iSTYLE relaunches two Apple Premium Reseller stores in Czech Republic and Hungary
iSTYLE has redesigned and relaunched two flagship Apple Premium Reseller stores in the Czech Republic and Hungary. The Revoluční store in Prague welcomed customers again on March 8, and the iSTYLE Westend Mall store project was completed in April.
The current international situation has seen an increase in consumer appetite for technology, integrating it in almost all areas of life. As a result, pressure on technology retail companies has increased; iSTYLE has reacted by exploring innovative approaches, but also by improving existing retail solutions to be as close as possible to consumer needs.
“Providing a high standard of Apple experience to Apple customers under the iSTYLE brand is always our main focus. Even in challenging times, we always do our best to anticipate, identify and meet our customer’s needs” said Vít Goluch, Regional Manager for Czech, Slovakia and Hungary.
“We are always searching for new development strategies. Through the last year, we learned that online development is even more important, but we are not forgetting what we know how to do best – serving Apple customers in the best environment around” added Vít Goluch from iSTYLE.
iSTYLE Revoluční in Prague – now looking slick and with cutting-edge design.
Back in 2006, Revoluční store was the first point-of-sale site in the iSTYLE network to open for Apple fans in the Czech Republic. Positioned in a popular location in Prague, the store’s last refit took place more than seven years ago.
Now re-designed and executed in strict compliance with Apple Premium Reseller standards, the store is welcoming customers into a showroom of 150 sqm. With new technologies, and some special sparkle and shine, iSTYLE customers can discover and experience the full range of Mac systems, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV, as well as various premium quality accessories that complete the Apple ecosystem.
The front desk and service center at iSTYLE Revoluční in Prague – where skills and knowledge help grow the satisfied customer base.
In the redesign, iSTYLE also aimed to meet the developing needs of sales consultants with more storage space and a bigger service area. The project started in January and lasted almost two months; after completing construction, there was a new challenge to prepare the store to re-open in just three days.
The re-opening took place on March 8, but because of Covid-19 measures, the plan is to celebrate it next year on the first anniversary of the relaunch.
From the outside, iSTYLE Westend in Budapest looks like a spaceship that has landed in the Mall. Just right for a hi-tech store. Photo credit – iSTYLE
Following closely on from Revoluční, during April, iSTYLE Hungary refitted one of the most popular of its Apple Premium Reseller stores in Budapest. The store is located in the Westend Mall in the capital city and is renowned for its minimalistic industrial design, fashioned mainly from glass and steel.
The refit lasted for three weeks and a new floor, modern LED lighting and new furniture were the main improvements in-store, all of them bringing a fresh new look for the spectacular central location. The store re-opening was handled carefully, with a high focus on protecting the customers and the employees.
The iSTYLE offer – trained Apple experts are always at hand to help give the best advice. Photo credit – iSTYLE
iSTYLE Westend in Budapest is not just a commercial space but the best place to discover the Apple ecosystem with the help of a full team of specialists. Whether Apple fans want to get the most out of their personal Mac or if company owners want to find the right solution for employee needs, iSTYLE Apple-trained staff can always give objective, professional recommendations. In addition, iSTYLE provide a wide range of services, from repairs to financial and leasing programs.
iSTYLE, part of the Midis Group, is the largest Apple Premium Reseller network in nine countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Through its 48 retail and online stores, iSTYLE offer the full range of Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch and Apple TV along with an impressive but carefully selected portfolio of accessories and software.
Telekom Slovenije and Aruba at the Women’s Ski Jumping World Cup
The tenth FIS Ski Jumping World Cup for women – Ljubno 2021 – took place in Ljubno ob Savinji, Slovenia in January 2021. To ensure a fast, secure and reliable wireless network, Telekom Slovenije teamed up with Hewlett Packard operated by Selectium from Slovenia, and used the technology of the world’s leading network solution provider, Aruba, owned by Hewlett Packard Enterprise.
Telekom Slovenije is a leading Slovenian technology company and offers comprehensive ICT solutions and state-of-the-art networks. The project made use of Aruba AP-315 Wi-Fi 5 internal access points and Aruba AP-375 external access points to establish the FIS network at the Women’s Ski Jumping World Cup. The latter assemblies are IP66 / IP67 and ASTM B117-071 certified and are intended for use in bad weather conditions or in humid, dusty and salty environments and at extremely low or high temperatures.
Installing the access points – they can operate stand-alone or in a cluster, with or without a wireless network controller, and the network can be centrally managed and controlled locally or from the cloud. Photo credit: Telekom Slovenije
In 2020, Aruba was once again ranked by IT industry analysts as a leading provider of network solutions. For the 15th year in a row, Gartner, a leading IT consultancy, has ranked Aruba among the leaders in the »2020 Magic Quadrant for the Wired and Wireless LAN Access Infrastructure Report«.
Aruba has developed the Aruba Edge Services Platform (ESP) which integrates all elements of the Aruba Unified Infrastructure, automates network fault detection, automatically eliminates and simplifies operational tasks (Aruba AIOps), and enables secure connection of users and their network devices (Zero Trust Security). The platform is the basis for an intelligent network and advanced business solutions that bring more than just a connection to the world.
