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Schneider Electric sets up manufacturing facility at Hamriyah Free Zone

Ana Mary Joseph
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Schneider Electric sets up manufacturing facility at Hamriyah Free Zone
  • Facility aims to incorporate up to 70% local content across various facets, including supply chain management and project oversight.

Schneider Electric, a prominent leader in the realm of energy management and automation, has announced the establishment of a manufacturing facility in the Hamriyah Free Zone.

The strategic initiative is poised to offer AI-ready data centre solutions, addressing the escalating demands of the region’s expanding market.

The facility is a testament to Schneider Electric’s commitment to supporting the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) ‘Make it in the Emirates’ strategy, which aims to bolster local production and foster economic growth through the In-Country Value (ICV) programme.

The new facility is dedicated to the manufacture and assembly of prefabricated modular data centres that are equipped to harness the potential of artificial intelligence.

Local job creation

In a region where digital infrastructure is increasingly pivotal, this initiative positions Schneider Electric at the forefront of technological advancement.

Amel Chadli, President of Gulf Countries at Schneider Electric, underscored the significance of this expansion by affirming the company’s dedication to the UAE’s vision for industrial growth and sustainability. By advancing AI-powered solutions, Schneider Electric not only meets market demands but also aligns its operations with national economic objectives.

A critical aspect of this development is its emphasis on local job creation and economic contributions. The facility aims to incorporate up to 70 per cent  local content across various facets, including supply chain management and project oversight.

The focus on indigenous development reinforces the promise of sustainable industrial growth while simultaneously nurturing local talent.

Moro Hub emerges as VMware cloud service provider

TCN Bureau
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Moro Hub emerges as VMware cloud service provider
  • Gains access to VMware’s extensive suite of tools and resources, allowing it to deliver managed private cloud services that cater specifically to the needs of enterprise customers in the UAE.

Dubai’s Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, has been recognised as VMware cloud service provider (VCSP) and a Pinnacle tier partner in the Broadcom Advantage Partner Programme.

The Pinnacle tier in the Broadcom Advantage Partner Programme represents the highest level of partnership, reserved for organisations that demonstrate exceptional investment, strategic alignment, and a proven track record of success.

By achieving this status, Moro Hub not only underscores its commitment to excellence but also reinforces its position as a leader in the cloud services market.

The recognition serves as a testament to the company’s dedication to delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of its clients.

Moro Hub is poised to redefine the landscape of private cloud infrastructure, enabling enterprise customers to innovate and modernise their operations through the adoption of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF).

Sovereign cloud solutions

VMware, a leader in cloud infrastructure and digital workspace technology, provides a robust platform that empowers organisations to build and manage their cloud environments with agility and efficiency.

By becoming a VCSP, Moro Hub gains access to VMware’s extensive suite of tools and resources, allowing it to deliver managed private cloud services that cater specifically to the needs of enterprise customers in the UAE.

The collaboration not only enhances Moro Hub’s service offerings but also positions it as a key player in the region’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.

One of the most compelling aspects of Moro Hub’s new cloud services is the introduction of sovereign cloud solutions. In a world increasingly concerned with data sovereignty and jurisdictional compliance, these services are designed to meet the stringent requirements of data residency.

Organisations operating in regulated industries, such as finance and healthcare, face complex challenges in ensuring that their data remains within specific geographical boundaries.

Moro Hub’s commitment to providing sovereign cloud services addresses these challenges head-on, enabling enterprises to leverage cloud technologies while adhering to local laws and regulations.

Trusted partner

The integration of green technologies in datacentre operations reflects a growing recognition of the need for environmentally responsible practices in the tech industry.

By offering services that prioritise energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprints, Moro Hub is contributing to a more sustainable digital future for the UAE.

Moreover, the adoption of VMware Cloud Foundation enables Moro Hub to provide a frictionless self-service experience for developers. In today’s fast-paced business environment, the ability to rapidly deploy and manage applications is paramount.

With consolidated support for both virtual machine (VM) and container-based workloads on a single platform, Moro Hub’s cloud services facilitate seamless development and operational processes.

The unified approach not only enhances productivity but also allows organisations to innovate more rapidly, ultimately driving business growth and success.

The announcement from Moro Hub also highlights the importance of enterprise-grade resiliency and security in cloud services. As cyber threats continue to evolve, organisations must prioritise the protection of their data and applications.

