June 11th, 2016
As a follow up on the opinion piece that Tony Jarvis contributed yesterday on Endpoint Protection, I asked him to share his take on the Singapore Government’s move to cut Internet access from work computers used by civil servants from May next year.
Tony Jarvis is the Chief Strategist (Asia, Middle East and Africa) for Check Point Software Technologies.
Below are some of his personal views
Question: Is banning internet the right approach to securing government?
There is no right or wrong approach around banning the Internet.
At first glance, the decision to ban Internet access might seem extreme.
Background
The Singapore Government is cutting off Internet connections from work computers used officially by public servants from May 2017, in an effort to plug potential leaks from work emails and shared documents – amidst today’s advanced security threats.
Employees can still surf the Web on their personal smartphones and tablets since these devices are not connected to the government network.
Dedicated Internet terminals will be issued to those who need them in work.
However, it is important to note that this decision will have been made after careful review, taking into consideration a number of factors.
For example, removing access to the Internet will bring with it the benefit of reducing exposure to many threats.
Unfortunately, this comes at the expense of the productivity and effectiveness of the organisation and its employees.
These are policy decisions made by organisations, in this case, the government, and we are certain that they have considered multiple aspects.
This particular case highlights the ongoing challenge organisations have remaining secure in a connected world.
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Tags: byline, Check Point, civil service, endpoint, Government, guest blog, Hyperwise, Internet, interview, opinion, security, Singapore, Tony Jarvis
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June 10th, 2016
The Singapore Government is cutting off Internet connections from work computers used officially by public servants from May 2017, in an effort to plug potential leaks from work emails and shared documents – amidst today’s advanced security threats.
I invited Tony Jarvis from Check Point Software Technologies to share his opinion on how best to secure an organisation’s network and IT assets. This guest blog is written by him.
Tony Jarvis is the Chief Strategist (Asia, Middle East and Africa) for Check Point Software Technologies.
With every detection of a new threat, the security landscape evolves and attackers are no longer just looking at inventive ways to infiltrate a network but also innovative evasion techniques and the damage it will inflict.
“To say the security landscape is constantly changing would be an understatement,” says Tony Jarvis, Chief Strategist (Asia, Middle East and Africa) for Check Point Software Technologies.
What really matters is how vendors respond to the ever-evolving landscape and not just make incremental enhancements to existing solutions that still predominantly focus on detection, rather than prevention.
With the numerous acquisitions and layoffs being announced, the real question that CIOs and CISOs need to ask is: “Is my security vendor in for the long run?”
Central to any effective security strategy is the ability to stop threats before the initial compromise.
The only way to do this is with prevention.
Many vendors simply can’t do it, which is why they talk about detection.
I also asked Tony specifically for his take on the Singapore Government’s move to cut Internet access from work computers used by civil servants from May next year.
Here are more of his opinions in a Q&A format.
The majority of solutions being deployed today rely on a detection capability, with some requiring users to choose whether infected files should be quarantined or allowed to pass through.
Not only is this intrusive to the user experience, it’s also prone to human error.
Inflexible deployment models calling for an all or nothing use of cloud or private malware analysis fail to meet many customers’ requirements.
To make matters worse, the sandboxing process often takes too long, giving malware plenty of time to get to work before its presence becomes known.
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Tags: byline, Check Point, civil service, endpoint, Government, guest blog, Hyperwise, Internet, interview, opinion, security, Singapore, Tony Jarvis
Posted in Enterprise IT, Interview, Opinion, Security | No Comments »
June 9th, 2016
The new IBM Studios Singapore joins a global network of 30 IBM Studios and will create cognitive-driven digital experiences for the company’s clients.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam – Deputy Prime Minister & Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies – speaking at the opening of the new Design Studios Singapore during the launch of The Watson Centre at Marina Bay.
IBM today announced the opening of IBM Studios Singapore, a new design center to help clients reinvent their business for the digital age and develop individualised experiences through a combination of cognitive capabilities and experience design.
