Category: Technology

  • Tanco Strengthens Ties with Chinese Partners to Accelerate Development of Malaysia’s First Smart AI Port in Negeri Sembilan

    Tanco Strengthens Ties with Chinese Partners to Accelerate Development of Malaysia’s First Smart AI Port in Negeri Sembilan

    KUALA LUMPUR, 10th SEPTEMBER 2024 – Tanco Holdings Berhad (“Tanco” or “the Group”), a Emerging Malaysian Mid Cap company, has recently participated in the “Malaysia-China Entrepreneurs Exchange Conference” held in Kuala Lumpur on 9th September 2024, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations.

    The event was a collaborative initiative to foster deeper economic cooperation between Malaysia and China, focusing on transformative infrastructure projects such as Tanco’s highly anticipated Smart AI Container Port in Negeri Sembilan.

    The conference brought together prominent organisations, including the Shanghai Overseas Economic and Technical Promotion Association, Malaysia Overseas Economic and Technological Industrial Development Association and the Malaysia-China Business Council. It served as a platform for promoting bilateral investments, particularly on sustainable development and digital economic cooperation.

    Tanco’s Smart AI Container Port was highlighted as a key infrastructure project that will enhance Malaysia’s international trade capabilities. The port, boasting state-of-the-art technology and backed by a 480-acre landbank, will feature natural deep-water access exceeding 21 meters, allowing it to accommodate the world’s largest container ships. This positions Negeri Sembilan as a pivotal maritime hub in Southeast Asia, unlocking significant economic potential for Malaysia’s logistics and industrial sectors.

    YB Teo Kok Seong, Negeri Sembilan State Executive Councilor, underscored Negeri Sembilan’s competitive investment environment, citing its geographic advantage as pivotal for Tanco’s port development. 

    Mr. Qi Quansheng, Chairman of the Shanghai Federation of Overseas Chinese, emphasised the important role overseas Chinese businesses play in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 

    Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Goh Tian Chuan (Tan Sri T.C. Goh), Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Malaysia-China Business Council, commended the growing partnership between Malaysia and China over the past five decades. 

    During the event, Dato’ Sri Andrew Tan Jun Suan, Group Managing Director of Tanco Holdings Berhad, expressed the Group’s vision to create a world-class port that will drive economic growth and technological advancement in Malaysia. 

    The project’s strategic location, coupled with Negeri Sembilan’s competitive land prices, makes it an attractive investment destination for both local and international enterprises. The state has already seen over RM2 billion in foreign investments, including notable players like Nezha Automobile, Lee Kum Kee, and Kibing Glass

    The successful completion of the Smart AI Container Port will mark a significant milestone in Malaysia’s infrastructure development, offering advanced logistics capabilities while promoting sustainable practices. It will also serve as a catalyst for the growth of industrial zones and green technology investments in the region.

    As Malaysia and China celebrate five decades of diplomatic relations, the Smart AI Port project underscores the long-standing partnership between the two nations and paves the way for future economic collaborations. Tanco Holdings remains committed to driving innovation and economic growth through strategic partnerships, sustainable practices, and technological advancement.

  • Leveraging the AI Advantage

    Leveraging the AI Advantage

    By Jeannie Cotter

    “The global AI market is projected to reach a staggering US$15.7 trillion by 2030.” – PwC (Global Artificial Intelligence Study: Exploiting the AI Revolution)

    The boundaries between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to blur, rendering the concept of soulless, impersonal machines as archaic notions of the past. Who would have ever thought that AI bots, once imagined as such, would bear whimsical and evocative names like Bard, Bing, ChatGPT or Claude, each moniker hinting at the vast potential and enigmatic nature of these technological marvels?

    In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, innovation is the currency of success, and AI is the game-changer businesses can’t afford to ignore.

    As the world becomes increasingly digitalised, businesses are facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities. To stay ahead of the curve, companies must embrace the transformative power of AI and harness its potential to drive innovation, streamline operations and gain a competitive edge.

    The global AI market is projected to reach a staggering US$15.7 trillion by 2030, according to a report by PwC. This exponential growth is fuelled by the increasing demand for intelligent systems across various industries, from healthcare and finance to manufacturing and retail.

    A recent Kaspersky study has revealed that nearly two in every three (61% and 64%) companies in Asia Pacific (APAC) have implemented artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) in their businesses’ infrastructures. Additionally, 28% and 26% are planning to adopt AI and IoT within two years.

    The Rise of Generative AI

    Beyond language models, generative AI tools like text-to-video and text-to-image technologies are opening up new worlds of visual storytelling and content creation.”

    One of the most exciting developments in the AI landscape is the emergence of generative AI models like ChatGPT, text-to-video and text-to-image tools. These cutting-edge technologies are revolutionising the way businesses approach content creation, product development, and customer engagement.

    ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI, has captured the imagination of the business world with its ability to generate human-like text on virtually any topic. From writing reports and marketing materials to generating code and analysing data, ChatGPT has the potential to significantly enhance productivity and creativity.

    According to a survey by Statista conducted across four Southeast Asian countries in 2023, 62% of businesses would likely or very likely use AI-powered chatbots such as ChatGPT for online search purposes in the future. This adoption rate highlights the growing recognition of the value these tools can bring to organisations.

