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Hospitality Organizations Must Accelerate Digital Transformation to Secure Long-Term Recovery

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As hospitality’s doors finally reopen, the sector is quickly getting a sense of the evolved “digital-first” world in which it’s now operating. The past year has seen a significant step-change in the adoption of technology and digital services, but while some hospitality businesses were able to welcome online models, huge swathes of the industry were forced to remain dormant, leaving many digital advancements relatively untested or stagnating. Now, the whole sector must quickly accelerate its digital transformation to fuel long-term recovery, or risk customer abandonment and falling further behind.

According to research by Aruba, an HPE company, as of last year, the hospitality sector was in a healthy – but not leading – place in its adoption of advanced technologies and moving computing to the Edge. Over half of the hospitality, IT leaders had started to implement trials or applications in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) (55%), Internet of Things (IoT) (70%), and machine learning (57%). However, that compares to figures of up to 75% for AI in the financial services industry, or 77% for IoT in retail, distribution, and transport.

But it was also already struggling significantly with the data these new technologies produce. A quarter (25%) of IT leaders in hospitality said there was too much data for their systems to handle, and that they could not process the data they collected quickly enough to act (25%). With data levels increasing exponentially over the past year, thanks to the Covid-induced rise of smart technologies, IoT sensors, and connected devices the depth of data sprawl will only be greater.

To get a handle on all this data and deliver the type of differentiated customer experiences to guarantee hospitality’s recovery, a new eBook by Aruba, ’Serving Hospitality at the Edge’, lays out three key areas of focus for organizations in the sector – providing a clear roadmap to setting up the right network for future success.

Step 1: Process data efficiency
Organizations must follow data to the Edge of the network to process it more efficiently, capturing it in real-time at its source versus transferring it back to a centralized hub. Aruba’s research showed that 54% of hospitality IT leaders were already using or trialling Edge technologies pre-pandemic, and a further 16% were already computing at the Edge. While this shows a smaller proportion of hospitality businesses are operating at the Edge compared to other industries (28% across all sectors), these pioneers are successfully delivering new outcomes, such as utilizing facial recognition technology (49%), experimenting with live, real-time, multi-language translation (45%), and creating enhanced augmented and virtual reality experiences (43%) as a result.

Step 2: Analyze data intelligently
Capturing all that data is one thing, but being able to act on it, is something else entirely. That is why there is a growing role for AI to not only help enhance customer service, provide personalized guest experiences, and support brand management – but also to aid IT teams with network troubleshooting and issues resolution to avoid any costly downtime or damage the user experience. As AI becomes more sophisticated and machine learning models get access to more and more data, its significance in hospitality will continue to grow.

Step 3: Store data securely
Against the backdrop of rising technology implementation, there’s a growing need to police increasing levels of app and device connectivity. And this is causing a headache for hospitality business, with 67% of decision makers believing that connecting IoT devices at the Edge would make their business more vulnerable. It will be critical for hospitality organizations to put the right solutions in place to ensure they lock down their data enough to reassure customers without freezing out further digital innovation.

Aruba believes a Zero Trust approach to security is part of the answer here, but network visibility and device identification also become key – providing a single-pane-of-glass view of increasingly fragmented networks and giving IT teams the ability to grant differentiated levels of data access according to device or user group (i.e. guests or staff).
 
Morten Illum, VP EMEA of Aruba, concludes, “The pandemic presented endless challenges to the hospitality sector and while there have been pockets of digital innovation and success, many businesses have been unable to test and trial digital advancements, putting them at a disadvantage. Now, they find themselves playing catch up in a new digital-first world. Consumer behaviors, expectations and demands have shifted exponentially, and hospitality organizations must demonstrate that they can respond quickly to these new requirements to tempt them back through their doors.

“They have a tremendous opportunity to make changes now to provide superior services in the future. But to do this successfully they must get a handle on the information flow in and out their systems. That is why it is critical that the sector evolves its network capabilities to ensure it has the infrastructure and solutions in place to support the next-generation technologies and experiences that will define their organization’s digital transformation in 2021 and beyond.”

Cyber Security

Axis Communications Sheds Light on Video Surveillance Industry Perspectives on AI

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Axis Communications has published a new report that explores the state of AI in the global video surveillance industry. Titled The State of AI in Video Surveillance, the report examines the key opportunities, challenges and future trends, as well as the responsible practices that are becoming critical for organisations in their use of AI. The report draws insights from qualitative research as well as quantitative data sources, including in-depth interviews with carefully selected experts from the Axis global partner network.

A leading insight featured in the report is the unanimous view among interviewees that interest in the technology has surged over the past few years, with more and more business customers becoming curious and increasingly knowledgeable about its potential applications.

Mats Thulin, Director AI & Analytics Solutions at Axis Communications

“AI is a technology that has the potential to touch every corner and every function of the modern enterprise. That said, any implementations or integrations that aim to drive value come with serious financial and ethical considerations. These considerations should prompt organisations to scrutinise any initiative or investment. Axis’s new report not only shows how AI is transforming the video surveillance landscape, but also how that transformation should ideally be approached,” said Mats Thulin, Director AI & Analytics Solutions at Axis Communications.

According to the Axis report, the move by businesses from on-premise security server systems to hybrid cloud architectures continues at pace, driven by the need for faster processing, improved bandwidth usage and greater scalability. At the same time, cloud-based technology is being combined with edge AI solutions, which play a crucial role by enabling faster, local analytics with minimal latency, a prerequisite for real-time responsiveness in security-related situations.

By moving AI processing closer to the source using edge devices such as cameras, businesses can reduce bandwidth consumption and better support real-time applications like security monitoring. As a result, the hybrid approach is expected to continue to shape the role of AI in security and unlock new business intelligence and operational efficiencies.

