Orlando, Florida - Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim), a global developer of military training and simulation software, is revolutionizing flight training by leveraging emerging virtual reality technologies and BISim’s Virtual Battlespace (VBS) to provide a high-fidelity virtual environment for training and mission rehearsal.

Working under contract for the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD), BISim developed a prototype, VR technology-based F/A-18 Super Hornet training system designed to demonstrate the art of the possible. Where today’s high-end simulators rely on multi-million dollar display environments and physical cockpits, emerging VR technologies that cost an order of magnitude less are featured.

Integrated with the VBS Blue whole-earth rendering engine, the solution drives an Oculus Rift CV1 to produce a 360-degree field-of-view immersive environment and an integrated Leap Motion sensor to track hand and arm movements, enabling natural interaction with a highly detailed, virtual crew station.

“We sought to leverage emerging VR technology to create a highly realistic yet affordable training solution that was portable enough to be transported for use in an aircraft carrier ready room,” said John Burwell, BISim’s business development director. “The results have exceeded expectations and show that the latest HMD and tracking technology have passed the threshold for widespread usability. Discomfort associated with previous application of VR technologies have been virtually eliminated.”

The F/A-18 avionics, weapon systems and flight model are faithfully simulated by Flex-Air from SA Simulations. The technology is standards-based and integrates with the Next Generation Threat System (NGTS) developed by NAVAIR that models both threat and friendly aircraft, ground and surface platforms, and their corresponding weapons and subsystems. The VR technology, which runs on a COTS high-performance PC, incorporates a flight stick and throttle which serves as the sole physical interface to the system.

The program demonstrates that a wide variety of training requirements can be met with the technology as it is today. If offered as part of a blended learning solution, VR solutions can help to fill gaps between classroom-based instruction and full mission simulation and live training.

BISim recently demonstrated the results of this development project at I/ITSEC 2016 in Orlando and networked it with VBS3 and VBS IG for a complex combined arms training exercise.

Riverbed Study Finds 70% of UK Population Wants to Engage With Government Through Digital Services but 45% Think Public Sector Digital Services Needs Improvement

LONDON, UK – 08th DECEMBER 2016 – Riverbed Technology, the application performance company, today announced the results of a recent study revealing that the British public want to have more digital access to and interaction with public sector bodies. Seventy per cent of respondents would like to engage with public sector services through digital means, however, opinion is split as to whether public services can deliver these new experiences, with 45% believing that expectations regarding the delivery of current digital services are not being met today. The survey commissioned by Riverbed® also found that these days, citizens are happy to use tablet devices to check in for appointments or use social media to contact their MP, with a quarter even open to futuristic services such as driverless ambulances, drones delivering passports and robots assisting in operations.

John Street, Regional Director, Government and Defence, UK & Ireland at Riverbed Technology, said: “The UK public are open to new digital services, with some going beyond the realms of what is available today to reveal the types of services that they deem possible for the future. Perception of digital public services is already pervasive in peoples’ lives and as such, expectations for a great experience is high.

“People are happy to pay their council tax online, use biometrics as valid ID at Border Control and use tablet devices to check in for an appointment at the doctors. These are all currently being tested or deployed across the nation. While experiences are being somewhat met, UK citizens want more. And it is up to government to meet and exceed these expectations by delivering services that are efficient, readily available and interactive.”

The study, Government 2.0: A Riverbed Survey on the Public Sector Digital Experience, also found that over 70% would be happy to interact with different public sector departments via one portal should the government consider creating an online citizen account. Irritations and discontentment however comes when and if these experiences prove cumbersome, time consuming and slow to respond.

Citizens want a convenient user experience
Citizens’ penchant for instant communication and streamlined information access is underpinning their digital experience across different sectors which public sector organisations need to consider. Almost two-thirds of citizens find the amount of information they have to provide ‘off-putting’ when engaging digitally with public sector organisations. Results even suggest some would favour convenience over data privacy with 57% of respondents calling for a greater sharing of personal information between public sector departments to avoid repeated form filling.

John Street continued: “Despite continued reports and reservations about sharing sensitive data, people would like to, and will communicate and engage digitally. But only if the public sector raises its game to offer a digital experience that balances service, performance and security.

“Digital goals across different public sector departments have always been geared towards delivering integrated services that are trusted, secure and easy to use. The findings reflect these priorities which show the public sector is moving in the right direction.”