“Our designers work with clients through the customer experience from strategy, creative and design to scalable digital, commerce, mobile and wearable platforms. We sit side-by-side with our clients to invent and co-create personalised, innovative solutions using IBM’s leadership in cognitive, research and design to take digital experiences to the next level for clients,” said Stefan Hirsch, ASEAN Lead for IBM iX.
The announcement was made at the launch of IBM’s Watson Centre at Marina Bay in Singapore, and was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
Located in the Marina Bay Financial Centre, IBM Studios Singapore will serve as the regional hub and will host more than 100 designers and digital experts from IBM iX (Interactive Experience).
IBM iX provides next-generation services dedicated to digital reinvention and transformational outcomes.
Clients will work side-by-side with teams of IBM creative designers, researchers, digital strategists, analytics and cognitive solution experts to analyze their business challenges and co-create new business models and offerings.
IBM iX applies the principles of IBM Design Thinking, which takes a rapid prototyping approach to user-centric product development, as well as IBM Design Language, a framework to inspire bold and engaging experiences.
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Tags: Ammirati, Aperto, Bluewolf, cognitive, design, ecx.io, facility, IBM, IBM Design Language, IBM Design Thinking, IBM Studios, IBMiX, incubator, Marina Bay, Office, prototype, SIA, Singapore, Watson
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June 9th, 2016
In an investment to accelerate development and commercialisation of disruptive technologies in Asia, the new Watson Centre houses “IBM Garage Singapore” and “IBM Studios – Singapore”; and will facilitate close to 5,000 IBM Cognitive Solution Professionals across the region co-creating with clients to drive transformation in their organisations.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam – Deputy Prime Minister & Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies – officiating the launch of The Watson Centre at Marina Bay (in Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 2).
Within the next five years, disruptive technologies such as cognitive computing and blockchain are expected to drive dramatic shifts in every industry, from healthcare, to financial services, to tourism.
“We are pleased with IBM’s decision to establish their APAC HQ and the new Watson Centre, together with a number of innovation initiatives, in Singapore to develop impactful digital solutions for their clients. This is a testament to Singapore’s growing start-up ecosystem, presence of strong industry verticals and the availability of digital talent with deep capabilities,” said Yeoh Keat Chuan, Managing Director, Singapore Economic Development Board.
To help clients of all sizes in the Asia Pacific region lead in shaping the future of their industries, IBMtoday announced plans to assist in the rapid prototyping and commercialisation of solutions based on cognitive computing and blockchain.
IBM today opened The Watson Centre at Marina Bay, an incubator designed to bring together organisations of all sizes, business partners and IBM experts to co-create business solutions that leverage IBM’s cognitive, blockchain and design capabilities.
IBM’s new Asia Pacific headquarters is based in the same location, in the heart of Singapore’s financial district.
Watson Centre at Marina Bay will act as a centre of expertise for almost 5,000 IBM cognitive solutions professionals in the Asia Pacific region alone, including researchers, IBM Watson specialists, data scientists, software engineers, agile developers and analytics experts.
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Tags: Blockchain, cognitive, design, facility, financial, healthcare, IBM, IBM Garage, IBM Studios, incubator, IoT, Marina Bay, Office, prototype, Singapore, tourism, Watson
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June 8th, 2016
Getty Images is deepening its commitment to immersive content with new virtual reality business to make available high quality VR and 360 content.
“With the launch of the Getty Images Virtual Reality Group, we are embedding VR content technologies into the core of our business and ensuring that, as use of VR continues to grow, its users are further enhancing their experience with access to the world’s best imagery,” said Dawn Airey, Chief Executive Officer of Getty Images. Photo credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.
Getty Images Virtual Reality Group is a new business dedicated to the creation and global distribution of virtual reality (VR) content.
