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In cooperation with The Data Park

Oman Information and Communication Technology Group Launches the first Oracle’s Hyper-Scale Cloud Infrastructure Data Center in Oman

Oman Information and Communication Technology (OICT) GROUP, The Data Park and Oracle have jointly Launch Oracle’s Hyper-Scale Cloud Infrastructure Data Center in Oman, as the first oracle cloud region in the Sultanate.

The new cloud region (OCI), will provide a broad range of IaaS/PaaS Cloud Services for all entities in the public and private sectors, across the Sultanate of Oman, through TDP certified Tier III Data Center.

Oracle’s Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a dedicated region in Oman will enable the entities in Oman to run all their Oracle systems on a multi-tenant cloud infrastructure with physical control of infrastructure and data to help them meeting the most demanding regulatory, data residency, and latency requirements

Commenting on this event ,Eng. Said bin Abdullah Al-Mandhari, CEO of Oman Information and Communication Technology (OICT) said : “This partnership between the group and The Data Park embodies the objective of setting up (OICT) , which aims at becoming an investment arm for the government in partnership with the private sector in implementing the strategies of the telecommunications and information technology sector ,as well as the initiatives for keeping with the  Fourth Industrial”

Al-Mandhari added: “The launch of this cloud region also comes within the frame work of  the four specializations of the Oman Information and Communication Technology (OICT), which include the fields  of infrastructure, communications , information technology platforms, provision of services, data centers, cloud computing, services of electronic platforms ,and  information security survives , in addition to the efforts of the group to contribute in  building the country’s digital economy, and  promoting the development of small and medium Foundation”

Eng. Maqbool Al Wahaibi, CEO of The Data Park also stated:  “We in TDP arepleased to be part of this distinguished cooperation with the OICTgroup, which resulted in   launching the Oracle Cloud Region in the Sultanate”.

He emphasized those capabilities of The Data Park to provide the best levels of cloud services, relying on the team of specialized experts at TDP, which is Sultanate’s first IT-managed and cloud services provider.

Al Wahaibi added: OCI is built on agile modeling that simplify the transformation of all verticals in the Sultanate of Oman towards sustainable economy and 4th industrial revolution.

He pointed out that the launching of this Oracle advanced cloud technology   will accelerate the digital transformation vision 2040 by up fronting latest technology in cloud-services that meets market needs and data governance requirements, reduce operational costs, and modernize legacy applications.

The Oracle High Performance Cloud Region will also enhance the ability of companies and organizations to ensure the security and integrity of their data within the country, will contribute in reducing data transmission times and speeding up recovery from the consequences and effects of disasters on a large scale, while it is one of the first ultra-wideband clouds from Oracle has been launched in the Sultanate.

This service will also provide the operating companies and institutions in the Sultanate with access to a high-bandwidth network with high performance to operate all types of workloads with various work tasks, including complex calculations.

According to Oracle .com, Oracle the fastest growing network of global data centers, has 34 cloud regions available and 10 more planned by the end of 2022. Oracle offers more than 80 cloud infrastructure and platform services. Most regions also offer its Cloud Application (SaaS) portfolio. Across Applications and Infrastructure, with public and hybrid cloud options, Oracle supports local access, regional compliance, and true business continuity.

TDP has greatly contributed to providing an all-in-one solution of computing, cloud computing services, data storage, networking, as well as web hosting and network security services, while it has an advanced virtual data center in the field of cyber security – Cyber Security Park, with a world-class level of quality, which helped the beneficiaries of its services to save up to 55% on the total cost of ownership compared to a traditional data centers.

The services of  The Data Park are characterized by their being based on rooted  standards that  compatible with local and international requirements in their field of work, as well as being professionally managed and supported by a team of highly qualified and professionally accredited experts.

The services provided by TDP, through its Cyber Security Park  and through its capabilities in the field of hosting and cloud services, have enhanced the capabilities of many economic and commercial sectors, such as banking, financial services, oil and gas, logistics and other commercial and economic activities, to serve governmental and non-governmental institutions.