Better digital experiences need the infrastructure to support it
The study supports the belief that the public sector is behind the private sector in most areas including optimisation of information for mobiles devices (63%) and offering a range of technology available to access information (62%). Respondents view the banking sector to be leading the pack by successfully creating a frictionless experience that does not compromise on security and trust.

John Street concluded: “There are many challenges facing public sector leaders, as they go digital by default. One, as we have seen, is and will be the creation of new services that meet the expectations of an increasingly digital savvy public, while simultaneously making government more efficient. Moving to a digital first model requires the introduction of new systems and technologies to build an infrastructure that not only improves frontline services but will see the back office become more efficient.

“This transformation to digital is already underway but it comes with a renewed need for security, as well as controlled access, application performance, and visibility across the multitude of services and applications across different public services in the UK. The onus is on the government to work with organisations to ensure that these services improve and meet expectations around security, as well as reliability and performance. This will take public sector digital services to the natural next level and more importantly will leave zero room to question on the government’s ability to deliver on these new experiences.”

For the full Government 2.0: A Riverbed Survey on the Public Sector Digital Experience report, please visit: www.riverbed.com/gb/publicsector

The Riverbed Application Performance Platform
Riverbed is delivering solutions to help companies transition from legacy hardware to a new software-defined and cloud-centric approach to networking, and improve end user experience, allowing enterprises’ digital transformation initiatives to reach their full potential. The Riverbed Application Performance Platform™ delivers the agility, visibility, and performance businesses need to be successful in a cloud and digital world. By leveraging the Platform, organizations can deliver apps, data, and services from any public, private, or hybrid cloud across any network to any end-point.

Methodology
Government 2.0: A Riverbed Survey on the Public Sector Digital Experience is the result of a new research project commissioned by Riverbed Technology and conducted by London-based agency Loudhouse. The extensive study asked 1000 people across the UK to reveal how they use digital services, what they expect from them, and their assessment of how the sector is performing. The study was conducted in June 2016.

New Sales Vice-President will build on Newtec’s growth in region following new partnerships and customers

SINGAPORE and SINT-NIKLAAS, Belgium, 8 December 2016. Newtec - a specialist in designing, developing and manufacturing equipment and technologies for satellite communications - today announced it has appointed a new sales Vice-President for the Asia-Pacific region.

Sjoerd De Clerck will be responsible for leading the Asia-Pacific team and ensuring the company’s continued growth across the continents. The appointment follows Newtec’s partnership with leading Asian players and several important customer wins. All leading satellite operators, the majority of broadcasters, service providers and Satcom partners are among customers served by Newtec in the Asia-Pacific region.

De Clerck’s previous appointments include positions at Barco N.V. - a global technology company that designs and develops virtualization solutions for a variety of professional markets - where he held various VP positions. He will be based at Newtec’s Singapore office and report to Newtec’s global Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Thomas Van den Driessche.

“I am delighted to be joining the team at Newtec during a time when the company is doing extremely well,” said De Clerck. “Newtec already has an established customer base in Asia and its recent partnership and customer announcements highlight how important the region is for the company. My mission will be to lead the team to develop that growth even further and I cannot wait to get started.”

Asia-Pacific is one of Newtec’s most important regions due to the increasing demand for global GEO High Throughput Satellite (HTS) services, which is expected to reach 1.5 Tbps globally by 2024, according to a number of studies, with Asia named as the second largest market for satellite capacity. The rapidly growing mobility market, Asia’s continued digital transformation and expanding multiservice ecosystem will further add to Newtec’s growth in the region.

Van den Driessche said: “The appointment of Sjoerd comes at a pivotal time for Newtec in the region and I have no doubt that he will lead the team to continued success.”

Mirakl’s SAP-Certified Extension for SAP Hybris Commerce Allows Brands, Manufacturers and Retailers to Rapidly Grow Assortment and Profit Margin

Boston, Paris, London, Munich – December 8, 2016 – Mirakl, a leading global marketplace solutions provider, today announced the availability of its SAP-certified extension for the SAP® Hybris® Commerce solution. Designed to speed the time-to-market for companies to launch their own online marketplaces, the extension makes it faster and easier to integrate the Mirakl Marketplace Platform™ with SAP Hybris Commerce to onboard external vendors and sync critical product and commerce components. This new extension, which is featured in the Hybris Extend Marketplace, completes the majority of the integration work required to connect the Mirakl Marketplace Platform with SAP Hybris Commerce. As a result, customers are better able to focus on their marketplace strategy rather than the integration effort.