NBK-Egypt Announces Successful Go-Live of MDSap’s SAP Corporate Banking Solution
NBK-Egypt has successfully launched the SAP Corporate Banking Solution, in partnership with MDSap, an expert in SAP’s Omnichannel banking solutions, renowned for its solid proven experience in banking consultancy and implementation.
This revolutionary technology reinforces endeavors by NBK-Egypt to digitalize corporate business online operations and build lasting customer relationships to win in the Digital Economy.
“NBK-Egypt proudly announces the launching of its digital corporate services to its businesses, optimizing our online banking experience and meeting all our customers’ unique needs” said Amr ElAlfy, Chief Business Officer, NBK-Egypt.
“Powered by SAP Omnichannel Digital Business, an extendable distinct banking platform, NBK-Egypt enables small business and large companies to check balances, make online payments, transfer money between accounts, have better cash positioning and forecasting along with instant trade facilities and approvals. Our ultimate goal is helping businesses to digitally manage cash flow, as part of their day to day operation.”
He added: “Aligning with NBK-Egypt’s strategy to invest in IT Solutions providing cutting-edge services to the customers, we joined forces with MDSap, leveraging on its witnessed experience in implementing SAP Omnichannel Banking. Also, MDSap has a proven record with NBK Group, implementing the solution, delivering great services support and providing customers a unified view of their accounts.”
“MDSap took upon itself paving the way, in partnership with NBK Egypt, to successfully implement the first drop of corporate digital services, leveraging SAP Omnichannel Digital Business platform capabilities to serve the bank’s customers” said Tony Achkar, Group Managing Director & EVP, MDSap.
“Our service empowers NBK-Egypt to intelligently engage with customers, delivering its innovative products, services, and offers across all channels.”
He added: “MDSap, a gold partner of SAP, is known for its solid mix blend in consultancy and services implementation of various SAP solution. The company has an exceptional SAP solution skills and knowledge in different industries, positioning it in the lead of technology sector for over 25 years.”
More about National Bank of Kuwait (NBK)
NBK-Egypt has a network of 53 branches situated in strategic locations within the various Egyptian governorates and cities. The bank is also privileged to be among the elite banks within the Egyptian market that hold an Islamic banking license in addition to its conventional licensing. In addition the bank offers a wide network of ATMs spread across the country to service customers around the clock.
NBK was founded in 1952 as the first indigenous bank and the first joint-stock company in Kuwait and the Gulf Region. The bank is the largest financial institution in Kuwait with effective market dominance in the commercial banking market and, supported by its strong financial indicators, has been consistently awarded the highest credit rating of all banks in the region from Moody’s (Aa3), Standard & Poor’s (AA-), and Fitch Ratings (A).
NBK was also named among Global Finance’s list of the 50 safest banks in the world for the fourteenth consecutive time.
NBK enjoys the widest banking presence with a local and international network exceeding over 150 branches and subsidiaries in 15 countries. NBK’s international presence spans many of the world’s leading financial centers including the USA, China, Switzerland, England, France, Singapore, in addition to its regional presence apart from Egypt in Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Turkey as well as the UAE.
More about MDSap
MDSap, a Gold partner of SAP and expert in SAP’s Banking solutions, has over 25 years of in-depth experience helping customers manage, integrate, analyse and mobilize Business Mission Critical Data across the enterprise. The company has exceptional track record providing Turnkey IT Solutions across Middle East, Turkey & Central Eastern Europe to over 400 Enterprise customers and government entities. MDSap is part of the Midis Group and is a member of EPM International. It currently operates ten offices across the Middle East, Turkey as well as Central Eastern Europe.
Valeriu Ion from iSTYLE, Apple Premium Reseller, interviewed by connect Romania
connect Romania, one of the most popular IT sector websites in Eastern Europe, recently interviewed Valeriu Ion, General Manager of iSTYLE Romania, Bulgaria and the Adriatic countries.
Talking with Claudiu Râpan, Valeriu spoke about iSTYLE’s presence on the Romanian market, the effect of the iPhone 12 range on the Group end of the year results and how hard work led to doubled online sales compared to 2019, a great result considering the challenges of the last 12 months.
Valeriu began by talking about the size of the Romanian market. It’s got great development potential, he believes. “iSTYLE has been present on this market since 1999, a period in which I believe that we have managed to develop business, educate consumers and serve the demand for Apple products for the most important cities in the country. We are part of a group with tradition in selling Apple products, and we have always benefited from their know-how, so our direction was quite clear.”
Claudiu Râpan then asked Valeriu how the Romanian market compares with its neighbours in Western and Central Europe, where iSTYLE operates both physically and online? The brand is present in nine countries in Central and Eastern Europe, but Valeriu sees the greatest resemblance to the Czech market; “a great potential for development; educated customers, but also fierce competition.”
Valeriu points out the increases in business each year aligned with changes put in place as part of a growth strategy, either related to newly opened stores or perhaps building personnel infrastructure. “Each time we had an increase of ‘two digits YoY’, or over 10% each year. Regarding 2020, it was same as for most of the companies, a very difficult year, with many challenges but we managed to pass it well and adapt to the new requirements, ending with an increase of 8% compared to 2019.”
