News

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

Published

3 years ago

August 1, 2021

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.”

Related Topics:Digital Transformation Featured Hospitality

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AmiViz Champions Cybersecurity Innovation at Leading MENA Events

Published

13 hours ago

September 19, 2024

Prarthana Mary

AmiViz has announced its successful participation in two key regional cybersecurity conferences: MENA ISC 2024 in Saudi Arabia, and CYSEC UAE 2024 in the UAE. These events have served as a platform for AmiViz to collaborate with its top vendors, including Bitsight, Cequence Security, Picus Security, AlgoSec, BlackBerry, Check Point, Tenable, Asimily, and Threatcop, to showcase cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies and solutions.

Throughout these events, AmiViz engaged deeply with partners and customers, gaining invaluable insights into the unique cybersecurity challenges faced in the region. The focus was on promoting new technologies that address these challenges and enhance security protocols for businesses operating in the dynamic Middle Eastern market.

“Our presence at the MENA ISC 2024, and CYSEC UAE 2024 has been a remarkable opportunity for us to not only present our innovative solutions but also to understand firsthand the needs and pain points of our clients,” stated Ilyas Mohammed, COO at AmiViz. “Collaboration with our key vendors has allowed us to offer a comprehensive suite of cybersecurity products and services that cater specifically to the complexities of this region.”

AmiViz’s participation in these events underscores its commitment to advancing cybersecurity readiness and resilience across the Middle East. By leveraging strategic partnerships with leading global vendors, AmiViz continues to bring state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions to the forefront, helping businesses protect their critical assets against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

AmiViz, along with its key vendors, will continue participating in major tech events, with plans for a strong presence at GITEX next month. Following GITEX, the company is gearing up for Black Hat in Saudi Arabia this November, showcasing its cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions to the region.

Cyber Security

UAE and Saudi Arabia Face Unprecedented 70% Rise in Threats: Positive Technologies

Published

1 day ago

September 18, 2024

Prarthana Mary

Positive Technologies experts have unveiled comprehensive research on the shadow market of cybercriminal services targeting the Gulf countries. The UAE and Saudi Arabian organizations remain in the crosshairs of cybercriminals, and over half of all posts on darknet forums are about selling data and access to local companies’ infrastructures. Researchers have highlighted a sharp increase in the free distribution of such data on the dark web, along with a surge in reports of DDoS attacks targeting the public sector and other industries. One in five ads analyzed was related to buying or selling access, with two-thirds available for under $1,000.

According to the research, cybercriminals remain focused on the two largest economies in the region—the UAE (40% of all posts) and Saudi Arabia (26%). The spotlight on darknet forums is on the public sector, which accounted for 21% of all analyzed posts. Most of the data (63%) related to regional government institutions was published for free as part of hacktivist attacks. Next in line for most popular on the dark web are commerce (16% of all ads), the service sector (15%), and financial institutions (13%).

Amid geopolitical tensions, hacker groups have ramped up calls for DDoS attacks and breaches to disrupt government institutions in the region. In the first half of 2024, the number of reports on the results of DDoS attacks on the dark web surged by 70% compared to the same period in 2023. Beyond the public sector, hacktivists also targeted the financial and transportation sectors.

According to the research, 33% of all the analyzed ads were linked to data breaches. One-third of these messages were about selling information. In these ads, criminals primarily offered databases stolen from major commerce companies, with an average cost of $2,300.

Positive Technologies analyst Anastasiya Chursina commented, “When compared to our previous research over a similar period, the share of freely distributed data almost doubled (up to 59%). This allows criminals to broaden the profiles of potential victims for targeted attacks. If the victim refuses to pay the ransom, both ransomware groups, as well as hacktivists (whose goal is to draw public attention to a political stance rather than just receive financial gain), can distribute data for free.”

Accessing company information resources is the second most common type of dark web ads, making up 21% of all listings. According to the research, in 70% of all cases, access can be bought for less than $1,000. The vast amount of access-for-sale ads on the darknet and their low cost make it easier for cybercriminals to gain initial access and launch attacks on organizations in the region.

Positive Technologies recommends that companies build their defences based on result-driven cybersecurity, using modern tools such as application-level firewalls, including cloud versions, network traffic analysis systems, solutions for monitoring information security events and managing incidents, as well as metaproducts.

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BotGuard OÜ to Offer Live Demos at GITEX GLOBAL 2024

Published

2 days ago

September 18, 2024

Chris Fernando

BotGuard OÜ will present its intuitive, user-friendly cybersecurity solution at GITEX GLOBAL 2024, focusing on effective bot protection. Live demonstrations in Hall 25 stand H25-21 will showcase the ease and efficiency of the technology in securing websites against malicious attacks. “Our participation in GITEX GLOBAL 2024 underscores our commitment to addressing the escalating malicious bot attacks faced by organizations worldwide,” said Bertil Brendeke, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) of BotGuard OÜ. “At GITEX, we aim to engage with industry leaders and stakeholders, sharing our expertise and practical technologies that can help fortify their defences.”

In 2023, 17% of API attacks involved bad bots exploiting business logic vulnerabilities. For hosting companies, such vulnerabilities can lead to unauthorised access to sensitive customer data or control over hosting resources, further emphasizing the need for reliable security protocols and regular audits of their systems. “BotGuard OÜ’s solutions are designed to address these exact challenges, enabling businesses to safeguard their digital assets. The technology is incredibly easy to use, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes,” the company said.

By participating in GITEX GLOBAL 2024, BotGuard OÜ aims to expand its reach in the Middle East, providing local businesses with the tools they need to combat cyber threats effectively. During the event, live demonstrations in Hall 25 stand H25-21 will showcase how their website protection can be set up within a minute. These demonstrations will highlight the efficiency and effectiveness of BotGuard’s solutions.