In 2015, nearly a third of all U.S. ecommerce sales were completed on the top 10 marketplaces, according to research released by Retail Touchpoints. The online marketplace model, pioneered by Amazon.com, eBay and Alibaba, has taken both B2C and B2B ecommerce by storm. According to a study conducted by Forrester Consulting, commissioned by Mirakl, 89% of global consumers agree that marketplaces offer convenience; 90% said they would shop with same marketplace again when purchasing a similar product. To help them meet consumer expectations for greater choice, competitive prices and service experience, Mirakl gives manufacturers and retailers the solution and expertise they need to launch their own online marketplace. Customers such as Outiz, a major brand of Saint-Gobain Retail Building France, and Galeries Lafayette, rely on SAP Hybris Commerce and Mirakl to offer their B2C and B2B customers a smooth omni-channel experience.

The Mirakl Marketplace Platform integration for SAP Hybris Commerce:

• Helps retailers drive more traffic and sales with more SKUs at a higher margin, without inventory investment.
• Helps B2B distributors rapidly introduce new products and subsidiaries into their B2B ecommerce catalog, while reducing long tail inventory costs.
• Helps B2B manufacturers increase sales through distribution partners while improving the brand experience for customers.

“We are excited to work with SAP Hybris and offer customers an efficient way to integrate our solutions, speeding time-to-market for marketplace projects,” said Philippe Corrot, Mirakl CEO. “Mirakl has been recognized for pioneering and streamlining the development of marketplaces, an area of keen importance to global brands. Our industry-leading solutions are recognized for the security, reliability, and robust features that modernize and improve our customer's digital experience. Through this integration, we seek to accelerate the deployment of marketplaces on SAP Hybris Commerce.”

“At SAP Hybris, we believe the path to providing the greatest customer value is by offering a flexible, extensible platform to drive digital business,” said Marcus Ruebsam, senior vice president, Global Head Solution Management, SAP Hybris. “The Mirakl Marketplace Platform solution and the Mirakl extension help accelerate customer value for our B2B and B2C customers globally, who are investing in marketplace capabilities.”

The Mirakl Marketplace Platform™ makes it easier for commerce and marketing teams to enrich the customer experience by quickly scaling product assortment, without overhead. Bringing more product selection through easily managed external vendors helps increase the brand footprint, making it easier to acquire new customers and retain current customers.

New deals for UK payment technology provider include multi-million dollar contract with Fortune 500 insurer

Guildford, UK – December 7 2016 – Semafone, which provides secure payment software for call centres, has reported three new client wins in North America worth $7.5 million, only six months after opening its headquarters in Boston.

The company’s substantial investment in its North American operations has contributed significantly to Semafone’s 30 per cent growth in its customer base worldwide.

The new US customer deals include:

• A Fortune 500 insurance company, which will use Semafone’s solution to shield payment card information from agents and recordings, maintain regulatory compliance and minimise the risk of data breaches.
• One of the most recognisable retail brands in the US. This company will work with Semafone to simplify PCI DSS compliance and help its call centres provide a better customer experience.
• A large US telecommunications service provider, which Semafone will help to reduce the scope of PCI compliance in two of its call centres.

“This past year has been one of remarkable growth for the business,” said Tim Critchley, Semafone CEO. “Opening our North American headquarters and hiring high-calibre people has given us the foundation to extend our reach to some of the largest and most respected US companies within the insurance, communications and retail spaces.

“We look forward to continued success in 2017 as we help companies secure their call centres, fight fraud, maintain a positive brand reputation and keep customers’ most sensitive data safe.”

In addition to significant customer deals across the globe, Semafone has also formed strategic partnerships with other leading call centre solution providers, including BT Wholesale and Secure Co, to support a growing roster of worldwide clients.

In another testament to Semafone’s successful year in North America, the company won three 2016 CNP Awards, recognising its market-leading patented payment method for call centres.

Semafone recently expanded its global accreditations by gaining Level 1 Service Provider Status against v3.2 of the PCI DSS in North America. Already a Level 1 Service Provider in Europe, a Visa (Europe) Merchant Agent and a global ISO 27001 company, Semafone attained this accreditation to mirror and extend current and new services into North America. This includes Semafone’s in-house development and existing Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA DSS) products. As a result, customers can rapidly access unique enhancements and updates to Semafone’s products, created with the PCI standards in mind.