    Beyond language models, generative AI tools like text-to-video and text-to-image technologies are opening up new worlds of visual storytelling and content creation. These tools enable businesses to generate high-quality videos and images from simple text prompts, revolutionising the way they engage with customers and communicate their brand narratives.

    A study conducted in 2023 by the software firm HubSpot found that video was the most popular and effective media format for companies, with 50% of marketers leveraging video in their marketing strategy, followed closely by images at 47%.

    Improving Operational Efficiency with AI

    While generative AI tools are capturing headlines, businesses are also leveraging AI to optimise their internal operations and streamline processes. From predictive maintenance in manufacturing to fraud detection in finance, AI is playing a crucial role in enhancing efficiency, reducing costs and minimising errors.

    According to a report by Accenture, high-performing organisations that have successfully implemented AI in their operations have seen a 50% increase in revenue by using AI. On the other hand, fintech companies that implement chatbots were projected to realise cost savings of US$7.3 billion in 2023, according to a report by Juniper Research.

    AI-Powered Customer Experience

    “A study by Salesforce found that 76% of customers expect consistent interactions across all channels, and AI can enable businesses to meet this demand by providing seamless, personalised experiences across multiple touchpoints.”

    Beyond operational excellence, AI is transforming the way businesses interact with customers. Intelligent chatbots and virtual assistants are revolutionising customer service, providing 24/7 support and personalised experiences. Additionally, AI-powered recommendation systems are enhancing e-commerce platforms, offering tailored product suggestions and increasing customer satisfaction.

    A study by Salesforce found that 76% of customers expect consistent interactions across all channels, and AI can enable businesses to meet this demand by providing seamless, personalised experiences across multiple touchpoints.

    KFC exemplifies how brands can use AI to deliver personalised shopping experiences. The fast-food chain teamed up with Chinese search engine Baidu to develop facial recognition technology capable of predicting customer orders. The system analyses estimated age and mood to recommend menu items tailored to each individual.

    For instance, a 20-year-old male might be offered a crispy chicken sandwich, roasted wings and a coke, while a 50-year-old female could receive suggestions for porridge and soybean milk. This approach streamlines ordering while providing a level of personalisation that resonates with many patrons.

    In the cosmetics industry, Sephora enhances its customer experience through an AI-powered Virtual Artist app. Leveraging augmented reality, the app scans users’ faces, allowing them to virtually ‘try on’ various makeup products before purchasing. This interactive feature guides informed buying decisions while injecting an element of fun into e-commerce.

    These use cases across the food and cosmetics industries exemplify how AI can significantly elevate customer experiences within diverse sectors by enabling personalised, seamless engagement.

    Maximising AI in Customer Service

    By incorporating these practices, businesses can harness the power of AI to optimise customer service while maintaining a human touch.

    AI as Support, Not Replacement: Utilise AI to enhance customer service, focusing on streamlining processes rather than replacing human interaction. Identify areas for automation, such as handling routine queries, while reserving human intervention for emotionally charged situations.

    Reducing Wait Times: Employ AI to swiftly address simple queries, minimising wait times and ensuring prompt customer engagement. By allowing AI to handle basic tasks, human agents can focus on more complex issues, fostering a seamless customer experience.

    Automating Communication: Leverage AI to automate various aspects of customer communication, including follow-ups, email drafting and CRM data retrieval.

    Crisis Detection and Alerts: Utilise AI’s natural language processing to detect shifts in customer behaviour or emotions, enabling proactive crisis management. Set up alerts to notify service teams of potential issues and intervene when necessary, maintaining customer satisfaction.

    Ethical and Responsible AI

    While the potential benefits of AI are undeniable, businesses must also grapple with the ethical and responsible deployment of these powerful technologies. Issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and transparency are critical considerations that cannot be overlooked.

    The 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer: Insights for Tech report reveals that AI stands at a critical juncture. Worldwide, 30% of participants welcome the innovation, while 35% oppose it. Over the last five years, trust in AI companies has declined globally, dropping from 62% to 54%.

    Among those who harbour reservations about the increasing adoption of AI, their primary concerns include privacy issues, fears of AI dehumanising society, insufficient testing and evaluation and the potential for harm to individuals and communities.

    In response, businesses must prioritise the development of robust governance frameworks and invest in AI ethics training to ensure their AI systems are fair, transparent and aligned with societal values.

    As businesses integrate AI and other interconnected technologies, cybersecurity emerges as a critical concern. According to Adrian Hia, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky, “Undoubtedly, new technological tools play a vital role in improving the efficiencies and productivity of enterprises in the region. However, there are loopholes, particularly in cybersecurity, that need to be addressed.

    “Our recent study showed more than half of the companies are using AI and IoT in their organisations, but 21% of them think AI and IoT are somewhat difficult to protect. It shows that there is a skills and knowledge gap that needs to be patched with urgency.”

    Ivan Vassunov, Vice President, Corporate Products at Kaspersky, echoes this sentiment, stating, “Interconnected technologies bring immense business opportunities, but they also usher in a new era of vulnerability to serious cyberthreats. With an increasing amount of data being collected and transmitted, cybersecurity measures must be strengthened.