A trend that is emerging among businesses is the integration of diverse data for a more comprehensive analysis, transforming safety and security. Experts predict that by integrating additional sensory data, such as audio and contextual environmental factors caught on camera, can lead to enhanced situational awareness and greater actionable insights, offering a more comprehensive understanding of events.

Combining multiple data streams can ultimately lead to improved detection and prediction of potential threats or incidents. For example, in emergency scenarios, pairing visual data with audio analysis can enable security teams to respond more quickly and precisely. This context-aware approach can potentially elevate safety, security and operational efficiency, and reflects how system operators can leverage and process multiple data inputs to make better-informed decisions.

According to the Axis report, interviewees emphasised that responsible AI and ethical considerations are critical priorities in the development and deployment of new systems, raising concerns about decisions potentially based on biased or unreliable AI. Other risks highlighted include those related to privacy violations and how facial and behavioural recognition could have ethical and legal repercussions.

As a result, a recurring theme among interviewees was the importance of embedding responsible AI practices early in the development process. Interviewees also pointed to regulatory frameworks, such as the EU AI Act, as pivotal in shaping responsible use of technology, particularly in high-risk areas. While regulation was broadly acknowledged as necessary to build trust and accountability, several interviewees also stressed the need for balance to safeguard innovation and address privacy and data security concerns.

“The findings of this report reflect how enterprises are viewing the trend of AI holistically, working to have a firm grasp of both how to use the technology effectively and understand the macro implications of its usage. Conversations surrounding privacy and responsibility will continue but so will the pace of innovation and the adoption of technologies that advance the video surveillance industry and lead to new and exciting possibilities,” Thulin added.

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Artificial Intelligence

CyberKnight Partners with Ridge Security for AI-Powered Security Validation

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The automated penetration testing market was valued at roughly $3.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow rapidly, with forecasts estimating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 21% and 25%. By 2030, the sector is expected to reach approximately $9 to $10 billion. The broader penetration testing industry is also expanding, with projections indicating it will surpass $5.3 billion by 2027, according to MarketandMarket.

To support enterprises and government entities across the Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META) with identifying and validating vulnerabilities and reducing security gaps in real-time, CyberKnight has partnered with Ridge Security, the World’s First Al-powered Offensive Security Validation Platform. Ridge Security’s products incorporate advanced artificial intelligence to deliver security validation through automated penetration testing and breach and attack simulations.

RidgeBot uses advanced AI to autonomously perform multi-vector iterative attacks, conduct continuous penetration testing, and validate vulnerabilities with zero false positives. RidgeBot has been deployed by customers worldwide as a key element of their journey to evolve from traditional vulnerability management to Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM).

“Ridge Security’s core strength lies in delivering holistic, AI-driven security validation that enables organizations to proactively manage risk and improve operational performance,” said Hom Bahmanyar, Chief Enablement Officer at Ridge Security. “We are delighted to partner with CyberKnight to leverage their network of strategic partners, deep-rooted customer relations, and security expertise to accelerate our expansion plans in the region.”

“Our partnership with Ridge Security is a timely and strategic step, as 69% of organizations are now adopting AI-driven security for threat detection and prevention,” added Wael Jaber, Chief Strategy Officer at CyberKnight. “By joining forces, we enhance our ability to deliver automated, intelligent security validation solutions, reaffirming our commitment to empowering customers with resilient, future-ready cybersecurity across the region.”

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GISEC

42 Abu Dhabi and CTF.ae Sign MoU

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42 Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital’s innovative and disruptive coding academy, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CTF.ae, a leading organization specializing in hosting world-class Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions and advanced cyber drills. The agreement was signed during GISEC Global 2025, held at the Dubai World Trade Center from 6-8 May. In the presence of Dr. Mohamed AlKuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, the agreement was signed by Dr. Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Acting CEO of 42 Abu Dhabi and Ahmed Attalla, COO of CTF.ae.

This strategic collaboration aims to nurture future-ready tech talent and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for cybersecurity excellence. Under the MoU, CTF.ae will offer internship opportunities for 42 Abu Dhabi students, providing them with hands-on industry exposure and real-world experience in tackling complex cybersecurity challenges. In addition, both parties will collaborate to deliver expert-led talks, workshops, and training sessions focusing on career pathways and emerging technologies.

Joint efforts will also include the organization of industry-themed hackathons, innovation challenges, conferences, youth circles, and networking events to promote a culture of collaboration and continuous learning. Dr. Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Acting CEO of 42 Abu Dhabi said: ” Our collaboration with CTF.ae is a key milestone in our mission to empower students with real-world cybersecurity expertise and future-proof their careers. By connecting our project-based learning model with CTF.ae’s industry-leading platforms and experiences, we are reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s vision to build a knowledge-based economy, while supporting the UAE’s broader ambitions to become a global leader in cybersecurity innovation. We look forward to seeing our students lead and shape the future of this critical sector.”

Mr. Ahmed Atalla, COO of CTF.ae added, “Working together with 42 Abu Dhabi allows us to connect with the country’s most talented and motivated students, giving them access to realistic cybersecurity scenarios and challenges to expand their skillset and prepare them for the evolving digital landscape of tomorrow. We have seen the passion of the 42 Abu Dhabi students over previous years, and now is the time to provide them with a cybersecurity exercise platform that keeps them engaged year-round, preparing them to compete globally and achieve top ranks representing the nation.”

As part of this collaboration, 42 Abu Dhabi has coordinated with CTF.ae to host an Attack/Defense Capture the Flag (CTF) competition on its campus. The event was held over two days, with an Attack/Defense CTF Workshop scheduled for April 29, followed by the Attack/Defense CTF Competition on April 30.

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