Claudiu Râpan asked Valeriu how was 2020 financially for iSTYLE, and whether the pandemic affected the smooth running of stores:
“Our core business is defined as a retail operator with an online presence, but we are also a player with experience in the B2B market. Thus, when we had to stop the main engine overnight, we had to reinvent ourselves and compensate for the most important component of the activity… Overall, it was a year in which we suffered, but in which we learned some lessons that, I dare say, turned us into a stronger and more united team. In 2020 we doubled our online sales compared to 2019, and the ascending trend continues in the beginning of 2021.” explained Valeriu.
The online interview also explored market potential across the region. Claudiu Râpan asked Valeriu about the market with the highest growth potential in the region, from iSTYLE’s perspective. “Following our evolution in Romania, as well as the changes in the Apple business model that appeared this year, I can clearly say that Romania is in the center of attention, but I would put the Adriatic countries in the same bracket.”
Advanced Business Computing (ABC) Qatar launches new website
Advanced Business Computing (ABC) has launched a new website – https://abc.com.qa/. The primary goal for ABC’s team during the redesign process was to create a more valuable, user-centric and responsive resource across all platforms and devices.
Specifically, ABC wanted to focus on making it easier for their users to learn and locate valuable information about ABC’s technical solutions and professional services.
Advanced Business Computing (ABC) is one of Qatar’s leading Information Technology Products and Services providers. They are partners with top vendors in the industry: Dell Technologies Titanium Partner, Apple Authorized Reseller, Microsoft Gold Partner and VMware Enterprise Solutions Provider
The website was created with user experience in mind, and it includes many new features to help users quickly and easily navigate. Some features include:
Integrated social media buttons for LinkedIn to foster improved communication with the customers
Call to action buttons on every landing page, which directs customers to the contact us form
Dell showcase page with Content Syndication where content is refreshed automatically each time Dell update their own website
The ABC team plans to regularly update the website content with helpful information, cutting-edge thought leadership, company announcements and client successes.
More about ABC
Advanced Business Computing W.L.L (ABC) is one of Qatar’s top Information Technology Products and Services providers. They are partners with top vendors in the industry: Dell Technologies Titanium Partner, Apple Authorized Reseller, Microsoft Gold Partner and VMware Enterprise Solutions Provider. Highly experienced and well trusted as an IT partner in Qatar market, ABC has built a reputation based on providing superior products, solutions and services, blended with unbeatable customer care.
MDS SI wins award at Dell MERAT Partner Summit 2021
MDS SI has won the key Partner of the Year Award at the Dell MERAT Partner Summit and Awards Ceremony 2021, which took place virtually on April 6.
The online event featured inspirational presentations from executive leaders across Dell, where they shared latest insights into the newest technologies and business strategy towards profitable growth with Dell Technologies Partner Program. The event recognized efforts of various partners across MERAT (Middle East, Russia, Africa and Turkey).
“We are honored to win the Partner of the Year Award during the Dell MERAT Partner Summit & Awards Ceremony 2021. I would specially like to thank Dell for trusting us as their committed, loyal and strategic partner. I am also grateful to our customers for the trust and confidence they have shown in MDS SI, our team and their skills, which has contributed towards this great achievement and recognition,” said Hadi Nader, Group Managing Partner, Mideast Data Systems – Systems Integration.
“As one of the leading Dell Titanium Partners in the Middle East region, MDS SI has come a long way, and it is indeed gratifying to have our customers focus and service quality recognized by such a prestigious Summit,” said Hadi Nader.
Mindware signs distribution agreement with Oracle in 14 countries
DUBAI, UAE – Mindware announced that it has been appointed a Value-Added Distributor (VAD) for Oracle in 14 countries across the Gulf, Levant and North Africa regions. As per the agreement, Mindware will market and distribute Oracle’s entire portfolio of market leading solutions including databases, applications, storage, servers, and Cloud technologies to empower and accelerate modern businesses. Mindware is a member of Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN).
Providing an insight into the relationship, Philippe Jarre, CEO at Mindware Group said, “As one of the region’s leading value-added distributors, we are constantly looking to bolster our vendor portfolio and provide new and exciting technologies to the market through our channel ecosystem; technologies that advance the digital transformation aspirations of regional enterprises. Oracle is a global tech innovator that has been a leader in database software for more than three decades. Oracle has been steadily expanding this leadership to the entire technology stack through relentless product development and strategic acquisitions of best-of-breed technology vendors. It has a very strong Cloud vision and is helping organizations drive forward their digital strategies by developing integrated Cloud technologies, offering both choice and flexibility and making the customer’s transition to Cloud-based IT environments easier.”
“We are excited about the collaboration and are confident of the rapid uptake of Oracle’s solutions by regional organizations, especially in today’s context where Cloud computing is gaining momentum with the shift to remote working,” he added.
Mindware today has a large and highly skilled team of engineers with experience across various technology domains to support its partners. Naturally, the distributor will employ a dedicated team of professionals fully certified on Oracle’s technologies to ensure that they both practice and preach such extensive knowledge across all of the vendor’s products and solutions. This team will work closely with Oracle to deliver exceptional value to partners and to their end customers.