    “Enterprises must protect critical assets, build customer confidence amid the expanding interconnected landscape, and ensure there are adequate resources allocated to cybersecurity so they can use the new solutions to combat the incoming challenges of interconnected tech.”

    The Road to Unlocking AI’s Full Potential Responsibly

    The AI revolution is here, and businesses that fail to embrace it risk being left behind. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and data-driven, the ability to harness the power of AI will be a defining factor in determining long-term success.

    However, the journey towards AI adoption is not without its challenges. Companies must navigate the complex ethical and security landscapes that come with these powerful technologies. Building a robust AI governance framework, prioritising responsible and ethical AI practices and investing in cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions are crucial steps in mitigating risks and ensuring the safe and trustworthy deployment of AI systems.

    Ultimately, the true competitive advantage lies not just in adopting AI, but in doing so in a way that aligns with societal values, respects privacy and fosters trust. By striking this delicate balance, businesses can unlock the full transformative potential of AI, driving innovation, enhancing efficiency and delivering exceptional customer experiences.

    Those who approach it with foresight, responsibility and a commitment to ethical practices will be the ones who truly unleash the power of this revolutionary technology and secure a lasting competitive edge.

    Securing the AI Revolution

    Given the scale of change that interconnected technologies like AI are likely to bring, organisations must develop a strategy to implement and protect them. Based on research findings, Kaspersky recommends four effective ways to ensure organisations are prepared to protect interconnected technologies:

    1. Adopt secure-by-design principles. By integrating cybersecurity into each stage of the software development lifecycle, secure-by-design software and hardware become resilient against cyberattacks, contributing to the overall security of digital systems. Cyber immune solutions allow companies to minimise the threat surface and significantly decrease the ability of cybercriminals to perform a successful attack.
    2. Train and upskill your workforce. Building a cyber-aware culture requires a comprehensive strategy that empowers employees to gain knowledge and put it into practice. With the right cyber-security training, IT professionals can advance their skills and defend their companies against attacks.
    3. Upgrade your cybersecurity solutions. As companies adopt interconnected technologies like AI, they need cybersecurity solutions with advanced features, enabling them to collect and correlate telemetry from multiple sources and provide effective threat detection and rapid automated response. For AI solutions built on containers, it’s important to secure the infrastructure with container security solutions, which allow companies to detect security issues at every stage of the app lifecycle.
    4. Meet regulations. Avoid legal problems or reputational damage by ensuring your cybersecurity practices meet changing standards and legal requirements.

    By following these recommendations, organisations can harness the power of AI and interconnected technologies while mitigating the associated cybersecurity risks.

  • FedEx Introduces Surround® Monitoring and Intervention Solution to Enhance Global Supply Chain Visibility

    FedEx Introduces Surround® Monitoring and Intervention Solution to Enhance Global Supply Chain Visibility

    The FedEx Surround® monitoring and intervention tools integrate seamlessly with the company’s existing transportation network, enhancing its robust suite of shipping and tracking solutions. With three levels of service for customers to choose from that comprise of Select, Preferred and Premium, the tools support a wide range of industries including healthcare, aerospace, high-tech, providing critical updates and interventions that ensure the integrity and timely delivery of sensitive shipments.

    With the FedEx Surround® monitoring and intervention suite, FedEx provides three key benefits to its customers:

    1. Flexibility and Control– Surround® dashboard provides near real-time global visibility and predictive analytics using AI and SenseAware ID.
    2. Greater Value– Special handling code enhances operational capability, enabling prioritized boarding and handling, cold chain support and in- and out-of-network intervention.
    3. Peace of Mind– 24×7 expert support ensures proactive monitoring and intervention with dedicated teams at hubs, ramps, and stations, including customized reporting for customers.

    “At FedEx, we are constantly innovating to meet the evolving needs of our customers. With data-backed intelligent solutions and the introduction of FedEx Surround®, we are building smart logistics for our customers. The tools are not just about tracking; it’s about smartly intervening in real-time to ensure that shipments are not only monitored but also actively managed to mitigate risk. This is a game-changer for businesses relying on just-in-time delivery and high-stakes shipments,” said Kawal Preet, president, Asia Pacific, FedEx.

    The FedEx Surround® monitoring and intervention solution in Asia Pacific utilizes advanced sensor technology including SenseAware ID with near real-time data analytics to provide continuous monitoring and proactive interventions for shipments worldwide. FedEx has long been a pioneer in sensor-based logistics, providing advanced tracking of urgent and high value shipments. SenseAware ID uses a lightweight, compact sensor that transmits precise package location data every two seconds via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to WiFi access points or established gateway devices throughout the FedEx network. Packages equipped with the SenseAware ID sensor are tracked hundreds of times versus dozens of times with traditional package scanning protocols, which provides an unprecedented amount of real-time data about the location of the shipment.

    FedEx has a strong commitment to innovation demonstrated by the strategic use of AI and machine learning technologies within the FedEx Surround® system. These technologies predict potential disruptions in the shipping process, allowing FedEx and its customers to swiftly make informed decisions. FedEx Surround® monitoring and intervention is set to transform the way businesses manage logistics, offering enhanced visibility and control over their supply chains.

