< PreviousNew Logpoint SAP Logpoint has announced the release of the Vulnerability Monitoring Analyzer. The Vulnerability Monitoring Analyzer enables organisations to automate the assessment of SAP patches and ease how these are prioritised. As SAP patching is carried out manually, automating the patch review process will bolster the protection of SAP systems and help safeguard against cybercriminals looking to exploit systems lacking critical security updates. SAP releases security patches once a month to protect its users against vulnerabilities continually. Understanding the technical changes and evaluating the relevancy of the security patches is typically conducted manually. Statistics show that a typical SAP customer needs more than 100 days on average to install critical security corrections, potentially exposing the business during that time. “SAP patches are crucial for maintaining the security, stability and performance of the SAP software products as well as keeping your organisation’s business processes running smoothly,” said Sükrü Ilker Birakoglu, senior director at Logpoint. “Evaluating the patches’ relevancy is a lengthy, tedious and time- consuming process, resulting in a reactive approach to the review process. This is problematic as cyber attackers specifically target the SAP systems that have not yet received the latest security updates.” The Vulnerability Monitoring Analyzer automatically reads the technical content of released patches and matches its release version with the system’s release version throughout thousands of repositories. The solution also provides a comprehensive overview of components and their patch levels, component versions of Kernel, Database, Library etc, and the SAP GUI version. “With the Vulnerability Monitoring Analyzer, we aim to help SAP basis managers and administrators, and SAP security consultants enhance efficiency, amplify the security posture, and improve the uptime of their most valuable applications by automating SAP patch monitoring and configuration,” added Birakoglu. “We provide actionable insights to help customers work effectively on remediating the most critical issues faster.” VidOvation has announced it’s partnering with Celona to deliver large venues and facilities, new levels of wireless performance, connectivity and coverage. The private wireless solution will enable myriad innovative applications and use cases – from automated entry access, to improved indoor public cellular connectivity. It combines VidOvation's bonded cellular technology with Celona's 5G LAN system, utilising shared cellular spectrum. This streamlines critical operational bottlenecks by overcoming longstanding performance, mobility and coverage issues associated with conventional wireless technology. The solution solves coverage gaps, erratic performance, and over-utilisation, which have long inhibited large-scale facilities, stadiums and entertainment venues from improving the experience of fans, visitors and vendors. Using Celona's private 5G LAN technology that leverages new private cellular spectrum within the 3.55 to 3.5 GHz (band 48) with VidOvation's bonded cellular, customers can now dramatically improve the coverage, performance and reliability of their wireless infrastructure across a much greater area, at a lower cost than conventional alternatives. "Reliable and deterministic wireless connectivity is no longer negotiable for many venues and organisations," said Jim Jachetta, EVP and CTO at VidOvation. "WiFi was never engineered for large indoor or outdoor spaces. We see private 4G/5G as a game changer in these environments and much better suited for network- dependent applications, which are now the norm. As an authorised Celona solution provider, we can help organisations future-proof their networks." New partnership for large venue coverage offer NEWS IN BRIEF 10Rajant Corporation, the pioneer of Kinetic Mesh wireless networks, has acquired Reios SRL to form a new entity, Rajant Italia SRL, which offers a suite of IoT solutions. The Rajant Kinetic Mesh-enabled Reios IoT platform provides comprehensive automated operational intelligence anywhere, which is fast and easy to deploy. “For Reios, becoming part of Rajant represents a major stride forward. It confirms our substantial investments and dedication to making our IoT platform cutting-edge and reliable,” said Massimo Viglione, Reios CEO. “It opens a new internationalisation chapter for us through Rajant’s global channel partners. Within Rajant, Reios provides an end-to-end solution for seamless data collection from the field and streamlined operational monitoring, unlocking even greater value and insights for all Rajant customers and partners worldwide.” With Rajant Reios, customers can collect and monitor data with a single, open, and flexible IoT platform across a Rajant Kinetic Mesh wireless network. Reios brings intelligent insights to all facets of an operation through various devices that support the platform’s different applications – Smart Lighting, sTrack, Iot BMS, sDesk, and Smart Picking. Smart Lighting – Energy-efficient, cost-saving, optimised illumination that enables sophisticated IoT applications and services throughout the covered space. sTrack – Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) to monitor staff’s health and safety on the worksite, as well as to track equipment and valuable materials anywhere for cost optimization management and security. IoT BMS – Flexible and responsive building management system (BMS) for dynamic indoor environmental human comfort and security while decreasing energy usage. sDesk – Activity-based cutting-edge IoT office resources that evolve with workforce needs and policy changes while improving comfort and lowering operational costs. Smart Picking – Integrated visual aid for simplified semi-automated warehouse operations to improve order fulfillment, staff safety, and revenue returns. “This is a great opportunity for our worldwide channel to deepen its stronghold to offer customers solutions for IoT using Rajant Kinetic Mesh,” said Robert Schena, CEO and co-founder of Rajant. Rajant acquires Reios SRL to form