For more information about Semafone, please visit: www.semafone.com

Following their recent success in deploying an A2P monetisation solution for Vinaphone, HAUD has increased its South-East Asia presence with an additional solution for an operator in neighbouring Cambodia which went live in October. This is testament to the effectiveness of HAUD’s filtering and monetisation solution and to their technical expertise in a highly competitive market.

HAUD currently protects networks globally representing 284 million subscribers and it is filtering in the region of 98 million messages every day, securing millions of dollars per annum in new revenues for its MNO partners. This latest deployment brings a further 8 million subscribers under HAUD’s protection where they are shielded from unsolicited content.

Steven Sammut, HAUD's COO said "Our latest endeavour in Cambodia is meeting our usual high standards in protecting subscribers and delivering significant additional revenues to the operator which started within hours of going live. What pleases me the most, is that we continue to deliver the high returns that our MNO partners across the world have come to expect from a HAUD solution.”

Operations in Asia continue to expand which means 2017 will see further growth in the market. For more information about HAUD visit haud.com.

Western Union Creates Innovative, Award-Winning Learning and Development Program with Cornerstone OnDemand

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Dec. 7, 2016 - Cornerstone OnDemand (NASDAQ:CSOD), a global leader in cloud-based human capital management software, today announced that Western Union, a worldwide leader in payment services, is using Cornerstone’s software to enable employee self-development and engagement, as well as to focus on data-driven talent initiatives. With Cornerstone, Western Union has built an award-winning and dynamic learning and development program that not only links directly to business outcomes, but also has created efficiencies and trimmed costs.

Western Union’s rich history in American business dates back to 1851, when it was founded as a telegraph company with a focus on connecting people. From enabling fast coast-to-coast communication via the transcontinental telegraph line and being the first stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange, to introducing the first consumer charge card and inventing the money transfer, Western Union truly embodies American innovation and ingenuity.

Completing an average of 31 transactions every second, Western Union has continued to grow and evolve. However, prior to Cornerstone, its learning and development strategy and talent management processes weren’t evolving at the same pace. The company wasn’t measuring results from its learning and development programs, there was no direct link between talent initiatives and business objectives, and the training experience was not consistent across departments and geographic regions. In 2012, Western Union signed on with Cornerstone to utilise its unified talent management platform, including Cornerstone’s solutions for learning and development, workplace collaboration, performance management and succession planning. This has allowed Western Union to:

• Create a consistent employee experience across 59 countries. Prior to Cornerstone, Western Union relied on two different learning management systems, which wasn’t optimal. Today, all 10,000 employees can access the same content from anywhere in the world, at any time. By utilising one unified platform, Western Union has not only reduced costs, but it has also improved the learner experience and can now effectively measure the success of its programs, identify and address skills gaps, and instantly assess the capabilities of its workforce.
• Increase engagement and career mobility with a dynamic and blended approach to learning and development. With Cornerstone, Western Union has created a self-directed learning system with modern, relevant training that includes gamification, as well as video, social, online and micro-learning content, to meet the needs of today’s employees. Cornerstone’s suite of products has enabled Western Union employees to drive their own professional development and has encouraged career mobility throughout the organisation.
• Make data-driven talent decisions that link back to business objectives. Previously, Western Union’s dual learning systems made it difficult to evaluate and report on the effectiveness of its talent initiatives. With accurate and real-time reporting, Western Union can now easily make important course corrections, invest more in programs that drive business results and strategically plan for the future.

Comments on the News
“The entire landscape of workplace learning and employee engagement is always shifting, so it was important to us to find a software partner that was equally as innovative, technologically forward and committed to supporting our evolving talent initiatives. We’re lucky to have found that partner in Cornerstone, a company that is continuously evolving based on where the future of work is headed and on the needs of its clients and today’s workforce,” said Joshua Craver, vice president of talent management for Western Union.

“Western Union is not only a company with deep roots in American history, but also is a company with many remarkable achievements that have made history. At the core of this success is its people,” said Kirsten Helvey, chief operating officer for Cornerstone OnDemand. “We’re incredibly proud to support Western Union’s talent management efforts in offering its people the most innovative learning and professional development opportunities and helping employees realise their potential.”

Additional Details

• To learn more about Cornerstone’s human capital management software, visit www.cornerstoneondemand.co.uk/products.
• For more information about Western Union’s success using Cornerstone, visit www.cornerstoneondemand.com/clients/western-union. 