    For more information on FedEx Surround® monitoring and intervention, and other innovations, please visit fedex.com.

    About Federal Express Corporation

    Federal Express Corporation is one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. Federal Express Corporation uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments by a definite time and date.

    For further information, please contact:

    Shahira Amiera (Myra), Perspective Strategies                

    Tel        : +603 7491 3138

    Mobile : +60 12-644 0510

    Email   : shahira.amiera@perspective.com.my

  • Cybersecurity Threat Landscape: Emerging threats and Mitigating Risks in 2024

    Cybersecurity Threat Landscape: Emerging threats and Mitigating Risks in 2024

    14 August 2024

    The cybersecurity threat landscape is constantly evolving as new threat actors, technologies and threats emerge, creating an uncertain world for organisations and the public alike with potential pitfalls in even opening an email. Cybersecurity professionals must stay vigilant and ahead of rapidly evolving schemes, threats and strategies by cybercriminals who are leveraging open source technologies and are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

    A Broad Overview of the Threat Landscape

    Based on the findings from the Kaspersky Incident Response Analyst Report 2023, the present scale of cyberthreats saw that 75% of cyberattack attempts exploited Microsoft Office. In terms of infection vectors, 42.3% of successful attempts used publicly available applications with 20.3% using compromised accounts while just 8.5% used brute force credentials.

    When it comes to infection vectors, most incursions were on attackers using stolen or purchased credentials before committing a remote desktop protocol (RDP) attack, phishing emails loaded with malicious attachments and links and malicious files on public resources imitating document templates. At a silver lining, attack attempts dropped by 36% in Q1 of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.

    After incurring a cyberattack, the aftermath resulted in 33.3% of organisations getting their data encrypted, 21.1% incurring data theft and 12.2% encountered compromised active directories.

    Based on a prior Kaspersky survey conducted in 2022, the biggest looming cyberthreat risk is ransomware (66%) along with data theft (also 66%), followed closely by cybersabotage (62%), supply chain attacks (60%) and DDos attacks (also 60%), cyberespionage (59%), advanced persistent threats [APT] (57%) and cryptomining (56%). For 2024, currently trending cyberthreats are primarily supply chain attacks (6.8%) and targeted phishing attempts (5.1%) which remain a clear and present threat for businesses.

    Based on the same 2023 statistics, the most prolific target by threat actors was governments (27.9%), financial institutions (12.2%), manufacturing (17%) and IT companies (8.8%). In terms of targeted regions, Asia and CIS saw the most cybersecurity incidents at 47.3% followed by the Americas (21.8%), the Middle East (10.9%) and Europe (9.1%). “Governments were the most prolific target by threat actors followed distantly by manufacturing and financial institutions with the largest cyberthreat risk being ransomware and cybersabotage,” said Igor Kuznetsov, Director, Global Research & Analysis Team (GReAT) at Kaspersky.

    Based on statistics from Kaspersky’s security solutions employed by clients, over 220,000 businesses were protected around the world with 6.1 billion attacks prevented with Kaspersky security solutions along with 437 million internet-borne threats detected and stopped. In addition, over 325,000 users were saved from financial loss after banking trojans were detected and thwarted.

    To achieve this, Kaspersky security services detected over 411,000 unique malware samples daily in 2024 which is an increase over 403,000 daily in 2023. In terms of cybersecurity incidents, over 99% were detected by automatic systems. 2023 also saw 106 million unique malicious URLs detected and 200 advanced persistent threat (APTs) groups that are currently active.

    Ransomware as a service (RaaS) coming to the fore

    The prevailing trend is that cybercrime is often run as a business with the majority of detected cybersecurity incidents (71%) being financially driven. There was a marked rise in ransomware incidents that saw the percentage of users affected by targeted ransomware almost doubling in 2021-2022. This was borne with a survey that saw 68% of business owners surveyed believing that IT security risks keep rising.

    “There are three popular myths in regards to ransomware,” said Igor,” the first being that cybercriminals are just criminals with an IT education, that the targets of ransomware are set before an attack and that ransomware gangs are acting along.” Contrary to popular opinion, most cyber incidents are opportunistic attacks while many ransomware gangs actually work with affiliates much like a business, performing ransomware as a service (RaaS).

    RaaS operates as a sophisticated process, initially involving a ransomware developer and a packer developer to create the malware itself, which is then marketed to other cybercriminals. Various specialised threat actors contribute to the ransomware ecosystem:
    1. Access resellers offer entry to protected systems as a service, often selling their wares on specialised underground marketplaces.
    2. Rogue analysts identify the true value of targets and make strategic suggestions to professional negotiators. Once a malware payload has been delivered, these specialised negotiators come into play to ensure the ransom is paid using their social engineering skills. After payment, they facilitate the laundering of funds before the cycle repeats.
    3. State-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actors may exploit cybercriminals as convenient entry points into targets of interest, using these connections to conduct espionage or inflict damage on victims.

