As the cloud landscape continues to evolve, the role of IT leaders, CIOs, and forward-thinking innovators becomes even more critical. They are the visionaries steering their organisations through this transformative era, leveraging cloud capabilities to foster resilience, agility, and competitive advantage. Their strategic insights and bold initiatives are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, accelerating the adoption of new technologies and creating a future where the cloud is the foundation for every digital endeavour.
The Cloud Connect Conference and Awards 2024 organised by CXO Insight ME, focused on not only the technological advancements shaping the cloud landscape but also the people behind them—the champions of cloud innovation. These individuals are setting new benchmarks for the industry and leading the charge in this digital revolution.
The conference kicked off with an insightful keynote address by Andrew Rossiter, Head of the GCP Unit at Endava. In his address, Rossiter emphasised the game-changing impact of AI and cloud computing on businesses, highlighting how these technologies are transforming industries and driving innovation, particularly in the Middle East. He underscored the limitless potential that cloud computing and AI offer for the future of business.
Alfred Pang, Head of Enterprise Business Unit and Product Sales for Cybersecurity at ST Engineering, followed with a presentation that focused on the evolution of workplaces in the digital era. He discussed the challenges and opportunities that come with the adoption of cloud and digital technologies, noting their role in reshaping the future of work. Pang pointed out the importance of secure access service edge (SASE) technology, stressing, “To move ahead with SASE makes no sense without a plan to create trust zones—never trust, always verify.”
A highlight of the event was an engaging panel discussion on the transformation of cloud security in the age of AI. The panel featured experts from leading global companies who shared their insights on how organisations can address the growing security challenges posed by cloud adoption and AI integration. The panelists included:
- Basil Ayass, Public Sector Sales Lead at Google Cloud
- Feras Al Jabi, General Manager at ITQAN Al Khaleej Computers
- Kapil Matta, Group Manager – GRC at Agthia
- Ahmad Abou Zaher, Senior Solutions Engineer at Cloudflare
- Francisco Morales, Tech Manager at Globant
The discussion covered the evolving threats in cloud security and the strategic initiatives organisations must take to safeguard their data and operations. The panelists emphasised the importance of integrating AI-driven security measures to enhance cloud protection and secure digital infrastructures in a time of rapid technological change.
Complete list of winners:
END USER AWARDS
Sonesh Kannoth
Ebrahim Kamalzadeh
Mahesh Kumar
Toufeeq Ahmed
Sanil Manoly
Ebrahim Kamalzadeh
Abdul Azeem Baqar Mohammed
Kausar Nur Mukeri
Robert Araniego
Mohammed Idais
Gaurav Kole
Alaa Nazzal
Mahesh Mohan
Riasat Ali
Walid Salem
Padam Kafle
Kapil Matta
VISIONARY LEADERS
Raam Annamalai
Uttam C. Yadav
Khalid Omari
Manivannan Nagarajan
Abid Shah
VENDOR AWARDS
D-Link Middle East Top Cloud Wireless Networking Provider
DIGITAL OKTA Cloud Modernisation Innovator of the Year
Nutanix HCI Innovator of the Year
Checkmarx Cloud-Native AppSec Innovation of the Year
Manage Engine Integrated Cloud Security Innovator of the Year
HPE Aruba AI Networking Vendor of the Year
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