Cloudera, the hybrid platform for data, analytics, and AI, is hosting a data and AI conference in Dubai. The EVOLVE24 event will gather industry leaders, customers, and partners to uncover strategies to enhance data-driven insights and productivity in the era of generative AI.

Through a series of breakout sessions, keynote speakers, and hands-on workshops, EVOLVE24 attendees will learn about the value of modern data architecture, the benefits of a true hybrid cloud, and how the combination can accelerate enterprise AI. Sponsored by IBM, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Red Hat, the events will include customer sessions focused on the challenges and barriers of enterprise AI adoption, the benefits of hybrid data management, and the state of data infrastructures.

Cloudera’s EVOLVE24 Dubai is a platform for real-world insights and practical applications. Keynote sessions will feature senior executives from Cloudera, including CEO Charles Sansbury, Chief Revenue Officer Frank O’Dowd, and Chief Strategy Officer Abhas Ricky, who will be joined by leading voices from across various industries, including financial services, telecommunications, and manufacturing.

“EVOLVE24 is one the world’s most comprehensive data and AI event series, providing organizations with hands-on training and one-to-one access with Cloudera experts,” said Charles Sansbury, CEO of Cloudera. “By turning EVOLVE24 into a multi-day, multi-city global conference, Cloudera is bringing the power of our platform and our community directly to our customers around the world. This is a unique opportunity to collaborate and network with some of the leading experts in data management, analytics, and AI.”

With 25+ exabytes of data under management, Cloudera is a hybrid open data lakehouse for analytics and AI. By organizing and managing large volumes of data efficiently and securely, Cloudera says it enables companies to harness the power of their data, trust its accuracy, and rely on it for analysis and AI-powered decision-making.

As organizations continue to fortify their cybersecurity strategies in response to an ever-evolving threat landscape, many are turning to Zero Trust architectures to safeguard their data. However, implementing Zero Trust is not without its challenges. According to a new strategy guide from the SANS Institute, “Navigating the Path to a State of Zero Trust in 2024,” businesses often stumble over key obstacles in their journey towards Zero Trust adoption.

“The path to achieving a true state of Zero Trust isn’t straightforward. Organizations often encounter several fundamental challenges when attempting to implement end-to-end Zero Trust principles across their environment,” said Ismael Valenzuela, SANS Senior Instructor and author of the Cyber Defense and Blue Team Operations course, SANS SEC530: Defensible Security Architecture and Engineering. “By understanding and addressing these common mistakes, businesses can make better strategic and tactical decisions and increase their resiliency in the face of evolving threats.”

SANS Institute identified the top five mistakes made when implementing Zero Trust:

1. Overlooking the Importance of Organizational Culture: Zero Trust is more than just a technological shift; it requires a fundamental change in organizational culture. Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) must align security with strategic, operational, and financial priorities. As the strategy guide states, “Effective security is driven by people, processes, and technology.” Failure to secure stakeholder buy-in from the outset can doom Zero Trust initiatives to fail.
2. Underestimating Human Risk: Employee error and negligence account for over 80% of data breaches. Hybrid work environments blur the lines between personal and professional spaces, increasing the complexity of monitoring user activity. “A Zero Trust architecture is an important line of defence against human risk,” the strategy guide emphasizes. Organizations must implement continuous monitoring and real-time assessment of user behaviour to mitigate these risks.
3. Neglecting the Supply Chain: Recent high-profile supply chain attacks have underscored the vulnerabilities within interconnected systems. According to Gartner, by 2025, 45% of organizations worldwide will have experienced attacks on their supply chains. Zero Trust principles help limit the impact of these breaches by ensuring continuous verification and deeper visibility into user activity.
4. Failing to Plan for Sustainable Success: Implementing Zero Trust is a long-term commitment that requires continuous improvement and adaptation. The SANS strategy guide highlights the importance of effective change management practices: “Effective change management ensures stakeholder buy-in, facilitates user adoption, minimizes disruption, promotes continuous improvement, and enhances collaboration.”
5. Inadequate Measurement of Success: Measuring the effectiveness of a Zero Trust framework is crucial for maintaining stakeholder support. The guide suggests several metrics, including authentication success rates, policy compliance rates, and the time to detect and respond to incidents. These metrics provide a clear picture of the framework’s impact and highlight areas for improvement.

“Adopting the Zero Trust ‘never trust, always verify’ mindset is essential for modern cybersecurity,” said Valenzuela. “However, the real challenge lies in having a realistic understanding of what a Zero Trust architecture looks like and avoiding common pitfalls during implementation. From cultural shifts to technical deployments, this offers vital guidance to help organizations successfully navigate the complexities of Zero Trust and enhance their cybersecurity resilience.”

Holon, a leading provider of sustainable data infrastructure, has announced a partnership with the Dubai AI & Web3 Festival 2024. The collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-driven innovations in sustainable data storage and computation.

The partnership aligns with the UAE’s vision for a digitally advanced and sustainable ecosystem. By combining Holon’s expertise in green data solutions with the festival’s influence, the two organizations seek to address the growing challenge of data consumption and its associated environmental impact.

According to the Holon Data Report, data creation is expected to surge exponentially in the coming years, driven by machine-generated data. This growth will put immense pressure on existing data storage infrastructure and contribute to a significant increase in energy consumption.

Holon’s partnership with the Dubai AI & Web3 Festival is a crucial step towards addressing these challenges. By leveraging AI and Web3 technologies, Holon aims to develop sustainable data solutions that can repurpose existing property infrastructure and reduce the carbon footprint of data centres.

This collaboration will foster innovation in areas such as data collection, processing, analytics, and application. It will also promote the adoption of energy-efficient data management practices, making it more attractive for businesses to invest in sustainable data solutions.

Holon’s partnership with the Dubai AI & Web3 Festival is a testament to the company’s commitment to creating a sustainable digital future. By working together, these organizations can drive significant advancements in AI, Web3, and sustainable data practices, contributing to a greener and more prosperous world.