    In some cases, these operations may include infiltration tactics (similar to red team exercises) to deploy ransomware effectively. This collaborative approach allows cybercriminals to pool their expertise, making ransomware attacks more sophisticated and challenging to defend against, while also ensuring the entire process from initial breach to fund laundering is handled by specialists at each stage.

    To optimise the chances of success, cybercriminals may afford purchasing 0-day exploits from other criminals which was a luxury previously accessible only to state-sponsored actors but which is now up for the highest bidder. Crossplatform cryptors are also becoming more creative and adaptive and have enacted self-defense mechanisms to their malware to make them more difficult to decrypt.

    These various specialised cybercriminals all play their part and once a malware payload has been delivered, specialised threat actors who act as professional negotiators come into play to get the ransom paid and after the ransom is paid, to then get the funds laundered before the cycle repeats itself.

    “Ultimately, affected organisations must not pay a ransom which will perpetuate and enable more cybercrime,” said Igor. He warned that even if a ransom is paid, the data may have already been stolen and could be leaked later or used for further extortion attempts. Instead, Igor highlighted alternative solutions: “Victims can often recover their data without paying. Kaspersky maintains a vault of keys and tools to decrypt data locked by various ransomware families. Since 2018, over 1.5 million users worldwide have successfully recovered their data using these resources.”

    Operation Triangulation

    One of the biggest potential threat vectors that was discovered by Kaspersky was Operation Triangulation that targeted iOS devices with unknown malware and which exploited a hardware vulnerability inside Apple CPUs and employed four 0-day vulnerabilities to infect a target devices which would cost more than US$1 million in the black market to obtain.

    When an iOS device is targeted, it will get an invisible iMessage with a malicious attachment with a non-interaction exploit from the message initiating code execution. Once the code is deployed, it connects to a service and then starts a multi-stage execution of the malware payload. Once this is completed, an attacker will gain full control over the compromised iOS device and all traces and logs are then wiped to eliminate any trace of the attack.

    These vulnerabilities have already been patched by Apple but to prevent possible future cyberattacks, users of iOS devices need to regularly update their firmware, conduct regular reboots and disable iMessage to prevent it as a possible malware pathway.

    Containerised Systems – Implementing Rules To Mitigate Risk

    Supply chain attacks, closely tied to containerised systems running on open-source software, present another significant threat vector for 2024. These cloud-hosted systems enable services to operate independently from the host operating system, allowing execution in diverse environments. Containerisation facilitates lightweight, efficient applications that can run on various devices and in clusters, managing demanding workloads at scale. This versatility underpins many modern applications and systems, including open-source platforms like Kubernetes.

    “Containerised systems often rely on numerous third-party dependencies, introducing significant supply chain risks from both malicious intent and unintentional flaws,” explains Igor. He cites two recent examples: “The Crowdstrike event caused an outage on millions of devices, demonstrating how a faulty update can have widespread impact. Additionally, a less publicised attack on XZ Linux utilities could have compromised millions of SSH-enabled devices, highlighting the potential for malicious exploitation in the supply chain.”

    At present, hundreds of millions of open source packages are accessible to developers at popular sites like GitHub with over 100 million developers using the site. On average, 670 malicious open source packages are discovered every month and to date, over 12,000 vulnerable open source packages have been known and identified.

    Proper security policies need to be enacted for containerised systems with close scrutiny to images to ensure no vulnerable or untrusted content, ensuring the image registry does not contain outdated or misconfigured settings, that the orchestrator has robust access and network control policies free of configuration and authentication errors, that containers have safe configurations and ensuring that host OS systems ensure shared kernels are managed responsibly while minimising potential attack surfaces.

    More robust rules for containerised systems need to be implemented and a system such as Kaspersky Security Container that protects at multiple levels needs to be integrated into systems along with a comprehensive security policy.

    Best cybersecurity practices for 2024

    To avoid falling victim to a targeted attack by a known or unknown threat actor, organisations need to create and maintain a mature security posture through a combination of effective strategy, proper employee education on cybersecurity, updated threat intelligence from trusted cybersecurity providers and a proper application of technology. While no system is infallible or invulnerable, Kaspersky researchers recommend implementing the following security measures to maximise protection:

    ● Update your operating system, applications, and antivirus software regularly to patch any known vulnerabilities.

    ● Provide your SOC team with access to the latest threat intelligence (TI). The Kaspersky Threat Intelligence Portal is a single point of access for the company’s TI, providing cyberattack data and insights gathered by Kaspersky spanning over 20 years.

    ● Upskill your cybersecurity team to tackle the latest targeted threats with Kaspersky online training developed by GReAT experts.

    ● For endpoint level detection, investigation, and timely remediation of incidents, implement EDR solutions such as Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response.

    ● Investigate alerts and threats identified by security controls with Kaspersky’s Incident Response and Digital Forensics services to gain deeper insights.

    More information can be found at Kaspersky

    About Kaspersky
    Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. With over a billion devices protected to date from emerging cyberthreats and targeted attacks, Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection, specialised security products and services, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. We help over 220,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com.