Unisys Survey Finds Airports' Investment in Analytics Technology Set to Soar as Digital Transformation Needs Take Flight

Though current adoption of advanced analytics is relatively low, more than half of airport personnel surveyed say investment is in near-term plans

London, UK., December 7, 2016 – New research from Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) reveals that airports expect to fully embrace more advanced analytics solutions in the coming years, with potential applications for use across several key areas within the airport ecosystem. Unisys conducted the survey of 29 airport executives and industry professionals at the Airports Council International - North America Annual Conference and General Assembly held in Montreal, September 25-28, 2016.

A majority of those surveyed – 59 percent – said that they planned to invest in advanced analytics solutions in the next one-to-five years. Of those surveyed, only three percent said they had no plans to invest in analytics at all, and less than one-third (31 percent) said they were currently using advanced analytics tools today.

Respondents were most interested in applying advanced analytics solutions across a wide range of important airport operations and passenger offerings, including passenger flow (27 percent); airport operations and asset tracking (22 percent); geolocation and wayfinding through the airport (22 percent); and passenger shopping and retail habits (15 percent).

When asked about the biggest hurdles facing the implementation of an advanced analytics solution, 27 percent of respondents cited compatibility with current airport systems as the top concern, while lack of budget (24 percent), insufficient resources (18 percent) and security/privacy concerns (18 percent) rounded out the other top concerns.

“This survey makes it clear that airports today realise how critical digital transformation is in order to stay competitive and achieve success in the future,” said Dheeraj Kohli, vice president and global head of Travel and Transportation for Unisys. “As a provider of innovative airport solutions, Unisys understands how valuable advanced analytics can be for airports. Not only can they be used across a wide range of airport operations, but the data generated through advanced and predictive analytics tools can also help airports improve the experience they offer, and, just as importantly, bolster their own efficiency, organisation and profitability.”
 
Unisys airport solutions – airport operations and airport passenger facilitation – and services are used by more than 100 airports worldwide. For more information on Unisys Advanced Analytics solutions and services, click here: http://www.unisys.com/offerings/advanced-data-analytics

Exclusive survey reveals discerning video habits, low tolerance for poor QoE – and dollars left on the table for operators

REDWOOD CITY, CA and ZAIN TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE, Amman 7 December 2016 –Independent research conducted in the Middle East by Openwave Mobility, a software innovator enabling operators to manage and monetize encrypted mobile data, has revealed that over 50% of subscribers would switch carriers to one offering an uncapped streaming video service. The research which reveals mobile video habits in the region also found that subscribers blamed mobile operators for poor streaming quality – not the content provider or the handset manufacturer. The exclusive study was conducted by Censuswide for Openwave Mobility in Jordon, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Lebanon among mobile data users.

Mobile data in the Middle East and Africa has been growing at a phenomenal rate with traffic increasing 117% last year. As networks carry increased traffic loads, subscribers can suffer from poor Quality of Experience (QoE). But, tolerance of buffering during video playback is extremely low - subscribers on average were willing to put up with just six seconds of buffering. After that, they abandon the video.

The survey shows that the vast majority of subscribers blame the mobile operator for poor video quality, rather than the handset manufacturer or content provider. Two out of three subscribers in the UAE and a staggering three out of four in Jordan put the responsibility on their mobile operator.

All this results in subscribers who are willing to churn. On average, over half of mobile subscribers in the Middle Eastern territories surveyed would “definitely switch” to an operator who offer uncapped streaming video.

“Quality of experience, and in particular video buffering is a modern-day scourge for mobile users”, said Indranil Chatterjee, SVP Product Management, Marketing & Sales. “Our studies on QoE in Europe and North America also found that buffering was the biggest annoyance for subscribers – more annoying than dropped calls. And when subscribers experience poor video QoE, they often churn. That’s something network providers can ill-afford. But our survey also found some good news for operators.”

Chatterjee continued: “Respondents disclosed that they are prepared to pay extra for unlimited streaming video on top of their monthly bills. Lebanese subscribers were happy to fork out just over US$ 9 per month, over US$5 in Jordon and just over US$4 in the UAE. Clearly, Middle Eastern subscribers are discerning and there’s money on the table for forward-looking operators. The technology exists to allow operators to launch not just innovative video plans but also to secure new revenue streams, while reducing network loads. In mobile video, there’s still everything to play for.”