“The technology is still in its infancy – as are the business models addressing how to use it – but we can expect to see VR become a leading tool for visual storytelling. It is anticipated that over 14 million consoles will sell this year alone (TrendForce), and we are only on the cusp of what will be a tectonic plate shift in VR,” said Dawn Airey, Chief Executive Officer of Getty Images.
The Getty Images Virtual Reality Group brings photographic and video technology together with Getty Images’ 21 years of experience in visual storytelling, to offer content for existing and future VR platforms.
The Group provides an offering of over 12,000 premium 360 images with new content added daily, as well as high res gigapixel content from key events and venues.
High quality VR production is also being offered through Getty Images Assignments.
Adapting to new image technologies, Getty images began building its collection of 360 and gigapixel imagery four years ago, pioneering the use of these techniques in its role as the Official Photographic Agency for the International Olympic Committee at the 2012 London Olympics.
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Tags: 360, Getty, Getty Images, virtual reality, VR
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June 7th, 2016
The latest Casio EDIFICE EQB-600D features an inset 3D Globe Dial, links to a smartphone and supports a new accurate time system, with imaginative world time display. Available now in Singapore at S$699.
The Casio EDIFICE EQB-600D is available in Blue and Black, depending on the colour of the 3D Globe Dial. Above is the blue version (EQB-600D-1A2).
The EQB-600D is the latest addition to the EDIFICE series of high-performance timepieces.
The EQB-600D links to a smartphone and boasts a new dome-shaped, multidimensional inset 3D Globe Dial with an Earth motif, displaying the world time in an imaginative way.
The black version of the watch (EQB-600D-1A), with the black 3D Globe Dial.
The motif is realised using advanced molding techniques at Yamagata Casio, the production base of Casio in Japan.
The watch is further refined with a polarised deposition, making the color change at different viewing angles.
As part of the Global Time Sync collection, EDIFICE watches are able to link with a smartphone to adjust and set the time corresponding with 300 cities globally to enable an advanced timekeeping system that delivers time accurately, anywhere in the world.
The 3D Globe Dial works in conjunction with the world time shown on the inset dial at the 8 o’clock position, and it gradually rotates once every 24 hours just like Earth.
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Tags: Casio, EDIFICE, EQB-600D, Singapore, watches
Posted in Accessories, Announce, Casio, Gadgets, gadgets, newArrivals, Press Release, Prices, Shopping, Specifications, Watches | No Comments »
June 6th, 2016
Epson boasts that the EB-G7000 series sports the world’s first zero-offset ultra-short throw lens. Prices below.
The new Epson EB-G7000 series projectors.
Epson today announced the launch of its next-generation EB-G7000 high brightness projectors for large venues.
Prices
(specifications for the various models can be found here.)
- EB-G7100: S$4,016
- EB-G7100NL: S$3,731
- EB-G7805: S$6,634
- EB-G7805NL: S$6,420
- EB-G7000W: S$5,564
- EB-G7000WNL: S$5,350
- EB-G7200W: S$6,634
- EB-G7200WNL: S$6,420
- EB-G7400U: S$6,086
- EB-G7400UNL: S$5,872
- EB-G7905U: S$9,232
- EB-G7805UNL: S$9,009
The latest series of projectors are equipped with the latest 4K enhancement and deliver brighter and more vibrant images at up to 8,000 lumens of both colour brightness and white brightness (1).
An Epson first, the projectors come with motorised lenses, enabling highly precise adjustments when employing edge blending and other features such as curved screens, and flexibility in projector placements.
The EB-G7000 series also feature the world’s first zero-offset ultra-short throw lens with a throw ratio of 0.35, useful for environments with extremely limited lens-to-screen distances.
With this, projections can be made onto 100-inch screens from as close 43cm away.
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Tags: 4K, EB-G7000, Epson, prices, projectors, Singapore
Posted in Announce, audioVisual, Business IT, Epson, Gadgets, gadgets, newArrivals, Press Release, Prices, Projectors, Specifications | No Comments »
June 5th, 2016
Under its new visa regulations, Indonesia has given visa-free facility to 169 countries.