  • The New Acer TravelMate and Veriton Workhorses Provides More Sustainable Choices

    The New Acer TravelMate and Veriton Workhorses Provides More Sustainable Choices

    Acer Malaysia today introduced a series of business-grade product including laptops, desktops, an all-in-one (AIO) desktop and monitors. This latest range of refreshed products includes the TravelMate and Veriton devices, which now come incorporated with improved features designed with sustainability in mind, to assist corporations and businesses in fulfilling their commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts.

    “At Acer, we believe choosing green is only possible when we make green products accessible without compromising user experience, stability and durability. In addition to good and reliable performance, we have improved the robust features that protect an organisation’s data. In the make of the devices, we also incorporated recycled materials which generally cost more and require advance technology to deliver the same performance as regular materials. In walking the talk on sustainability, we are subsidising some of the production cost to make green devices such as the ones we are launching today, accessible. Our goal is to assist organisations make environmentally responsible choices while making sustainability sustainable,” said Chan Weng Hong, General Manager of Products, Sales and Marketing of Acer Malaysia.

    Business Sustainability: Safeguard Company Data and Easier Maintenance

    Businesses have to be sustainable while contributing to sustainability. Understanding today’s digitalised era and cybersecurity need, Acer integrated hardware, firmware and OS protection into TravelMate and Veriton series to safeguard confidential data of the users. Loaded with commercial bios that helps IT departments to manage and maintain the devices, the new TravelMate and Veriton devices also come with the Acer office manager and Windows AutoPilot to simplify the deployment process while ensuring top security. Furthermore, the TravelMate and Veriton AIO feature a webcam shutter that allows professionals to physically cover the webcam, providing an extra layer of security for their privacy.

    Understanding the needs of professionals who value sustained performance in their laptops, Acer introduced the TravelMate P2, P4 and P6 series with the innovative Acer Dust Defender. This advanced feature automatically cleans up the thermal system every 6 hours of use, ensuring the laptops consistently deliver optimal performance over extended use periods. This active maintenance of the device’s capability enables professionals to rely on their laptops to consistently meet their performance requirements, making them a great choice for prolonged and demanding usage.

    Stable Performance, Longer Lifespan and Trustable Aftersales Service

    The Acer TravelMate and Veriton are powered by the latest 13th Gen Intel Core processor, accompanied by with 4GB or 8GB RAM, and equipped with 256GB or 512GB SSD to enable fast loading speeds. These devices have high upgradability to enable companies to enhance performance and extend the lifespan of the devices without the necessity of a full replacement, resulting in cost savings and reduced electronic waste.

    The Acer Veriton Vero Mini desktop (VZ4714G-51348W11PS) and Acer Veriton Vero AIO desktop (VN4710GT) also feature the same design that enables easy upgrading and maintenance despite its compact design, making them ideal desktops for businesses seeking robust devices that take up minimal space in offices that might have spatial constraints.

    All the new TravelMate and Veriton devices come with three years on-site service and warranty. Acer Malaysia has established a great reputation of providing excellent ISO9001 certified aftersales service nationwide since 2003. Meanwhile, the ISO 27001 certification attests to Acer’s adherence to information security best practices to minimize risk of data breach and business continuity.

    Recycled Materials Incorporated to Automatically Reduce Customers’ Carbon Footprint

    The new TravelMate P2, P4 and P6 business laptops go beyond traditional design by incorporating Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) plastic, effectively helping to reduce carbon footprint and assisting customers achieve their sustainability goals. By choosing these laptops, customers automatically contribute to a greener environment.

    For customers prioritising eco-friendly products, the Vero Veriton (Acer Veriton Vero Mini desktop and Acer Veriton Vero AIO desktop) stand out as they birthed from Acer’s Earthion platform, where designers, suppliers and all stakeholders collaborate to create a truly green product from the design phase to packaging. The Vero name is reserved for devices that undergo a comprehensive set of considerations encompassing design, production and materials, packaging, and use-life of the product.

    There are up to 56% percentage of PCR plastic in the new Acer Veriton Vero Mini desktop and Acer Veriton Vero AIO desktop as compared to a regular desktop. For more efficient energy usage during use, the devices feature the VeroSense software that allows users to easily to switch to ECO+.

    The TravelMate and Veriton Vero series are shipped in green packaging using 100% plastic-free and recyclable packaging. On top of the recycled cardboard, recycled paper from moulded pulp, the devices are protected in recycled PE bags.

    The Acer TravelMate laptop prices start from RM3,249. The 360-degree Acer TravelMate Spin P4 convertible laptop with flappable hinge for additional flexibility to share content is priced at RM5,699. The price for the TravelMate P6 that comes with 14-inch OLED display is RM6,899.

    In addition, Acer Veriton desktop prices start from RM2,749, while the Veriton Vero AIO desktop (VZ4714G-51348W11PS) that comes with a 23.8-inch wide FHD display is priced at RM4,699 and the Veriton Vero mini is priced at RM3,499.

    For more information, please visit Acer Malaysia’s Facebook @AcerMalaysia or call Acer’s Product Infoline at 1800-88-1288 (9am – 6pm, Mondays to Fridays), or email ama.marcom@acer.com.