The insights from the study are being shared by Openwave Mobility’s CEO John Giere during his speech to mobile operators at the Zain Technology Conference today (7 December). The session, entitled “Driving Subscriber Acquisition and OTT Monetization Using Optimization”, takes place in the Le Royal Hotel, Amman.

Covata wins Internet of Security (IoT) Solution Award for its Delta product at The Computing Security Excellence Awards

Sydney, Australia – December 7, 2016 – Covata Limited (ASX: CVT), a global leader in data-centric security solutions for enterprise and government, has been awarded the IoT Security Solution Award at the 2016 Computing Security Excellence Awards in London for its Covata Delta product.

The Computing Security Excellence Awards celebrate the achievements of the IT industry’s best security companies, solutions, products and personalities. Covata joined other category winners including Splunk, Symantec, Sophos and Microsoft to take home a coveted award from the exclusive event.

Developed to mitigate new cyber security risks created by IoT, the innovative Key-as-a-Service (KaaS) cloud solution recently branded as Covata Delta, will provide SDKs (Software Developer Kit) and APIs (Application Programming Interface) to developers, to enable them to seamlessly embed security into their applications, products and services. Covata Delta ensures that real-time information shared between the growing eco-system of connected devices remains securely under the owners’ control, by linking policy and identity to encryption and decryption.

Covata CEO, Trent Telford, said of the award: “It is a privilege to be recognised by Computing Magazine as a leader in the IoT Security space. The IoT Solution Award entrants were judged on, among other things, functionality and competitive differentiation. We believe Delta’s unique capabilities, including its patented approach to data-centric security that ties end-to-end encryption to identity checks and policy controls, its key management and its unlimited scalability – are what set it apart from others.

“The number of devices connecting to the Internet continues to proliferate, and as a result, security risks are exponentially increasing. Every connected device represents a potential access point for hackers to exploit and attack, which is why Covata firmly believes that data being collected, stored and shared from these devices must be protected.

“This year we saw the first major international IoT security breach. If we don’t build security into these connected devices from the very beginning, we will see a lot more of these types of attacks. There is not a single company or government department, that can afford for data security to be an afterthought. This accolade highlights the importance of data-centric cyber security solutions. We are extremely proud to have Covata Delta pioneering the protection of our interconnected future.”

Thoughtonomy is delighted to announce that it has achieved certification to the International Organisation for Standardization’s ISO 27001:2013 standard. ISO 27001 is a globally recognised certification that provides verification an organization is committed to the protection of assets and information governance.

This externally audited certification analyses the business and demonstrates the implementation of data security management processes and controls to keep information secure. As part of the certification organisations also commit to, and are assessed against, a continual program of review, validation, and improvement.

Since its conception, Thoughtonomy has been focused on ensuring information security and data protection are treated as a priority within both the architecture and governance of the Virtual Workforce platform, and its business and support methodologies. The achievement of ISO 27001 Certification serves to validate and demonstrate to its customers the rigorous measures taken to protect information assets within the business.

Terry Walby, CEO of Thoughtonomy commented, “Achieving ISO 27001 certification is another exciting landmark in Thoughtonomy's evolution as a business. It demonstrates our commitment to information security in alignment with industry best practices, and the delivery of an assured, secure, and proven automation platform to our customers. The fact that we achieved certification without any major or minor non-conformities is testament to our outstanding services and support team."

Interoute Virtual Data Centre awarded for high-level performance, scope and flexibility

London, 07 December, 2016 - Interoute, owner operator of a global cloud services platform and one of Europe's largest, most advanced networks, has been awarded for Best Cloud Infrastructure at this year’s World Communication Awards (WCA) ceremony.

The WCA Cloud Infrastructure Award honours the industry’s best infrastructure-based service delivered over private or public cloud, and focuses particularly on customer satisfaction, flexibility and reliability. Interoute was selected for the award by a panel of industry executives, technology analysts and Total Telecom’s senior editorial team.

The company was acknowledged for the speed and availability of its Virtual Data Centre (VDC), and the ability to provide tailored solutions for customers’ virtual infrastructure needs. Interoute was commended for its comprehensive delivery method, which reduces inefficient siloes and discrepancies between service levels.