In the Middle East, Oracle’s second generation cloud regions are now live in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Oracle has a unique dual region strategy that enables customers to deploy resilient applications in multiple geographies for disaster recovery and compliance requirements. Customers that want to run critical systems of record in the Cloud need fully independent Cloud regions for disaster recovery purposes.
As a leading provider of Cloud solutions, Oracle has long supported the Cloud-led digital transformation efforts of the public sector, large private corporations and mid-sized businesses in the Middle East. There are several examples of Oracle Cloud helping businesses and government organizations drive business continuity, deliver vital citizen services, enable remote working and accelerate growth.
“The Gulf, Levant and North Africa are strategic markets for Oracle as we look to accelerate the adoption of Oracle Cloud in the region by supporting our partners”, said Abiy Yeshitla, Vice President, Technology, Gulf region, Oracle. “Mindware’s deep experience in developing channel partners and extensive reach across the region will further help us deliver innovative cloud solutions to customers across diverse sectors.”
MDSap is a Technology Focus Partner at IDC Middle East CIO Summit
MDSap were recently a Technology Focus Group partner at the IDC Middle East CIO Summit, which took place February 24-25.
The CIO Summit had a topical theme for 2021: Innovative Digital Strategies – Evolving to the Demands of a New Reality. On the CIO Summit website, more is explained about the theme.
“While COVID-19 has disrupted every element of global business, it has also demonstrated the critical importance of digital transformation. As the journey from crisis to recovery gets underway, the enablement of a Future Enterprise must be the end goal for any successful business.”
Ilker Tasdemir, Director of Intelligent Enterprise, MDSap, presents at IDC CIO Summit – 2021. Photo credit – MDSap
Responding to that proposition during the Technology Focus Group sessions, MDSap Director of Intelligent Enterprise, Ilker Tasdemir presented “The Rules Have Changed, So Should We: Journey to The Intelligent Enterprise,” talking about SAP Intelligent Enterprise solutions.
“MDSap enables organizations to transform into Intelligent Enterprises using its expertise and best-in-class SAP technology and solutions,” explained Ilker in his presentation. He went on to suggest that organizations will need to become Intelligent Enterprises in order to find success amid the current age of digital disruption. An Intelligent Enterprise enables employees to focus on higher-value outcomes and invent new business models and processes.
Ilker explained that technical capabilities need to be embedded in the business core and industry applications to optimize and extend business processes. The benefit is that companies can also use these new capabilities together with innovation services to build and assemble next-generation business processes.
Unior Group drives the future of its diverse business with HPE intelligent infrastructure
Unior Group in Slovenia have simplified their IT management with intelligent, composable servers, storage, and networking solutions from HPE.
Unior is one of the leading worldwide manufacturers from Slovenia, producing key components for the auto industry, as well as hand tools for craftsmen and special-purpose machines for steel processing. The company needed a reliable IT infrastructure for critical manufacturing and catering activities and the agility of the infrastructure to respond quickly to new business requirements.
All of this was accomplished by simplifying IT management at Unior with intelligent, compliant servers, storage, and networking solutions provided by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). By constantly investing in technologies that enable IT to grow and adapt to ever-changing business requirements, Unior is now ready for the future.
Boštjan Kosi, Sales Director at Hewlett Packard Enterprise operated by Selectium. Photo credit – Žiga Intihar.
“HPE and Unior have been working together in the field of information technology for many years. This collaboration brought an understanding of needs on the one hand and portfolio and service opportunities on the other. This is rare in the business of two companies. Excellent collaboration is also supported by the strong performance of the HPE partner network, which brings the HPE experience even closer to end customers. We can only wish for such an attitude in business,” explains Boštjan Kosi, Sales Director at Hewlett Packard Enterprise operated by Selectium.
Rok Planinšec, IT Director of Unior, agreed: “the Slovenian Selectium team reflects a strong commitment to their business. It is a partnership where we can talk openly about our challenges and goals and together find technology solutions to lead Unior into the future.”
The new Data Center at the heart of the Unior Group business success. Photo Credit – Unior Group Archive
The driving force is the desire to be first and best
The small Unior IT team matched the needs of a diverse business with an intelligent infrastructure built on HPE technologies, reducing complexity and simplifying infrastructure operations. Ivan Cizel, Head of IT at Unior, explains: “We insist on HPE technologies because they are easy to use and to operate. Our HPE systems are almost 100 % available, allowing us to focus on higher-level issues.”
Progress is easier when you have great partners with you, and the project advanced thanks to partner company Arhides, who played a key role in implementation of the new equipment.
Director of Arhides, Borut Šosterič. Photo credit – Arhides
“Unior’s information environment is a good example of how a symbiosis between different actors – Unior, Hewlett Packard Enterprise operated by Selectium and Arhides – can lead to excellent results. Cooperation and complexity of projects with both Unior and HPE was a pleasure and a challenge at the same time,” emphasizes the director of Arhides, Borut Šosterič.
Technology is the answer to the demands of the future
The constant desire for progress often puts IT services in an un-enviable position, as they must be constantly ready to respond to new resource needs in a short time – new virtual servers, additional storage space and so on. As business requirements increased and the previous HPE infrastructure required an upgrade, it was a logical decision for Unior to invest in HPE Synergy compliant infrastructure and intelligent storage to run critical HPE Primera applications. Unior also uses Aruba network solutions for core network and Wi-Fi, as well as dedicated HPE StoreOnce disk-to-disk backups with Veeam’s Backup & Replication for backup.
