghai. 

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Meng added that since science and technology are moving towards large, complex systems, it’ll require “matching technology to specific scenarios and performing systems engineering to pave the way for 5 G’s ongoing success.”

Huawei’s Deputy Chairwoman, Rotating Chairwoman & CFO, at the Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2023.

What is 5.5g, and why did it dominate the Mobile World Congress 2023?

During the Mobile World Congress 2023, Huawei also proposed the concept of a “5.5G Era” based on an end-to-end solution that integrates comprehensive evolved technologies, including 5.5G, F5.5G, and Net5.5G. The 5.5G Era will feature 10 gigabit peak downlink speeds and gigabit peak uplink speeds to meet increasingly diverse service requirements. 

This solution would protect operators’ previous investment in 5G while improving network performance by ten times. It would also refresh the industry vision by using new technologies like passive IoT to unlock a market of 100 billion IoT connections.

5G has been in commercial use for four years. Huawei’s data shows that there are more than 260 commercial 5G networks worldwide, serving over 1.2 billion users, and there are already 115 million gigabit F5G users. 

“With service models and content continuously evolving, breakthroughs in technologies like glasses-free 3D create unprecedented immersive experiences for users. However, these new services continue to require stronger 5G network capabilities,” the company said in a statement.

The industry has widely agreed that 5.5G will be a crucial milestone in 5G evolution, and Huawei sees it fast approaching. “5.5G is the next step forward for 5G. 5.5G will feature […] the ability to support 100 billion connections, and native AI,” Meng added in her speech. 

5.5g will create incredible new business opportunities with more targeted support for industrial needs in domains like IoT, sensing, and advanced manufacturing.

When will it be commercially available?

At the 5G Advanced Forum during the Mobile World Congress 2023, Huawei announced that they will launch a complete set of commercial 5.5G network equipment in 2024. During the announcement, Huawei’s Director and President of ICT Products & Solutions, Yang Chaobin, said the company intends for this launch to mark the beginning of the 5.5G era for the ICT industry.

Chaobin Yang, Board Member, President of ICT Products & Solutions, Huawei, at the Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2023.

Considering itself an advocate for end-to-end 5.5G solutions, Huawei said it has been working with multiple players across the industry on R&D and verification of crucial 5.5G technologies. 

“Significant progress has been made in this verification process, specifically for the vast antenna array (ELAA) which underpins 10-gigabit downlink, flexible spectrum access which helps realize gigabit uplink, and passive IoT which can enable 100 billion IoT connections,” it said.

Additionally, Huawei noted that 50G PON is another critical technology enabling 10-gigabit speeds for F5.5G ultra-broadband networks and is expected to be extensively used in homes, campuses, and productions. “Huawei has worked with over 30 operators worldwide on technological verification and application pilots for these technologies,” the Chinese tech giant shared.

Yang also announced that the company has been working on applying AI-native technologies to 5.5G core networks to enhance network capabilities and availability continuously. This would allow AI capabilities to be delivered to the very ends of networks so that they can better serve numerous industries. 

“Net5.5G promises 10-gigabit access, ultra-broadband transport, and microsecond-level latency over AI networks, allowing it to serve as a next-generation network foundation for industrial digitalization by providing high-quality network access,” Huawei noted.

How far are we from 6G?

For technology leaders, the conversations on the sixth generation (6G) mobile system have started. However, Huawei stated that the industry is still in its earliest stages of developing a vision for that network and only just beginning related research into key technologies. 

“This is why many have turned to 5.5G as their milestone for future development. The 10-fold improvement in network capabilities in the 5.5G Era is set to enable numerous industries to unleash the productivity of digital technology,” Yang concluded during his presentation at the Mobile World Congress 2023. 

The post Everything Huawei announced at the Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2023 appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.