Interoute VDC, a fully integrated cloud platform incorporating compute and storage, is built into Interoute’s network, covering 70,000 route kilometres of fibre. The team was championed for the wide reach of its solution, with latency of just 130 milliseconds between London and Los Angeles, and provisioning across the US, Europe and Asia. Independent research by Cloud Spectator in March 2016 revealed that Interoute VDC is faster than AWS, Azure and Rackspace for network throughput, latency, and transfer speeds in a number of key European and U.S. cities.

“The World Communication Awards are a major benchmark for the telecoms sector celebrating continued innovation and ingenuity in the industry. Interoute is committed to our strategic vision of innovation and world class service, and we are thrilled to see Interoute Virtual Data Centre recognised as the best cloud infrastructure available." said Gareth Williams, CEO of Interoute.

New Unisys Stealth(aware)™ Software Automates Implementation of Advanced Micro-Segmentation Security, Makes Digital Protection Accessible to More Organisations in the Fight Against Cybercrime

Built-in analytics and visualisation provide immediate insight into security risk for automatic configuration and deployment of award-winning Unisys Stealth® protection throughout the extended enterprise

London, UK. December 6, 2016 – Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) announced today the launch of Stealth(aware)™, a new Unisys Stealth® software application that takes the fight to cybercrime by enabling organisations to easily deploy enterprise-wide, micro-segmentation security across extended networks with the touch of a button.

Recent high-profile data breaches have further validated concerns about digital enterprises, while incidents of denial-of-service attacks, insider threats, ransomware, targeted espionage and privacy breaches are expected to worsen in the coming years. At the same time, overstretched and under-resourced security teams are struggling to detect and remediate risks effectively. Through Stealth(aware), Unisys offers the ability to easily install advanced security into any organisation, making the most advanced protection through high-level cybersecurity more accessible to organisations of all sizes.

“Unisys has put a stake in the ground: we are committed to improving the quality of peoples’ lives through enhancing their digital security, and today’s launch of Unisys Stealth(aware) represents the latest way we deliver on this promise,” said Unisys President and CEO Peter Altabef. “The best cyber protection not only needs to work everywhere, operate efficiently and keep you ahead of the threat, but it must also be able to be easily deployed. Stealth(aware) meets these standards across the board.

“With data and systems secured by Unisys Stealth, clients are free to innovate and grow their businesses with a minimum level of the anxiety prevalent in our digital world. At Unisys, we call this securing your tomorrow.”

Analytics Speed Up Deployment, Visualisation Makes It Work
Available today and featuring an intuitive, graphical user interface, Stealth(aware) unleashes the Unisys Stealth micro-segmentation product portfolio – including applications focused on core, cloud, mobile, identity and analytics – which creates segments within an organisation where only authorised users can access information, while others (from malware to insiders to hackers) cannot even see that those segments exist.

In the case of Stealth(aware), built-in analytics automate and speed up deployment. Stealth(aware) software can analyse data traffic in a mid-sized company with thousands of nodes in just a few minutes, for example, providing instant visualisation and fine tuning controls that can produce segmentation policies able to be deployed at the push of a button. In addition, during testing Stealth(aware) was able to complete assessments of enterprise networks and their associated public clouds and integrated suppliers in minutes – without weeks of redesign and configuration.

“Unisys is building more intelligence into our products to improve the user experience and simplify the implementation of advanced security," said Tarek El-Sadany, senior vice president of Technology and Chief Technology Officer, Unisys. “By designing Stealth(aware) to automate the discovery and deployment process, our clients can improve their level of security with faster implementation across the data center and the cloud. Stealth(aware) creates one security solution for an organisation’s hybrid enterprise in a simple interface that can be implemented by non-security experts.”

Stealth(aware) automates and customises the process of installing security within enterprises via three main components:

• Auto-Discover – This feature automatically determines what endpoints, systems and associated network data flows exist on the network.
• Auto-Configure – This capability uses the information obtained through Auto-Discover to generate security policies.
• Auto-Deploy – This feature applies Unisys Stealth micro-segmentation protection based on those security policies – applying the optimal levels of protection to high-risk, high-value network traffic.