“HPE Synergy and HPE Primera provide us with the agility to respond quickly when a company needs services for a new project. At the same time, they simplify business operations and enable us to provide our end-users with a responsive and flawless experience,” explains Ivan Cizel, Head of IT at Unior.
For IT Director Rok Planinšec, the demand for high availability tipped the scales: “It’s imperative our business users can access critical systems to support our production operation and be able to complete reservations for guests at our resorts. Guaranteed 100 % up-time was an important factor for choosing HPE Primera. We cannot afford downtime in any area of our business.”
To simplify management of the information infrastructure, Unior relies on HPE OneView, which acts as a stand-alone interface for providing, updating and integrating software-defined systems (computer, memory and network) in the data center. They also use HPE InfoSight to continuously monitor the health and performance of the infrastructure. For added assurance, Unior counts on expert technical support from HPE Proactive Care, which plans and delivers firmware upgrades and patches so the IT team can stay focused on the business.
Learn more about the results of the outstanding collaboration between Unior d. d. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise in the case study.
MDSap implements data-driven decision-making system for ACE Insurance Brokers
ACE Insurance Brokers have partnered with MDSap to implement a data-driven decision-making system using the SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise platform.
This successful customer story was highlighted in a video where Antonio Dionisio, Group CIO of ACE Insurance Brokers, and Johnny Beyrouthy, General Manager ME North, of MDSap, talk about the project and how the solution helps ACE in meeting their business goals.
Antonio Dionisio opens the video by introducing the technical challenge and role of Business Intelligence (BI) in the marketplace.
“Risk is an essential factor of doing business. Every company needs to identify the risks across the board, and plan to limit or mitigate their exposure. Having a risk management strategy and culture is fundamental for business to succeed. We advise our clients to develop a risk management environment, and understand their risks, and its potential impact on performance and growth. With our help, our clients will be better prepared to address their risks, and to reduce their insurance premium costs.”
Johnny Beyrouthy, General Manager ME North, of MDSap, talks about the role the company played in the project:
“MDSap’s goal was to help ACE acquire and cleanse their complex and scattered data assets and embed timely intelligence to the product and applications they use every day. SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise Platform was selected, allowing ACE to easily integrate, manage and transform data to inject business information and analytics across their enterprise.”
“So the ultimate combination of SAP’s robust, scalable and most complete BI solution on the market, ACE IT dedication and swift support throughout the project, and MDSap’s historical expertise in data management and analytics, has produced a data-driven decision-making support system that best helps ACE meet their business goals.”
Antonio Dionisio of ACE went on to highlight MDSap expertise in delivering the project:
“The outstanding value of harnessing the power of our historical data and projecting that into the future is a clear differentiator in a highly competitive market. MDSap was the partner of choice to help us into this journey, and to successfully deliver this project.”
Johnny Beyrouthy tells the story of the project from the MDSap perspective. Photo credit: MDSap
Johnny Beyrouthy paid tribute back to ACE in his remarks about the making of the project:
“In the insurance industry, companies must be agile, leveraging all kinds of data assets and intelligence to optimise operations, build predictive models, reduce claim leakage, report on financials and have access to informative customer insights. MDSap, using SAP BusinessObjects Enterprise Platform, delivered an intelligent platform that supports all that. Our solid financial services and insurance industry experience helped ACE leverage out of the box reports, dashboards and analytics at a high level, while drilling down to whatever they need, including risk analysis operational performance analysis and claim analysis.”
“For more than 27 years, MDSap has served Enterprise organisations in the Middle East and Eastern Europe by empowering them with the best in technology innovation while always focusing on their business needs and goals. I would like to take this opportunity to thank ACE brokers, management and team for their trust in MDSap and their persistence in achieving this mature success.”
Video: MDSap implements a data-driven decision making system for ACE Insurance Brokers
ESET’s Demes Strouthos interviewed in December 2020 Security Adviser ME
ESET Middle East General Manager, Demes Strouthos was interviewed in the December issue of Security Adviser ME during GITEX 2020 about the company offerings during the show, and also the challenges for 2021.
According to Demes in the interview, GITEX has always been an important showcase, a great platform for meeting and networking, and an excellent place to launch new products and solutions.
Going onwards, the interviewer asked Demes what the most popular and safest solutions might be in 2021 and his answer was clear: “Multi-Factor Authentication has become the most pertinent security solution in the new normal, as huge numbers of organisations have deployed large-scale remote working, while threat actors have increased their attempts exponentially.”
In the interview Demes talked about the likelihood that employees are using a wide range of devices when at home, and the need to protect these devices. As a result of this, ESET have a full range of endpoint security solutions ready for action, from anti-virus to high-end threat-hunting and cloud-based sandboxing.
Demes explained that front-line ESET products include ESET Remote Workforce Offer, a cloud-based console that uses advanced technology like machine learning, deep-behavioural inspection and a ransomware shield to protect business data. He also highlighted ESET Targeted Attack Protection, a powerful ransomware prevention solution that is augmented by ESET EDR and Cloud Sandbox Analysis.
