Gitex Technology Week: Multi-cloud platforms to steer Middle East firms towards profits

Regional cloud market is predicted to triple to $2.4 billion by 2020

The cloud lets companies support their data needs without taking up physical storage space. Getty Images

Middle East enterprises are aiming to add more value to their businesses by using multi-cloud platforms, the industry that is expected to triple in size by 2020.

Driven by multi-cloud channels, the regional cloud market is predicted to grow to $2.4 billion by 2020, said researcher Markets and Markets, in a recent report. However, industry experts say this fast transition is also confronted with a number of challenges.

“CEOs may understand the cloud’s business benefits but they may not be fully aware that cloud migration can be a challenging process,” said Andrew Calthorpe, chief executive of Dubai-based Condo Protego, a specialist in data storage and security.

“Middle East organisations should follow a systematic approach. They should outline the time, costs and resources needed to move data to the cloud, between clouds, and even off the cloud.”

Small and medium-sized enterprises, which account for more than 90 per cent of the companies operating in the UAE, consider cloud computing as a main priority for harnessing their untapped digital potential in 2018-2019, according to the US technology giant Microsoft.

Massachusetts-based International Data Corporation says 85 per cent of IT organisations worldwide are committing to multi-cloud architectures in 2018.

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Along with various technology giants, Condo Protego is participating in the Gitex Technology Week, running from October 14-18 in Dubai.

“Cloud and mobile based applications can help end user organisations exploit the benefits of data analytics and build new customer experiences and new revenue models. However, it is very essential to secure the entire process,” said Nisith Naik, chief executive of Centra Hub, a Dubai-headquartered digital transformation solutions vendor.

“We are excited to be participating for the third year now at Gitex Technology Week, which is the single largest regional ICT [Information and Communication Technology] platform, to demonstrate and present our cloud hosted solutions to a focused audience,” said Mr Naik.

At Gitex, US-based IT firm Cisco will take customers through a connected journey based on its secure, intelligent platform for digital business where digital innovations will be brought to life.

“Whether it’s a private, hybrid, or public cloud, or any combination of these, Cisco enables customers to embrace a multi-cloud world by simplifying how customers connect and protect their clouds,” said Shukri Eid, managing director – East Region at Cisco Middle East.

Gitex Technology Week’s 38th edition will present the region’s biggest ever technology event that will act as the launch pad for tens of thousands of game-changing technologies including 5G, robotics, virtual and augmented reality.