Key product highlights include:

• Stealth(aware) leverages the latest industrial design technology to provide clients with graphical views of their infrastructure – both before and after the client installs Unisys Stealth protection. These views can be achieved in minutes using “drag and drop” and animation techniques to refine the client’s desired security end state. This visualisation enables clients to quickly and clearly understand both their vulnerabilities and path to remediation through advanced Unisys Stealth security. The resulting Stealth(aware) security profiles can be applied to other departments or functions within the enterprise and deployed with the push of a button.
• Stealth(aware) also provides multiple enforcement modes, so clients can confidently and conveniently incorporate Unisys Stealth protection. For example, clients can initially choose a non-enforcement or learning mode to simply monitor what is occurring in their environment or how segmentation will impact it. They can then gradually increase the level of enforcement to advanced protection levels that prohibit visibility and access to data and assets to only “need to know” users. Different enforcement settings can be applied to different segments of their enterprise and simultaneously implemented.
• Stealth(aware) can quickly learn of changes to clients’ infrastructures and highlight new vulnerabilities. The product’s analytics, visualisation and automation can then be used to immediately remediate these vulnerabilities, thereby defeating hackers who persistently and continually search for vulnerabilities in changing enterprise infrastructures.

“With the availability of Stealth(aware), Unisys is providing an opportunity for enterprises to obtain the benefits of some of the most advanced security techniques available,” said Doug Cahill, senior analyst, cybersecurity, Enterprise Strategy Group Inc. “As cyber threats become more sophisticated and damaging, advanced security tools will become essential to all public and private sector organisations, regardless of their size or resources.”

Ideal for VDI environments, the IGEL UD Pocket features a dual-boot system that turns compatible USB-bootable form factors into an IGEL Linux 10-powered endpoint, without overwriting the local OS

Reading, Dec. 6, 2016 – IGEL Technology, a world leader in the delivery of powerful endpoint management software, IGEL™ Linux-powered thin clients, zero clients and all-in-one thin client solutions, today announced the introduction of the IGEL UD Pocket, a flexible and cost-effective out-of-the-box micro thin client solution that is designed to improve the security of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) initiatives in organizations with remote or mobile workforces.

Built to provide on-demand access to virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) environments, the IGEL UD Pocket offers simple and secure access to the user’s IGEL Linux 10-powered desktop, via a USB-bootable device, without overwriting the local operating system (OS).

“As the industry’s first Linux-based micro thin client, the IGEL UD Pocket is ideal for organisations that want to provide remote and mobile workers with simple, secure and fully-functional anytime, anywhere access to their VDI environments,” said Simon Richards, Managing Director for IGEL South & Western Europe. “And, because the IGEL UD Pocket leverages existing hardware, organisations of all sizes can quickly scale their IGEL desktop deployments, while dramatically reducing desktop replacement costs.”

Protecting Networks and Data While Giving Workers the Freedom to Roam
The IGEL UD Pocket supports enterprise-level security standards and protocols. Additionally, IGEL’s entire family of thin and zero client solutions, including the UD Pocket, support two-factor authentication through integrated or external smart card readers or USB tokens, which prevents passwords from being lost, forgotten or intercepted by cybercriminals.

With the IGEL UD Pocket, the IGEL Linux 10 desktop can be accessed from any USB-bootable PC, laptop, tablet or thin client that meets the minimum requirements of an x86, 64-bit processor and 2 GB RAM. Available in a USB 3.0 form factor with backward compatibility to USB 2.0, the IGEL UD Pocket measures 22.4mm x 12.2mm x 6mm and weighs 3 grams. The IGEL UD Pocket also features an industry-grade 8GB memory module, and a high-quality metal chassis is resistant to dust, shock and water.

“We are finding that there is a significant market opportunity for our Linux-based micro thin client in vertical markets such as financial services and insurance, education, logistics and warehousing, and call centers where workers roam between desks, offices or locations,” continued Richards.

Availability and Licensing
Designed to provide IT organisations with greater autonomy, and the agility and flexibility they need to quickly scale their IGEL deployments, the IGEL UD Pocket can be purchased through IGEL channel partners in Europe. Additionally, licensing for the IGEL UD Pocket is assigned to the USB stick, independent of the MAC address of the target endpoint. This flexibility to roam from one device to another, along with regular IGEL firmware updates, offers IT organizations a revolutionary, yet simple solution to their diverse endpoint management challenges.

The IGEL UD Pocket can also be integrated, like all the other IGEL OS-powered products, into the IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS), a centralized and secure remote management console that provides organizations with complete control over their IGEL endpoints, saving time and resources, and reducing operating expenses. The IGEL UMS can be downloaded free of charge at www.myigel.com.

Note to the media: Images of the IGEL UD Pocket are available by clicking here: https://www.igel.com/company/press-media/igel-image-archive/products-hardware.html.