Cloud computing has emerged as the linchpin for fostering technological innovation across various sectors. Consequently, Middle Eastern enterprises are swiftly embracing a cloud-first approach to propel business transformation, leading to increased investments in cloud technologies compared to traditional on-premise solutions.
The presence of prominent cloud service providers in the region has accelerated this transition. The pivotal role of the cloud in advancing digital transformation initiatives is poised for continued expansion in the years ahead.
At the Cloud Connect Conference and Awards 2023, CXO Insight ME acknowledged and honored exceptional cloud projects, service providers, and vendors in the region.
The event started on a high note with a keynote address by Sebastian Samuel, CIO of AWRostamani, shedding light on why Cloud FinOps is a critical necessity in today’s technology landscape. ‘In a cloud-centric world, mastering FinOps is essential for efficiency and cost optimisation,’ he said. He also addressed how sustainability can bring significant benefits to the cloud.
The audience also gained valuable insights into how Oracle is supporting organisations on their journey toward cloud transformation from Ahmed Adly, Vice President of Technology Cloud Engineering for the Middle East and Africa region at Oracle. His key advice to the audience emphasized the importance of adopting a multi-cloud approach, highlighting that a single cloud provider may not fulfill all consumer requirements. He condensed the cloud migration journey into three steps: migrate, modernise, and innovate, with Oracle OCI providing support across all stages.
Subsequently, a panel discussion delved into the key trends, challenges, and prospects within the realm of cloud technology migration, featuring:
- Aditya Kaushik, Head of IT, Zakher Marine International
- Annamalai A R, Business Head-UAE and SAARC, Netgear
- Rex Antony Peter, Global Head of Presales, Site24x7 Zoho Corp
- Terence Sathyanarayan, Managing Editor of Pulse IS
- Vibin Shaju, VP of Solution Engineering, Trellix”
Complete list of winners:
END USER AWARDS
| Name | Company |
| Aus Alzubaidi | MBC Group |
| Uttam Yadav | Innoventures Education |
| Chaminda Abeyratne | Al Masar Group |
| Ronald Dsa | OSN |
| Fayas Badubhai | Al Yousuf |
| Lenish Kannan | Western International |
| Yoonus Changoth | GEEPAS |
| Mohannad Hennawi | NAFFCO |
| Gigi Mathew Thomas | Ittihad International Investment |
| Adil Al Zarooni | Dubai Taxi Corporation |
| Anoop Raj | Al Habtoor Group |
| Rushdy Mubarak | Radisson Blu Hotel |
| Mohammed Noufel | Royal Continental Hotel and Suites |
| Abdul Baqar Mohammed | Emirates Float Glass |
| Gaurva Manaktala | RAK Hospital |
| Robert Arariego | Hutchison Ports |
| Masood Ahmed Hashmi | Cashtrans |
VENDOR AWARDS
| Company | Category |
| Oracle | AI innovator of the year |
| AWS | Cloud transformation provider of the year |
| Nutanix | Multi-cloud solutions provider of the year |
| Juniper Networks | Cloud Innovator of the year |
| NetApp | Cloud management solutions provider of the year |
| Kissflow | Digital Transformation Provider of the year |
| Confluent | Cloud native solutions provider of the year |
| D-Link | Cloud managed networking solutions provider of the year |
| Help AG | Cloud security services provider of the year |