Rajant Italia SRL Colt DCS expands to Frankfurt Colt Data Centre Services (DCS) has started construction of its third state-of-the-art data centre in Frankfurt, Germany. Recognising Germany's pivotal role as a digital business hub with essential infrastructure for seamless internet traffic across Europe and beyond, Colt DCS has strategically chosen to continue to invest in the Frankfurt market in order meet customer demand. The latest Frankfurt hyperscale data centre project is strategically situated in close proximity to Colt DCS's existing Frankfurt Data Centre, offering seamless connectivity to the Rhine-Main region and convenient access to Frankfurt's major financial district. Designed for a leading Cloud Service Provider, this facility will provide 32.4MW of IT power capacity, ensuring exceptional data storage capabilities and scalability for the tenant's IT infrastructure. The facility boasts direct access to DE-CIX, one of the world's largest internet exchange points, as well as multiple dark fibre providers. Additionally, the Frankfurt data centre will maintain its status as a cloud, carrier, and IX neutral, with multiple points of entry and alternative carrier routing to ensure zero service disruptions. At the heart of Colt DCS's commitment is sustainable scalability, evident across its 16 state- of-the-art data centre developments, with the company procuring 100% renewable energy across its entire European estate, providing robust and environmentally-friendly power to the new hyperscale Tier-3 data centre. Furthermore, the facility will offer round-the-clock local language customer support and is set to achieve ISO 27001 certification post-phase delivery. NEWS IN BRIEF 11FEATURES 12Amidst post-pandemic realignments and continued economic and geopolitical turmoil, some can find it hard to believe that there is still room for positivity in the UK’s tech sector. However, as we approached the highly anticipated AI Safety Summit, which took place at Bletchley Park last month, there was a palpable sense of optimism sweeping across the sector; and that ‘bounce’ looks set to stay. In an effort to better understand this sense of renewed optimism, we commissioned a study from independent research house Censuswide to gather views and sentiment from those whose job it is to continually challenge and question – the technology media. We found not only a burgeoning confidence among the UK’s top tech media, but also optimism that events like the AI Summit will catalyse a significant upswing in tech investment, further solidifying the UK’s leadership in the field of AI. In fact, we found that UK media see AI as the most resilient sector and the most likely to grow. But it’s not all down to the get-together at Bletchley Park and nor does it come without undeniable challenges, but broadly speaking, the outlook is good. So what’s driving this positivity? Firstly, there’s a growing confidence in AI’s ability to solve big societal issues, with three quarters of respondents claiming AI could actually save the NHS. From GPT software transcribing clinician’s notes, all the way to emulating human experts to spot and even predict diseases before they appear, AI offers vast and incredibly important use-cases that can tackle the major issues affecting society today. And it’s not just the big issues that AI can solve. AI tools can help tackle the mundane, repetitive tasks that all business people do on a daily basis, giving back valuable time to skilled employees so they can make a real difference to their business. For that reason, AI has the potential to accelerate careers and improve the work-lives of employees. For instance, who really enjoys pulling quarterly figures for a finance report, integrating data across apps or spending time searching for contextual and relevant answers to commonly asked questions? Here, AI will play a vital role in absorbing these manual underlying processes and giving back time for genuine Steph Macleod, Director, Kaizo, board member, Cloud Industry Forum, cloudindustryforum.org The AI boom is generating renewed tech optimism in the UK: here’s why FEATURES 13human skill and creativity. As the technology industry has always been one of problem solvers and innovators, now with the power of AI, there is optimism that much of the business and societal issues we see today can be solved in new and exciting ways. For communications professionals in the tech sector, this presents us with amazing opportunities to help shape the AI narrative for clients. Though of course, these exciting opportunities must be tempered with ethical, regulatory and efficacy concerns around AI. Optimism, despite concerns Two thirds of the media we surveyed expressed some concern over the rise in AI in terms of how it will impact communications. This isn’t much of a surprise, as there is a lot of AI noise. Anyone in journalism in the past year has no doubt been inundated with AI news, so for many of us in the tech PR sector, our jobs will be looking at how we can cut through this noise to raise profiles of genuinely beneficial AI use cases while tempering our use of AI simply as a buzzword. I was speaking to a tech decision maker recently who told me that each week she gets between 15 and 20 vendors selling her the latest ‘breakthrough’ AI tool, each one set to change the world. Clearly, both in the tech and communications industries there are now vast opportunities for clients from an AI perspective; but ambitious claims must be balanced with realism – whether in terms of AI’s impact today, or wider socio- economic and geo-political implications in the future. In the communications industry we must also be particularly mindful of how we use AI tools ourselves; under-use them and you could risk getting left behind – over-use them and you could lose the originality that makes you different in the first place. There’s a lot of thinking to be done, not least regarding data privacy and confidentiality concerns, which, as it stands, are a severe barrier to any serious adoption of AI in our field. As such, along with guiding a realistic yet impactful approach, our job will be to help our clients, and