The VMware platform is renowned for its robust security features, which are critical for safeguarding sensitive information. By implementing these advanced security measures, Moro Hub ensures that its clients can operate with confidence, knowing that their data is protected against potential breaches and vulnerabilities.

Ahmar Mohammad, Vice President of Partners, Managed Services, and Solutions GTM at VMware Cloud Foundation Division at Broadcom, aptly noted that Moro Hub’s expertise and influence in the industry will be instrumental in guiding customers on their cloud journey.

The sentiment is echoed by Mohammad bin Sulaiman, CEO of Moro Hub, who emphasised the significance of this collaboration in enhancing the performance and reliability of services, offered to clients.

The alignment of Moro Hub’s strategic objectives with VMware’s industry-leading technologies positions the company as a trusted partner for organisations seeking to navigate the complexities of cloud adoption.

Meta lays off several employees at Instagram and WhatsApp

Mohammed Fahad
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Meta lays off several employees at Instagram and WhatsApp
  • Meta indicated that these changes involve relocating some teams and redistributing personnel to different roles.

Meta, the parent company of social media giants WhatsApp and Instagram, has announced a strategic realignment that involves laying off several employees.

The decision reflects Meta’s ongoing efforts to synchronise its workforce with its long-term strategic objectives and location strategies. While specifics regarding the number of affected employees were not disclosed, the implications of these layoffs highlight the company’s commitment to operational efficiency.

In an official statement, Meta indicated that these changes involve relocating some teams and redistributing personnel to different roles.

The company emphasised its commitment to supporting those whose positions have been eliminated by striving to find alternative opportunities within the organisation. Such measures illustrate Meta’s recognition of the importance of employee welfare amid organizational restructuring.

Broader trend

Among those impacted by these layoffs is Jane Manchun Wong, a well-known software engineer celebrated for her prowess in uncovering unreleased features of social media platforms.

Wong’s experiences, as recounted in a public Threads post, reflect the personal toll of such corporate decisions. Her situation underscores the challenges faced by individuals during periods of significant corporate change.

These layoffs are part of a broader trend within Meta, which has seen multiple rounds of workforce reductions since aggressively hiring during the pandemic.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg has characterised 2023 as a “year of efficiency,” leading to significant cuts, including 11,000 jobs in 2022 and further reductions earlier this year in Reality Labs.

India’s data centre market value to reach $8b in 2025

Ana Mary Joseph
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India’s data centre market value to reach $8b in 2025
  • Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Bengaluru collectively account for over 55% of the country’s data centre capacity.
  • Data centre capacity increases from 1,150MW in 2023 to 1,700MW by 2025, reflecting a robust growth rate of 22%.
  • India presents the potential to add an additional 500MW of data centre capacity over the next four years.

India’s data centre market, valued at $7 billion in 2023, is poised for significant growth, with forecasts projecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8 per cent, culminating in a market value of $8 billion by 2025.

The remarkable expansion, as documented in a report by 1Lattice, is underscored by an anticipated increase in data centre capacity from 1,150 megawatts (MW) in 2023 to 1,700 MW by 2025, reflecting a robust growth rate of 22 per cent.

The concentration of data centres in metropolitan hubs such as Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Bengaluru plays a pivotal role in this growth, with these cities collectively accounting for over 55 per cent of the country’s data centre capacity.

Supportive government initiatives

Abhishek Maiti, Director of Technology and Internet at 1Lattice, attributes the surge in demand to rising data consumption, the advent of emerging technologies, and supportive government initiatives.

Programs like the ‘Data Centre Incentivisation Scheme’ and ‘Make in India’ have been instrumental in fostering a conducive environment for investment in this sector.

Moreover, the global data centre market, projected to grow from $227 billion in 2023 to $250 billion by 2025, highlights a broader shift driven by cloud computing, edge technologies, and artificial intelligence/machine learning. This global context enhances the significance of India’s burgeoning data centre landscape.

Furthermore, India presents the potential to add an additional 500 MW of data centre capacity over the next four years, having already experienced substantial growth from 540 MW in 2019 to 1,011 MW in 2023. T

he first half of 2023 alone witnessed a 21 per cent surge in data centre absorption, particularly from tier 2 and tier 3 cities, which signals increasing demand for edge data centres.  