    About Acer

    Founded in 1976, today Acer is one of the world’s top ICT companies and has a presence in over 160 countries. As Acer looks into the future, it is focused on enabling a world where hardware, software and services will fuse with one another to open up new possibilities for consumers and businesses alike. From service-oriented technologies to the Internet of Things to gaming and virtual reality, Acer’s 7,000+ employees are dedicated to the research, design, marketing, sale, and support of products and solutions that break barriers between people and technology. Please visit www.acer.com for more information.

  • ASUS Announces All-New Vivobook Go 15 (E1504F), Your Compact & Super-Durable Companion

    ASUS Announces All-New Vivobook Go 15 (E1504F), Your Compact & Super-Durable Companion

    ASUS Malaysia announced the 15.6-inch Vivobook Go 15 (E1504F), an exciting and affordable lifestyle laptop that help make users productive or keep them entertained, wherever they go.

    This light and compact laptop feature a sharp and vibrant FHD display and a powerful ASUS SonicMaster sound system with DTS Audio Processing for immersive entertainment. The design is stylish and practical, with thoughtful touches that make the user’s life easier, such as a 180° lay-flat hinge. Built to survive any lifestyle, the Vivobook Go 15 (E1504F) are US military-grade tested for durability using the world’s strictest test regime[1].

    Speedy performance for any task is assured by the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor, up to 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and a 512 GB PCIe® SSD. Other user-friendly features include an ASUS ErgoSense keyboard; smart conferencing via the HD webcam with ASUS 3D Noise Reduction (3DNR), AI noise cancelation, and a physical privacy shield; and a useful suite of ASUS apps including MyASUS, GlideX and ScreenXpert 3.

    Superior Sound And Vision

    Vivobook Go 15 delivers crisp and clear visuals from its FHD display. The 16:9 NanoEdge slim-bezel design which delivers a staggering 84% screen-to-body ratio gives users more screen space for multitasking and immersive viewing. Both displays also ensure a reduced risk of eye strain during long viewing sessions thanks to their TÜV Rheinland eye-care certification for low blue-light and flicker-free operation.

    The Vivobook Go 15 also features incredibly powerful, crystal-clear sound with ASUS SonicMaster and DTS Audio Processing. The combination of hardware and software boosts the volume, and removes noise to improve audio clarity for truly immersive sound.

    Light, Compact, Stylish And Tough

    Measuring 17.9 mm thin and weighing just 1.63 kg, the new Vivobook Go 15 is designed to be compact enough to slip into any bag, and light enough for easy one-handed carrying. It comes in a timeless Cool Silver finish, along with signature Vivobook details like the raised logo tag on the lid, a warning-stripe pattern on the Enter key, contrasting colored rubber feet on the base, and a stylish V-shaped air vent.

    The new Vivobook Go 15 is strictly tested to ensure its durability in everyday use, using the latest MIL-STD-810H US military-grade standard with up to 12 test methods and 26 individual tests — the industry’s most stringent testing regime.

    Speedy Performance

    The Vivobook Go 15 is powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processors, with up to 16 GB of speedy LDDR5 memory and 512 GB of storage to help users complete all their daily productivity missions. For on-the-go convenience, the battery can be fast-charged to 60% capacity in around 49 minutes[2].

    Ultrafast connectivity is provided by up to WiFi 6E enhanced with ASUS WiFi Master technology for fast and stable connections. The comprehensive I/O ports include a USB-C® 3.2 Gen 1 port, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, a USB 2.0 port, HDMI® output and an audio combo jack — so it’s easy to for users to connect
    all their existing peripherals, displays and projectors, wherever they are.

    Feature-Packed

    Superior typing comfort is assured with the full-size ASUS ErgoSense keyboard, which has a 19.05 mm key pitch, a 0.2 mm key-cap dish, and long 1.4 mm key travel that gives it an incredibly satisfying feel, with the optimum bounce and travel calculated with fine-tuned precision. Excellent privacy is provided by the physical webcam shield, and there’s a fingerprint sensor that allows one-touch login with Windows Hello.

    For enhanced video and audio conferencing, there’s an HD camera with ASUS 3DNR technology that makes videos as clear as they can be. AI noise-cancelation employs machine learning to isolate unwanted noise from human speech, so users can easily hear what everyone else is saying, in any environment.

    The Vivobook Go 15 (E1504F) also come with a collection of easy-to-use productivity-enhancing ASUS apps, including GlideX for cross-device screen sharing; MyASUS for easy access to updates, apps, customer service and performance optimization; and ScreenXpert 3 for easy multi-display management.