Mindware CEO Philippe Jarre interviewed by Intelligent Tech Channels
The latest edition of Intelligent Tech Channels features Mindware CEO Philippe Jarre in a major front cover interview. Talking with the magazine, Philippe explained how Mindware, the leading Value Added Distributor, supported its partners during an unprecedented year and outlines what might be the general plan looking ahead.
He also goes on to explain how the channel market in the Middle East has reacted to the pandemic.
According to Philippe, “Life and business have been badly hurt by the pandemic. However, we have been very fortunate in the IT industry to see that COVID-19 has actually accelerated Digital Transformation initiatives and technology investments, as enterprises have geared up to support a hybrid work environment. As a result, the IT industry in the Middle East has been less hurt, I would say, from a gross revenue point of view.”
Further on, Philippe explains the reseller community have faced financial challenges and that Mindware will therefore operate in a conservative ‘watch and wait’ mode to help mitigate the situation.
Going forwards, Philippe explores how Mindware has been building channel activities, onboarding new vendors, and what the company will focus on in 2021 with partners.
Amer Chebaro: Quest provides solutions that Manage, Modernize and Secure businesses
Amer Chebaro, General Manager and Sales Director EMEA, Emerging Markets, Quest Software, recently spoke with Tahawultech.com about how the company is enabling organizations to migrate workloads up to the cloud.
In the interview, Amer shares the big news from the past year of operations at the long-established group; Quest have been active for 30 years and counting. Quest has an extensive set of 125+ tools, to help customers achieve their goals. Those tools are grouped under three main pillars of customer digital initiatives: Manage, Modernize, and Secure.
“The modernize pillar of Quest, which is around modernizing workplaces and ideal workloads, has been a pivotal focus over the past year as we’ve seen a huge shift in the market towards this goal. We have also acquired a couple of the prominent players in the market – Binary Tree, ApexSQL and Metalogix. These two milestone acquisitions have been our biggest highlight over the past year,” said Amer in the interview.
Read more on Tahawultech.com where Amer talks about upcoming new releases, including Partner Circle 2.0, and potential acquisitions.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise operated by Selectium achieves success with HPE Nimble Storage & MainOne
Hewlett Packard Enterprise operated by Selectium scored a major success recently with key Nigerian client, MainOne, who have integrated HPE Nimble Storage into their infrastructure as the principal platform on which their cloud systems run.
HPE Nimble Storage is a predictive flash storage technology from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and currently serves as a backup in one of MainOne’s in-country Azure Stack production sites, being the primary platform on which the customer’s Windows Azure Pack Cloud runs.
“Initially, in the MainOne Cloud environment system, backups had been carried out on two separate platforms. In time, what we wanted was to create a centralized backup solution, and so we specifically picked HPE Nimble Storage for three reasons,” said Akinkunmi Ogunsola, Head, Cloud Services at MainOne.
According to Akinkunmi Ogunsola, HPE Nimble Storage was very easy to operate: “We like the fact that it analyzes itself; lets us know if there’s likely to be a problem in the future (trends) and comes with a UI that’s very easy to use. It has superior compression and deduplication features; for backups, this has had tremendous benefits. Then there’s the all-important and excellent after-sales support from HPE, which also influenced MainOne’s decision to partner with Hewlett Packard Enterprise operated by Selectium to deploy the first locally available Microsoft Azure Stack Cloud service in Nigeria.”
For MainOne, the results have been excellent. Migration from their previous system on to HPE Nimble Storage is on-going and they are already seeing as much as a five times reduction in raw storage. The company is also seeing improved I/O from HPE Nimble Storage in comparison to their previous devices. This results in faster backups and shorter backup windows which can be attributed to the superior performance perspective and I/O response from the storage device.
In terms of data management, de-duplication, and compression, gains from using HPE Nimble Storage were impressive. Four years ago MainOne had an issue with one of their storage systems used for their production platforms.
“This problem led to purchase and installation of the first HPE Nimble Storage, and once set-up, the company immediately began to realize capacity savings of up to 2.4X. The performance benefit was just as impressive,” said Akinkunmi Ogunsola.
“In a nutshell, I am satisfied with our experience so far with running the HPE Nimble Storage in our infrastructure as backup for our Azure Stack platform, and as the primary storage platform upon which our Windows Azure Pack platform operates.”
Akinkunmi Ogunsola is happy to spread the word about HPE Nimble Storage and Hewlett Packard Enterprise operated by Selectium: “…though my decision to recommend the technology would also have to be informed by the details of the project, and whether the technology would be suitable in that context. Hands down – HPE Nimble Storage has proven to be manageable and provides the appropriate technology needed in its capacity as an enterprise storage solution. I would most likely use it again.”
More about MainOne
MainOne is a broadband infrastructure company providing innovative telecoms services and network solutions across West Africa. Since its launch in 2010, MainOne has developed a reputation for providing highly reliable services to major telecom operators, ISPs, government agencies, small to large enterprises, and educational institutions in West Africa.