It is noteworthy that TDP, the Sultanate’s first managed cyber security and cloud services provider, plays an integral role in supporting the digital transformation of Oman, through their offering of an all-in-one solution of computing, cloud computing, data storage, networking, web hosting and network security services. TDP also offers the Sultanate’s first Artificial Intelligence ready cloud infrastructure – Nebula AI powered by Nvidia. More details of their services can be found at www.thedatapark.com

CEO of NCSI: Cloud services ensure uninterrupted business continuity

CEO of TDP: Cooperation with NCSI emphasizes the confidence of the government and private agencies in the capabilities of The Data Park

The National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) and The Data Park (TDP), signed a partnership and cooperation contract in the technical field including cloud services.

The inked partnership will contribute to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the work of the government entities and ensuring the business progress in general.

H.E. Dr. Khalifa bin Abdullah bin Hamad Al Barwani, CEO of the National Centre for Statistics and Information, stated: “The global technical development has raised an urgent need to utilize the cloud services’ capabilities and its advantages, in particular, it contributes to reducing the entities’ financial and operational costs , and ensuring the uninterrupted business continuity, as well as enhancing the flexibility of accessing the NCIS’s various IT infrastructure, information systems and applications from any geographical location”.

“The cloud services also provide the flexibility of controlling the technical resources of the main servers and enhance the servers compatibility and conformity with the standards and controls imposed by the set standards of the e-government and digital transformation applications” Al Barwani added.

Eng. Maqbool bin Salem Al Wahaibi, CEO of The Data Park said: ”This cooperation is considered as an important step that reflexes the confidence of the government and private agencies in the capabilities of The Data Park. It also enables organizations to gain the various benefits of the cloud services, its high cyber security protection systems, and its technical support service around the clock, seven days a week.

He added that The Data Park provides homogeneous data solutions with international standards, in addition to the top quality of its Cyber Security Park services, including the Security Operations Center services (SOC) and Network Operations Center services (NOC) around the clock, seven days a week”.

Al Wahaibi expressed his expectations for several entities and companies to follow the example of this partnership between NCSI and TDP,  in order to achieve the same goals that we aspire to. The Data Park is always available to provide its specialized professional services to the various administrative units of government agencies in the Sultanate in the cloud services fields. He also added the availability of security assessment services for these agencies, such as  Penetration tests, that is aimed at identifying, evaluating technical weaknesses, and setting preventive measures to protect them from external and internal electronic threats.

He added, “The security assessment services provided by The Data Park are used to create a defensive strategy in the information technology field, which can be implemented by various organizations to reduce potential security risks in the such fields”

Artificial Intelligence will transform every sector and every industry in the days to come, influencing the business outcomes. The shift can already be experienced in our smart devices, applications, healthcare systems to name a few, and its impact will permeate further within every sector in a colossal level. AI has acted as the main driver of emerging technologies such as big data, IoT, robotics and will offer innovation-led solutions in the future.

Read the full article on Oman Economic Review 

The Data Park is pleased to announce a special supplement under “Empowering Industries” published by  Times of Oman and Al Shabiba newspapers.  

This special supplement covers the Nebula AI launch event held on the 6th of  October,  as well as industry-related articles and key statistics on the benefits of this new service to all business entities in Oman.  

Read the full publication with Times of Oman 

Read the full publication with Al Shabiba

MAQBOOL AL WAHAIBI: The pandemic has led to an acceleration of the digitalisation plans of governments and businesses across the world, including in Oman. In the push to leverage IT innovation, the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model has emerged as the preferred solution of many organisations. Its popularity is to a large extent based on the flexibility it offers by removing the need to commit to large capital investment and maintenance costs, since organisations can access remote IT architecture that is assembled and managed by the cloud solutions provider.

Read the full article 

Oman has embarked on its journey for business transformation and technological innovation as part of its commitment to fulfilling Vision 2040. However, while with policy reforms and state-of-the-art infrastructure the country’s output is on a growth path, a unified approach and synergetic strategy is what is required to transform Oman into a skill-driven society. This integrated strategy will catalyse Oman’s quest for joining the fourth industrial revolution and become more relevant in the international marketplace. Staying ahead of the curve by imbibing an innovation culture, building an ecosystem, and developing skillsets at institutional levels will ensure that Oman becomes a vital part of the fourth industrial revolution. Oman needs to take advantage of the opportunities that it will offer, and should be prepared with a responsive strategy that includes public, private, civil and academic sectors in order to stay competitive, innovative and
emerge as a global leader. In order to fulfill the objectives of Vision 2040, Oman needs a constant digital assessment to align digital investments with business objectives and keep pace with the innovation advancements required to stay competitive. As we advance into the post-pandemic environment, nations, specifically Oman, need to build a collaborative strategy that will not just make us more competitive but at the same time prepare for the unforeseen future by harnessing the potential of new technologies. While the main revenue streams have already been identified for the Sultanate that includes fisheries, logistics, tourism, and mining, with the help of the ICT companies and professional services, these streams can be equipped with the right resources using efficient, economical, and sustainable business models.