Iranian hackers targeting critical infrastructure

Mohammed Fahad
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Iranian hackers targeting critical infrastructure
  • Techniques such as password spraying and “push bombing” exploit weaknesses in multifactor authentication systems.
  • Advisory emphasises fundamental necessity for organisations to enforce stringent password policies and implement multifactor authentication for all accounts.
  • Attackers are primarily motivated by the acquisition of access credentials, which hold significant value among high-level threat actors.

Iranian hackers are increasingly employing brute-force methods to infiltrate key sectors, including healthcare and public health (HPH), government, information technology, engineering, and energy, by American, Australian, and Canadian cyber monitoring agencies revealed.

These attackers are primarily motivated by the acquisition of access credentials, which hold significant value among high-level threat actors.

The phenomenon known as “initial access brokering” highlights a strategic shift in the methodologies of cyber adversaries. Rather than aiming to directly compromise targets themselves, Iranian hackers seek to gain network access that can later be sold to various entities, including financially motivated cybercriminal gangs or nation-states.

Exploiting systems

The transactional approach underscores the necessity for organisations to fortify their defense mechanisms against these sophisticated threats.

The advisory published by a coalition of agencies—including the FBI, CISA, NSA, the Communications Security Establishment Canada, and the Australian Federal Police—provides critical insights into the tactics employed by Iranian hackers.

Techniques such as password spraying and “push bombing” exploit weaknesses in multifactor authentication systems. In push bombing, attackers inundate victim devices with authentication requests, attempting to induce accidental approvals that would grant them access.

Once attackers breach the initial defenses, they are free to navigate the compromised network, gathering intelligence that could further exploit connected systems.

The broader their access, the higher the monetary demands they can impose on potential buyers in the dark web marketplace, creating a vicious cycle of cybercrime that underscores the value of robust cybersecurity practices.

To mitigate these threats, the advisory emphasises the fundamental necessity for organisations to enforce stringent password policies and implement multifactor authentication for all accounts.

As the landscape of cyber threats continues to evolve, a proactive approach to cybersecurity remains paramount. Organisations must not only understand the tactics employed by attackers but also take decisive actions to safeguard their systems against intrusion.

Wipro reports 21% increase in second-quarter profit

TCN Bureau
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Wipro reports 21% increase in second-quarter profit
  • Company achieved remarkable Large Deal Bookings of $1.5 billion, the highest recorded in the past ten quarters, signaling strong demand for its services.

Wipro Limited, a prominent IT major, reported a commendable 21 per cent year-on-year increase in second-quarter net profit, rising from Rs2,646 crore to Rs3,209 crore.

The growth in profitability reflects the company’s strategic execution and operational advancements, as articulated by its leadership. Despite this positive trend in net profit, the company faced a slight decline in consolidated revenue, which fell 1.07 per cent to Rs22,302 crore from Rs22,543 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Wipro’s performance demonstrated resilience, marked by a 6.8 per cent increase in net income on a quarter-over-quarter basis. The company’s revenue from IT Services also showed modest growth of 1.3 per cent quarter on quarter.

Robust cash flow

Notably, operating margins expanded by 35 basis points, indicative of enhanced cost management and operational efficiency. Furthermore, the company achieved remarkable Large Deal Bookings of $1.5 billion, the highest recorded in the past ten quarters, signaling strong demand for its services.

The financial health of Wipro is further underscored by robust operating cash flows, amounting to Rs42.7 billion, which represents an impressive 132.3 per cent of net income for the quarter. This substantial cash generation ability enhances the company’s capacity to reinvest in strategic initiatives and deliver value to shareholders.

Wipro’s board of directors responded to this financial momentum by approving a bonus share issuance in a 1:1 ratio, contingent upon shareholder approval. This decision reflects confidence in the company’s growth trajectory and commitment to rewarding shareholders.

Leadership at Wipro, including CEO Srini Pallia and CFO Aparna Iyer, expressed satisfaction with the company’s performance across various parameters. Pallia noted the growth in key sectors such as Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI), Consumer goods, and Technology and Communications.

He emphasised a continued investment in client relationships and strategic priorities, particularly the integration of artificial intelligence within Wipro’s operations.

Aparna Iyer also highlighted the significance of operating cash flow and margin expansion, which further reinforces Wipro’s strong financial position. As the company navigates a competitive landscape, the mixed responses in revenue and profit growth underscore the complexities of the IT services sector, yet reflect a promising outlook bolstered by strategic focus and operational efficiency.

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