With this new regulation, the Ministry of Tourism hopes to boost international tourist visits to Indonesia.
Good news to travellers planning to visit Indonesia.
You may now be able to visit Indonesia without having to apply for a visa.
Below are detailed information that you can check to see if the new regulations apply to you.
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Tags: Indonesia, tourism, travel, Visa
Posted in Announce, Holiday, News, Press Release, Travel, travel | No Comments »
June 4th, 2016
The new imageCLASS MF515x (S$TBA) enables seamless integration into any print networked environment, while the imageCLASS MF416dw (S$799) ensures fast performance and enhanced user experience. Both models are available in Singapore now.
The Canon imageCLASS MF416dw (left) and MF515x (right) are high-quality and reliable printers that offer feature-rich capabilities for businesses.
Canon is launching the imageCLASS MF515x, under a new series in the imageCLASS multi-function line of printers, as well as the imageCLASS MF416dw.
“Organisations today are constantly looking at their business processes to gain a competitive edge. With its advanced functionality and network connectivity capabilities, our flagship imageCLASS MF515x integrates easily into existing networks thereby providing enhanced operational and cost efficiencies, productivity, and security to meet the needs of the business world,” said Edwin Teoh, Head of Marketing, Singapore Operations, Canon Singapore.
The imageCLASS MF515x comprises is designed to enable greater productivity, with features that include embedded uniFLOW, optional barcode printing, and eMaintenance support.
The imageCLASS MF416dw is equipped to handle large volume print jobs, thereby maximising efficiency for businesses.
Improved productivity and added convenience
Both models support two-sided printing, mobile printing, and flexibility to increase paper input capacity.
Both devices come with auto duplex scanning feature, and is capable of handling a variety of document sizes for fast duplex scanning or copying.
The imageCLASS MF515x also allows a wider scan range of legal-sized documents with its platen glass.
The 3.5-inch Touch Screen LCD Display allows users to navigate through the menu, create shortcuts to access frequent tasks.
The imageCLASS MF416dw prints at 33 ppm, while the imageCLASS MF515x offers a high print speed of 40 ppm.
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Tags: Canon, imageCLASS, laser, MF416dw, MF515x, multi-function, prices, printers, Singapore
Posted in Accessories, Announce, Business IT, Canon, Gadgets, gadgets, Laserjet, Launch, Multi-function printer, newArrivals, Press Release, Prices, Printers, printers, Reference, Scanners, Specifications | No Comments »
June 3rd, 2016
M1 boosts network capacity, indoor coverage with Nokia in Singapore’s busiest MRT stations.
The new Flexi Zone small cells network in Orchard MRT, Raffles Place MRT and Jurong East MRT has increased 4G LTE download speeds by up to 2 times, compared to the performance over the existing base station and antenna system.
M1 Limited (M1) and Nokia have completed the installation of indoor small cells and WiFi networks to meet the surging data demand of mobile device users at Orchard MRT station, Raffles MRT Station, as well as Jurong East MRT station.
The new Flexi Zone small cells network in Orchard MRT, Raffles Place MRT and Jurong East MRT has increased 4G LTE download speeds by up to 2 times, compared to the performance over the existing base station and antenna system.
With the high adoption of advanced smart devices in Singapore, the demand for sharing and viewing high-resolution photos and high-definition videos have been growing.
To further improve customer experience in accessing data, M1 is working to provide high quality mobile coverage in MRT stations to thousands of passengers, particularly at the crowded zones during peak hours.
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Tags: BCA 2016, Broadcast Asia, Broadcast Asia 2016, cellular, CommunicAsia, CommunicAsia 2016, M1, mobile, MRT, networks, Nokia, Singapore, small cell, SMRT, Wi-Fi
Posted in Business IT, M1, Network, News, Nokia, Press Release, Wi-Fi | No Comments »