A collaborative national strategy
Here are the elements of a cooperative approach that will help Oman benefit from the service providers and ICT companies; and enable the digital enablement process across sectors.

Workforce Enablement
Digital trends affect the ways professional services are delivered; and enterprises that deliver such services exist due to the expertise of individuals with specialized skills, knowledge, and domain expertise.
Skills – at large remain the most crucial element for the development of a nation. However, constant upgradation and innovation is threatening and changing the need for specialized skills. New technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence are replacing and automating processes and jobs. Educating the youth and emphasizing on a renewed curriculum that encourages tech learning, innovation at the grass-root levels will help develop a future-ready workforce and enable nations to build resources consisting the right skills. Courses that offer cross-disciplinary degrees must be introduced in institutions to create a pool of talented researchers and innovators. SMEs, private sectors and start-ups must leverage new technologies for skill upgradation and educate employees on futuristic technologies such as machine learning and critical thinking, to name a few.

Business Compatibility
Minimizing administrative and legislative burdens on firms, regularizing and maximizing billable time, determining resources and skill gaps will help to better manage projects and improve profitability. In order for businesses to thrive and mature, an ecosystem of service partners, non-reliability on foreign resources, creating a sturdy infrastructure, enabling and creating glocal opportunity is a mandate. While the professional services industry is changing rapidly, and the current economic environment is accelerating these changes, firms will need to incorporate digital technologies in their strategies, increase digital agility and respond to the changes in customer demands. At The Data Park, we are continually working with different sectors such as banking, energy, healthcare and utility to develop and synchronize their digital capabilities. However, these sectors need to gear up and create agile methodologies and renovate their business models. The government needs to implement streamlined measures focus on foreign direct investments by encouraging participation from the public-private partnerships and revise legislation for data hosting services to enable the service providers to offer enhanced services locally. It will also help to
resolve issues such as data security and theft.

Customer Experience
The focus needs to shift from more product-centric to a more service-centric delivery approach. It is important to evaluate how the technology engages customers and external stakeholders and delivers a consistent and engaging customer experience. With changing consumer behavior, it is imperative for professional services firms to adapt to these changes. Simplifying processes with automation, greater transparency, and leveraging the right solution with customer outcomes in mind and complementing machines, and work with new applications will help firms deliver better customer experiences. Similarly, a hybrid work model will help maximize productivity, engagement and collaboration.

Operational Agility
It is time to move away from the waterfall methodology to more relevant IT services delivery model. To meet the global delivery standards and to grow the investor pool, it is essential to look at
the technology infrastructure. A scalable, innovation-led model, persistently reviewing the data security parameters and IT environment will help in business expansion, without increasing the risk of data loss or any threats to strategic operations. Professional services firms need to find better ways to consolidate data sources and identify challenges and opportunities by using real-time key data and analytics for streamlining operations. New research centers and strengthening research groups will foster a culture of innovation
and entrepreneurship across the country, thus offering access to proper technologies and resources, which are the building blocks of the fourth industrial revolution.

Technology Integration
The Fourth Industrial Revolution involves the utilization of new innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, robotics, 3D printing, the Internet of Things, advanced wireless technologies to name a few. These technologies such as artificial intelligence is helping transform businesses and creating disruption. The heath care sector for example, post COVID-19 is at the forefront of leveraging AI for data analysis. Similarly, the 5G spectrum has changed the way businesses operate. Innovation coupled with use of such technologies is revolutionizing the way businesses are operating and creating value for the users, resolving problems, and accelerating the growth of business across sectors. At The Data Park, we too have been harnessing these technologies to build our cloud data services to meet data security, data confidentiality and data centralization requirements. We have created our own cloud to preserve valuable client data and have been delivering services of international standards. We are creating an ecosystem with our international partners to localize the cloud component and catalyse the growth and data security for various sectors in Oman. We are also prioritizing our focus on building our artificial intelligence portfolio, thus assembling the three pillars – cloud, cyber security and artificial intelligence to meet the future needs of our customers. For Oman to emerge as a digital economy, the task is to augment its technology and innovation capabilities. This can be achieved by supporting the entrepreneurs and SMEs and encouraging them to strengthen and invest in new technologies, urging the business community to reconsider the traditional business models and by collaborating with the government. The need of the hour is to develop the skillsets and constantly focus on research and innovation