indeed ourselves, push for regulation which encourages responsible and ethical use and development of AI in the UK while also enabling businesses to make the most of the tools to increase efficiency and productivity. Solidifying the UK’s position as a leader Getting the balance right between protecting consumers, employees and citizens from the risks of AI while also encouraging growth, development and innovation, will be an immense challenge for lawmakers in the UK and of course globally. In our research we found that 65% of tech journalists believe the UK is still one of the most fertile environments for technology innovation in the world, and that investment levels will increase over the next year - with the UK’s attractive regulatory environment cited as a key reason for this. For those working in and around the tech sector, we now have a unique opportunity to help drive this legislation forward. Events like the AI Summit are great ways to do this, as they help bring together legislators with leaders from across the technology industry as well as media to help form the narrative around AI. For comms professionals, ensuring our clients have a voice and position at events like this will be a core priority going into 2024. Telling a trusted AI story Helping companies to tell their stories through compelling, diverse spokespeople and ensuring claims are reinforced with real-life case studies will be the key moving forward. It will also be the role of communications and media professionals to help combat the growing misinformation both centred around, and originating from, Generative AI technology. Sadly, those in the technology industry have not been immune to the increase in distrust towards mainstream media channels with a staggering 64% of tech media admitting they have noticed a decline in trust in the media. With the rise of Generative AI, and thus the ability to generate entire fabricated news articles in a second, this concern will likely continue to grow. AI regulation must therefore come hand in hand with careful discussions on best practice, verification of accuracy and transparency. Where AI is used, whether in communications, journalism or business, this should be made clear to clients, readers and customers. Keeping it real From my perspective as Director of Kaizo and a board member of the Cloud Industry Forum, it's heartening to see such enthusiasm for AI's growth in the UK, especially from those with an insider's view of sector developments and applications. AI has been a part of our lives in various forms for years, and its positive impact spans from work and education, to entertainment and essential public services. As AI continues to evolve, it's imperative to consider how we can apply these technologies safely and responsibly, all the while harvesting the benefits they offer. Addressing the application of AI is a multifaceted issue, encompassing ethics, regulation, efficacy and investment. This complexity undoubtedly opens up numerous opportunities for our clients from a communications standpoint. However, it's crucial to balance ambitious claims with a grounded sense of realism, considering both the immediate impact of AI and its broader socio- economic and geo-political implications. Let’s embrace these exciting times with positivity and enthusiasm but with one eye fixed on understanding potential implications, responsible use and keeping it real. FEATURES 14FEATURES 15Future-proofing data centres: cabling and connectivity in the age of AI Niklas Lindqvist, Nordic General Manager, Onnec www.onnecgroup.com In a rapidly advancing technological era, designing and developing data centres is pivotal to sustaining the digital world's insatiable demand for data processing and storage. This includes not just the hardware that processes millions of bytes every second, but also the infrastructure that houses and supports it. But despite the critical role data centres play, certain aspects of design are often overlooked, leading to challenges that can impede future growth and efficiency. The connectivity conundrum Traditionally, data centre design has focused heavily on power and cooling systems, due to modern computing's immense energy requirements and heat generation. This focus can sideline other crucial elements, such as cabling infrastructure - a fundamental yet frequently underestimated part of data centre design. This oversight can lead to serious operational challenges in the future. Amid rapidly evolving business technologies, especially AI tools, some data centre operators cut corners to reduce costs. But here, short-term savings often lead to long-term expenses and operational challenges. Design decisions in data centres should not be made in isolation but must consider the integrated impact on the entire business landscape. Once operational, altering some design aspects becomes not only costly but often impossible, potentially resulting in persistent issues such as frequent downtime and limited scalability. Recognising and planning for these challenges is crucial for future-proofing data centres. As we move further into an era dominated by AI and machine learning, data centre infrastructure is not just about efficiency but a strategic imperative for sustainable growth. Cutting cabling corners Cabling, much like the nervous system in the human body, is essential for the seamless operation and communication within data centres. Neglecting it during the design phase can result in tangled, disorganised connections that not only hinder current operations but also complicate future upgrades. This often necessitates a complete overhaul, leading to additional costs and unwanted downtime. Choosing lower-quality cabling can be counterproductive, increasing the time and cost of troubleshooting and necessitating early replacements. For both new and upgraded data centres, investing in high-quality cabling is key. This investment future- proofs operations for emerging technologies such as AI, ensuring long-term cost savings, minimising downtime, and maintaining operational flexibility. Prioritising design and investing in high-quality components from the outset