Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 11 | Page 35

FEATURE: 2017 IN REVIEW see a rise in the use of AI or machine learning to introduce attacks that can morph faster. While this is a frightening thought, AI will also play a crucial role in managing threats. Threats are evolving rapidly and are too varied for the industry to handle them manually. For example, spear-phishing and impersonation attacks will become ever more insidious and we will need smarter algorithms to cope with them. Artificial intelligence and data science are not miracle cures, but are an increasingly important weapon in the arsenal of cybersecurity. “Artificial intelligence and data science are not miracle cures, but are an increasingly important weapon in the arsenal of cybersecurity.” “Another major development will be around the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This will be one of the first major news stories for the year, with deadline at the end of May 2018. There will be a scramble to get GDPR programmes in place and examples will be made of bigger companies who have not made an adequate effort. After the deadline has been missed, the first major GDPR fines will be issued and executives will act shocked and surprised.” situations that could lead to customer dissatisfaction. AI can also help businesses and governments instantly organise vast amounts of available data input using predictive analytics to deliver optimal information in real time, where it can help impact an ongoing customer interaction.” SAVIO TOVAR DIAS: “The cloud and the as a Service market is increasingly taking a front seat among IT decision makers. On-premise communications solutions have started to change towards more data- and outcome-centric solutions, while cloud- based unified communications are growing 20% year-on-year globally, due to simplification of delivery, user adoption and business models. Contact Centre as a Service offerings are also reaching maturity and growth in sector should accelerate in 2018. “Avaya will be centred on speeding the development and application of AI technologies in contact centres and unified communications. AI offers significant opportunities to address many of the complexities and issues faced by companies in delivering an optimal customer experience. For example, it can enable companies to capture and utilise real time customer sentiment to defuse or reposition www.intelligentcio.com CHERIAN VARGHESE: “Businesses around the world are poised to take advantage of the ABCD of new technology – AI and machine learning; blockchain; cloud and digitalisation. The difference between 2017 and 2018 is the paradigm shift that is about to take place between all four technologies. two years. This is almost as high as the 85% international average in our survey. This has driven a significant increase in IT security spend in South Africa – predicted to top R7 billion this year, which is more than double the spend only two years ago. “The POPI Act and Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Bill will catalyse change in the way organisations protect information and build security into every aspect of their operations. The move to cloud and the associated increased focus on securing the cloud will continue throughout 2018.” WHAT WILL YOUR FOCUS BE FOR 2018? SAVIO TOVAR DIAS: “Avaya is creating a new growth story. Today we act very much like a start-up, focused on growth and execution, but with unique differentiators such as a large customer base, technology leadership and a strong vertical presence. “The challenge for African businesses is to become early adopters of these important technological advancements. However, they have leapfrogged across technologies before to transform industries and can definitely do it again.” “In 2018, we are simplifying our organisational structure with the goal of remaining a customer-driven company – and making it easier for customers and partners to do business with us. As one example, Avaya is giving customers and partners the same capabilities our R&D team has and the complete freedom to define and build their own user experience. PAUL WILLIAMS: “2018 will see more sophisticated arming of security technology. The threat landscape is becoming more complex, and new legislation will make the board more accountable. On top of this, cybercrime is starting to hit home in South Africa. In fact, Fortinet’s 2017 Global Enterprise Security Survey recently found that 82% of South African enterprises surveyed have been victims of a security breach in the past “The challenge for African businesses is to become early adopters of these important technological advancements.” INTELLIGENTCIO 35