MAQBOOL AL WAHAIBI: The pandemic has led to an acceleration of the digitalisation plans of governments and businesses across the world, including in Oman. In the push to leverage IT innovation, the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model has emerged as the preferred solution of many organisations. Its popularity is to a large extent based on the flexibility it offers by removing the need to commit to large capital investment and maintenance costs, since organisations can access remote IT architecture that is assembled and managed by the cloud solutions provider.

Read the full article 

MAQBOOL AL WAHAIBI: The pandemic has led to an acceleration of the digitalisation plans of governments and businesses across the world, including in Oman. In the push to leverage IT innovation, the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model has emerged as the preferred solution of many organisations. Its popularity is to a large extent based on the flexibility it offers by removing the need to commit to large capital investment and maintenance costs, since organisations can access remote IT architecture that is assembled and managed by the cloud solutions provider.

Read the full article 

Gig economy is a free market system and gig workers are independent contractors, online platform workers or temporary workers. They are usually not employed on a long-term basis by a single firm; instead, they enter into various contracts with multiple firms or individuals for which they are paid a pre-determined sum. There are other terms synonym for gig economy such as platform or freelance economy.

In order to build a robust and scalable gig economy ecosystem one needs to consider the benefits such models can bring. They will not just help reduce unemployment and contribute to the GDP of nations at macro level, but increase productivity, catalyze demands while inducing lower operational costs for companies. Both organizations and individuals can benefit from services that are agile, convenient and of the highest quality. Simultaneously, the gig workers can benefit from flexibility, increased income and better control over their lives. In the recent years, this model has become more popular due to the rapid technological advancements, the emergence of digital platforms and marketplaces offering employers easy access to gig workers.

In order to promote a gig economy, a requisite is to have a highly efficient legislative system that ensures effectiveness, integrates national capabilities coming from the educational system into the domestic labour market and creating more employment opportunities. For a gig economy to foster and thrive in Oman, certain regulatory and legislative requirements must be taken into consideration. The demand for gig services needs to be encouraged within the organizations through a culture of innovation and acceptance; and awareness and education amongst the labour force. The masses should be aligned to understand the advantages of this model, the long-term benefits, and should be trained to become global citizens by acquiring the skills of the future and skills that are accepted worldwide.

It is imperative for the government to determine the global implications of mentoring the next generations to fit in the new working norms by revisiting the current education framework, and creating regulatory strategies that resonate with the global trends, are not over enforced, and at the same time safeguard the rights of the individuals. The supply and demand cycle needs to be constantly evaluated.

A 360 degree change in mindsets, creating an incentive and reward based gig culture will help increase the productivity of individuals, and address macro issues such as unemployment and low GDP for nations. An hourly wage system and KPIs linked to bonuses have created many gig success stories so far across the globe. Oman too should encourage and adapt this model, and embrace disruption to improve the bottom lines as disruption and risks always lead to innovation and adaptability.

Other factors such as reach and accessibility of broadband internet across the whole country, especially in rural or underserved areas, secured online payment platform that incentivizes users to decrease their reliance on cash payments and cybersecurity measures to create an ecosystem of trust is a must. Addressing all these issues and the development of a robust and scalable gig economy ecosystem would allow the Sultanate to meet the future demand for gig services; and would make the economy even more sustainable and resilient.

The Data Park as an organization is continuously supporting the emergence of the gig framework by providing technological support to entrepreneurs and gigs, imparting training and mentorship, building applications and fostering the remote work model.

They have collaborated with the system integrators who have been impacted by the pandemic to channel their cloud based services. Though Oman is a relatively smaller market there is no dearth of talent and skills. It already has a strategy in place for digital transformation and ICT infrastructure as part of the Oman Vision 2040.

It is continuously improving its policies and regulatory framework to enable efficient adoption of the gig economy while also protecting the interests of the traditional operating models. There is a constant focus on building its innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.