Together for Beirut: a campaign of solidarity
Midis Group, affiliates, and long-time key partners have mobilized to help rebuild and repair damage caused by the tragic event of August 4, 2020. In a series of actions, IT equipment, building materials and energy resources like generators were shipped in and set to work. Under the umbrella title of “Together for Beirut”, the relief efforts are ongoing and could continue for some months.
Kohler-SDMO and the Midis Group join forces to send a full container of generators to Lebanon
Following the explosion that struck the city of Beirut on August 4, 2020, Kohler-SDMO naturally mobilized its teams to support the affected population. This solidarity movement set up immediate initiatives to meet the energy needs of residents and infrastructure.
Kohler-SDMO and partner, Midis Energy, rushed to donate a full 40-foot container of 22 KVA generators. This operation was carried out in collaboration with the Midis Group, their major partner for 25 years in the Middle East. Eighteen K22 units equipped with Kohler engines were made available and distributed to various important Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) working on the ground, namely, the Lebanese Red Cross, Arc-En-Ciel, Caritas and Offre-Joie.
“The tragedy in Beirut is a human drama and Kohler-SDMO associates feel concerned about and supportive of Lebanon people suffering. This is why our teams worked hard to donate and ship 18 K22 generators to Beirut as our modest contribution to supporting population with electric power needs. In order to secure the best local setup, we are fortunate to be working alongside the Midis Group, our long-lasting partner in many Middle East countries. I feel extremely proud of this partnership and of our joint response to the situation,” said Lenaik Andrieux, General Manager, EMEA Power Systems, Kohler-SDMO.
The generators prior to shipping. Photo credit: Kohler-SDMO
The container was shipped from Marseille on Friday, August 21 and the 18 K22 generators arrived in Beirut on August 27, thanks to the shipping company CMA-CGM as part of their “A Boat for Lebanon” operation.
When unloaded in Beirut, Midis Group and the Lebanese Red Cross worked in close collaboration to guarantee the best response to the needs of local teams who urgently needed generator power to repair disaster-struck infrastructures.
MDS UAE and Midis Group working together for Beirut
Over the past few weeks, MDS UAE has been committed to help the people of Beirut recover from the tragedy that occurred earlier this month. As part of that initiative, MDS UAE contributed to the efforts of the Lebanese Business Council – Abu Dhabi to support the reconstruction of Beirut’s infrastructure. Approximately 138 tonnes of glass have been shipped out, with the support of MDS UAE and other entities coming together to fund this initiative.
Tens of thousands of buildings were without window glass after the explosion – 138 tons of replacement glass were shipped soon after the blast thanks to MDS UAE and Midis Group. Photo credit: Midis Group
Sami Abi Esber, President, MDS System Integration Group and Board Member, Midis Group, had this to say: “We are thankful to the Lebanese Business Council for organizing this initiative which allows us to help with the infrastructure and economic recovery of Lebanon. These glass panels will go a long way to restore a sense of normalcy to the needy people of Beirut – and we will continue to play our role in assisting in every way we can.”
Midis Group and affiliates, QuanTech and BlueTech Holding, worked together to bring in replacement IT for Saint George Hospital
As part of our continued efforts to assist Beirut recover from the recent tragedy, the Midis Group and affiliates – QuanTech and BlueTech – are actively working with the Healthcare industry to ensure medical continuity in such difficult times.
Expanding our ‘Together for Beirut’ campaign, we have been working closely with Saint George Hospital by providing donations in the form of 20 desktops and 150 display screens to ensure our medical heroes have the required technology available to continue assisting their patients. We are proud to have led this initiative with Saint George Hospital and will continue to provide assistance as needed.
Midis Group and Affiliates are assisting Saint George hospital to be operational again. Photo credit: Midis Group
“While we continue to assist different economic sectors of Beirut we are paying special attention to the healthcare industry that has suffered so profusely. As such, the Midis Group is committed to donating devices, screens and other technology that will be vital in keeping hospitals like Saint George operational, thereby allowing them to continue working seamlessly,” said Sami Abi Esber, President Midis Systems Integration Group, and Board member of Midis Group.
These contributions have been implemented through QuanTech and BlueTech, local Midis Group entities based in Lebanon. Samer Kandalaft, General Manager of QuanTech, had the following to say. “Our relationship with Saint George Hospital goes back a long time and has enjoyed the test of time. QuanTech always stands together with its clients, community and beloved country in good and in challenging times. We are humbled to be of assistance to Saint George Hospital in our area of expertise and to sustain its operations for the good well-being of our citizens.”
“There has never been a more critical requirement for technology to assist in maintaining the health and welfare of our community. We hope this contribution goes a long way in the healthcare sector of Beirut, and in specific, to all citizens who were affected by this tragedy. Midis Group and BlueTech are committed to helping the people of Lebanon during this time of need,” said Tony Azzi, General Manager of BlueTech Holding.
Midis Group bring replacement IT equipment for the Hôtel-Dieu de France Hospital
The Midis Group donated advanced computer equipment to the Hôtel-Dieu de France Hospital to help them keep up with their mission. The hospital’s own IT equipment was destroyed by the blast; in spite of that, hospital staff attended with courage and limited means to more than 750 injured on the night of the explosion.