is essential to adapt to unknown future hardware requirements and acts as a safeguard against frequent downtime and scalability challenges. AI in data centre design AI applications are revolutionising data centre designs, necessitating infrastructure tailored to the unique needs of machine learning algorithms. To keep pace with global investments in AI, data centres must evolve in three key areas. FEATURES 16Firstly, there is a significant increase in power requirements, as AI computers rely heavily on specialised processors like GPUs and DPUs – which consume more power and generate more heat than traditional CPUs. Secondly, robust power infrastructure and efficient cooling solutions, like liquid cooling, are imperative to handle the increased load. Finally, cabling – often the ‘forgotten child’ of design – is also habitually overlooked and under-budgeted. These embedded infrastructure elements can be extremely costly to replace if not appropriately planned, leading to significant operational challenges. Future-proofing data centres Data centres are constantly evolving, which requires foresight and strategic planning. Investing in high- quality infrastructure from the beginning is not just a technical necessity; it's a strategic decision that determines the long-term viability and growth potential of data centres. As we move further into an AI-driven future, this comprehensive approach to data centre design becomes not just beneficial, but essential, for staying ahead in a rapidly advancing technological landscape. FEATURES 17The telecom industry always expected that taking the next step in 5G network evolution, moving to full 5G standalone (5G SA) networks, would be a heavy lift. And indeed, 5G SA network deployments saw sluggish growth last year, largely due to the technical challenges of deploying and integrating new, cloud-native 5G Core technologies. This year, however, we expect the market to accelerate. What’s changed? For the first time, the demand for new 5G SA capabilities, and the supply of network equipment and devices to enable them, are finally aligned. Prediction: 2024 will be a catalyst for accelerating 5G standalone/5G Core deployments On the supply side, we’ve seen a huge volume of new suppliers bring 5G SA offerings to market. That includes more than 17 network equipment manufacturers (NEMs), along with the 80+ 5G SA modems and chipsets now available for end devices. Among devices themselves, there are now more than 1,400 device types in the market that can support 5G SA. Here at Spirent, we’ve also seen a huge wave of testing from customers preparing to launch premium 5G SA services including Voice over 5G New Radio (VoNR), network slicing, and reliable low latency solutions for industrial applications. Naturally, telecom networks that can support these services are also growing, and we anticipate more than 100 5G SA networks will be commercially deployed by early 2025. Clearly, suppliers see a 5G market that’s ready to scale. And for good reason: demand for next-generation 5G SA capabilities has officially begun ramping up. In particular, we’re seeing significant customer demand in three key areas: Enterprise Private Networks that will require 5G SA capabilities like guaranteed throughput and availability, low latency, and security The 5G network evolution – 2024 predictions Stephen Douglas, Head of Market Strategy, Spirent www.spirent.com FEATURES 18 evolution ns Gaming and Extended Reality (XR) applications that require consistent throughput and very low latency Government/Military Applications, especially in remote areas that require secure, reliable connectivity Demand for 5G SA will continue to grow for use cases like these throughout 2024, but don’t expect an explosion of new 5G SA deployments overnight. Rather, customers will pursue a controlled growth strategy, starting with smaller initial deployments and then scaling out over the next few years. Prediction: Extended reality will move from early pilots to real-world applications The market has been talking about XR and Augmented Reality (AR) for several years as a potential ‘killer app’ for 5G. In 2024, that talk becomes reality. Look for a wave of new XR applications to hit the market, thanks to a combination of growing customer demand and newly available XR devices and network capabilities. On the demand side, AsiaPac will initially lead the way in XR deployments. That’s partly due to the large gaming industry there, but major government initiatives in the region are also pushing XR for military and industrial applications. The rest of the world won’t be far behind, as XR applications gradually spread to other markets throughout 2024 and 2025. Why are we so confident that the XR market really is about to blow up? Because the biggest consumer electronics manufacturers in the world are banking on it. A large, growing pipeline of premium XR/AR headsets will hit the market in 2024, just as new 5G SA and WiFi6 and 7 capabilities needed to support them go live in many markets. This kind of massive investment among big consumer brands doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It reflects growing acceptance that customers want XR applications, and will pay for them. Relatedly, growing XR adoption throughout 2024 will push service providers to monitor and guarantee quality of experience (QoE) for XR services via Service-Level Agreements (SLAs). We expect to see QoE targets expand beyond traditional audio/video quality and latency metrics to address other characteristics, such as thermal (ie how hot do headsets get when running AR/XR applications?), battery life, weight and overall comfort. The focus on these metrics will be driven by enterprises using XR for business applications (training, assisted maintenance, remote support), as well as for gaming, where users will wear XR headsets for long periods of time. Prediction: service providers will invest in automation and AI to fuel digital transformation 5G isn’t the only priority for service providers next year; look for continuing, accelerating investment in digital transformation initiatives to improve business agility FEATURES 19Next >