The Midis team and the Hospital CIO, Jocelyne Ziadeh, with Doctor Samia Jebara, and Abdo El Hachem, Secretary of the Board of Directors at the Hôtel-Dieu de France Hospital. Photo Credit: Midis Group
Laptops, monitors, tablets, screens and printers were offered to the hospital on Wednesday 23 September. The IT equipment was received by the hospital in the presence of Jocelyne Ziadeh, CIO, Doctor Samia Jebara, and Abdo El Hachem, Secretary of the Board of Directors.
iSTYLE in Central & Eastern Europe redesigns 3 stores in Belgrade, Sofia and Zagreb
In preparation for the new Apple product releases that are taking place this autumn, iSTYLE has redesigned some of the most important stores in Adria and Bulgaria, in order to offer the best experience to it’s customers.
August 29 saw the first two redesigned stores opened. Initially, iSTYLE Delta in Belgrade, Serbia and then iSTYLE Vitosha in Sofia, Bulgaria, re-opened, both after a period of two weeks of remodelling. The third store reopening – iSTYLE City Center One West – took place on September 12, in Zagreb, Croatia.
Room to move around safely and see the great Apple product range at iSTYLE City Centre One West, Zagreb. Photo credit: iSTYLE
The redesigned stores have a fresh new look, designed by Apple and implemented according to their standards, where customers can discover the full Apple ecosystem, including the incredible Macbook Air and Pro line-up, iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Beats headphones and speakers, as well as a wide range of accessories.
Keeping point of sales sites fresh and new enhances customer appeal. Photo credit: iSTYLE
Promoting a worldwide brand known for it’s quality, great design and unique user experience, the reopening events offered customers the chance to purchase the latest iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models at even better prices, the new MacBook Air and Pro line-up with an unbeatable offer, as well as accessories for Apple devices with special discounts.
As expected, customers came from early morning and queued in order to purchase their desired product.
Queuing outside the iSTYLE Vitosha store, Sofia, Bulgaria, at the re-opening event. Photo credit: iSTYLE
Within all iSTYLE stores, the interface with the Apple ecosystem and technologies is provided by a team of certified specialists. iSTYLE Apple Experts individually guide visitors to identify the best choice, help them realize the initial configurations of devices, suggest the most appropriate accessories, and provide them with all the assistance they need to get started quickly.
iSTYLE customers can get individually tailored advice about getting started with Apple devices. Photo credit: iSTYLE
Making Apple products and services affordable for more customers, iSTYLE offers flexible financing options in partnership with several banks. Moreover, there is a trade-in program allowing customers to quickly and easily exchange their current laptop, phone or tablet with a new Apple product, following an objective assessment.
Excellent customer service is core to the iSTYLE retail stores. Photo credit: iSTYLE
iSTYLE, part of the Midis Group, is the largest network of Apple Premium Reseller stores in EMEA. With over 25 stores in the South region (Adria, Bulgaria and Romania), iSTYLE has been providing clients with the highest quality and stability to customers through a competent team of certified and permanently trained specialists to Apple standards.
ResellerME: Sami Abi Esber exclusive interview about Midis SI success and growth
Sami Abi Esber is featured on the latest cover of ResellerME, where he talks about how the Midis SI Group has been driving digital transformation across the Middle East.
In the exclusive interview, he also discusses recent acquisitions made by the Midis SI Group, and how the organization is leveraging its expertise to introduce cutting-edge technology solutions to the market, while remaining focused on the customer’s needs.
Sami was asked how Midis SI Group has grown into the position it occupies today: “…We rely on business entrepreneurship at the heart of our model. This is coupled by stringent governance and financial management as well as a code of conduct that ensures the highest levels of integrity in all of our operations.”
One of the core reasons Midis SI has succeeded is the great diversity of regions covered by the Group – this brings exceptional local knowledge and excellent ability to service markets, as Sami explains: “Core to our growth strategy has been working closely with our customers. This is why we are today present across key markets in all the geographies we cover. Midis SI group, the system integration and services arm of Midis Group, is now present in 13 countries across 20 cities with over 2,500 employees.”
A new HDF sas website is now live at hdfsas.com. The website features a comprehensive overview of all the HDF sas business, its added values, products and services. Its design is modern, neat, easy to navigate and fits well the HDF sas identity and character.
It is responsive on different devices, and incorporates High Search Volume keywords to increase website traffic on search engines like Google.
Features of the new site:
– A secure Partner registration and access facility so companies can check offers related to their country and the status of account
– An English version which services the English-speaking African countries
– CTA button all over the site for visitors to contact the HDF sas team
– An integrated social platform for LinkedIn constantly updated with helpful information, company announcements and clients successes.
– A news page featuring latest news and events of HDF, vendors’ collaboration and new products
A subsidiary of the Midis Group, HDF sas has been a Value-Added IT distributor for more than 20 years. HDF is the first expert distributor in Africa of major worldwide brands like Dell Technologies, APC, Kohler SDMO and Ortea.
Based in Orly, France, the company operates through a network of more than 500 partners in more than 40 countries, covering East Africa, West Africa, North Africa, Central Africa and the Overseas Departments and Regions. Key subsidiaries are also in Tunisia, Morocco and Ivory Coast.