    Availability & Pricing

    ASUS Vivobook Go 15 (E1504F) will be available in two variants, priced starting from RM2,299. For more info:

    ASUS eStore: Buy ASUS Vivobook Go 15 (E1504F) | For-Home | Laptops | eStore Malaysia

    Product Page: Vivobook Go 15 (E1504F)|Laptops For Home|ASUS Malaysia

    ASUS Malaysia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asusmalaysia

    SPECIFICATIONS[3]

    About ASUS

    ASUS is a global technology leader that provides the world’s most innovative and intuitive devices, components and solutions to deliver incredible experiences that enhance the lives of people everywhere. With its team of 5,000 in-house R&D experts, ASUS is world-renowned for continuously reimagining today’s technologies for tomorrow, garners more than 11 awards every day for quality, innovation and design, and is ranked among Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies. FORTUNE and FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Companies are registered trademarks of FORTUNE Media IP Limited and are used under license

    1 Tested using enhanced military-grade MIL-STD-810H durability standards, with up to 12 test methods and 26 test procedures, to ensure extraordinary toughness. Based on ASUS internal market research using available information and testing reports from main laptop brand websites on Oct 28, 2022, ASUS consumer laptops use a regime consisting of 26 test procedures, which is the consumer laptop industry’s strictest and most extensive test regime for the MIL-STD-810H standard. The number of tests passed by each consumer laptop model can be found in the ASUS quality test report for that model.

    2 Charges the battery to up to 60% within 49 minutes when the system is off or in Standby mode. Power adapter with a minimum capacity of 45 watts is required. After charging has reached 60% capacity, charging will resume at normal rate. Charging time may vary +/-10% due to system tolerance.

    3 Specifications, content and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors. Full specifications are available at http://www.asus.com

  • Building A Safer Digital Future For Youth Of Tomorrow

    Building A Safer Digital Future For Youth Of Tomorrow

    In celebration of International Day of Education and International Day of Women and Girls in ScienceForest Interactive kickstarted a collaboration with Youth Empowerment Support (YES) to spread awareness about the importance of education.  

    Malaysia-based talents paid a visit to Somali Refugee Community Center, managed by YES, to conduct an interactive two-hour workshop with the students on the fundamentals of digital citizenship; covering online privacy, security, and ethical behaviour. The Somali Refugee Community Center is a venue that supports refugee youths in addressing the many needs and challenges they face while living in Malaysia.

    Malaysia-based Forest Interactive talents introducing themselves to the students at the Somali Refugee Community Center

    The interactive workshop was conducted by a team of passionate volunteers who engaged the students aged between 8 to 12 with a variety of activities such as reading and understanding the Do’s and Dont’s of a responsible digital citizen, highlighting aspects of Personal Information, Pishing, Digital Footprint, Catfishing, Cyberbullying, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and Reporting Abuse. 

    Besides, volunteers sharing facts of real-life scenarios on digital citizenship, the students were also handed worksheets to work on being Internet Alert, hypothetical scenarios faced online, Code Cracking, and Practicing Empathy as well as reflect upon what they had learned during the workshop. Through this learning session, the audience had the opportunity to learn on how to create strong passwords and to understand the importance of having one.

    Nisa Saharuddin, Community Engagement Lead at Forest Interactive Foundation said “Forest Interactive Foundation firmly believes that access to education is a fundamental human right that should be available to all. To achieve this goal, we collaborate with organizations such as Youth Empowerment Support (YES) and work together to develop effective programs. To ensure positive outcomes, we carefully select volunteers from the industry who possess extensive knowledge and a solid background to deliver the best messages to the students. Given that young people nowadays are exposed to diverse influences, both good and bad, it is our duty to educate and nurture them with appropriate knowledge to prepare and safeguard them for the technology-driven world of the future.”

    To ensure maximum participation, stationary sets were provided to the children during the workshop, and all extra supplies were donated to the center as part of the donation effort of this campaign. 

    Mohammad Abdi, founder of Youth Empowerment Support (YES) and CEO of Somali Refugee Community in Malaysia expressed, “We are delighted to express our heartfelt appreciation towards the passion, drive, and commitment demonstrated by the volunteers who lend a helping hand in educating and imparting knowledge the refugee children.”

    “Through this collaboration, we strongly believe that these children will greatly benefit, as we recognize the crucial importance of equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.”

    The Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs) covered in this CSR initiative are No Poverty (1)Quality Education (4), and Reducing Inequalities (10). For more information on Forest Interactive’s sustainability initiatives, visit forestcares.org.

    Are you an NGO looking for partners or do you know of communities that need contributions? Contact us at corporatepr@forest-interactive.com

    About Youth Empowerment Support (YES)  

    Youth empowerment support was established in March 2019 by a group of twelve (15) youths. 7 girls and 8 boys. The main reason that the YES team was established was because of seeing many youths committing suicides and inequality happening in the community. Their purpose is to support their fellow refugee youths to be able to address the many needs and challenges refugees face in Malaysia. Youth empowerment support is a mixed group of different ethnicities, age, backgrounds, life experiences, and more, but they all have a common goal that unites them all. and that is to give back to their refugee communities, notably to all refugee youths, and any family in need, emergency situations, health, raising awareness and designing programs for the youth.  

    About Forest Interactive 

    Founded in 2006, Forest Interactive develops scalable mobile platforms to connect mobile operators, content providers, and game publishers with their subscribers. With over 15 years of industry experience, Forest Interactive has expanded to include a diverse workforce of 20+ nationalities in 15 regional offices.  

    Delivering content subscription services, digital voucher and e-commerce platforms, and mobile apps for all ages, Forest Interactive operates in more than 30 countries, servicing 90+ mobile operators and 100+ content partners with the capacity to reach over one billion subscribers worldwide. To learn more, visit forest-interactive.com 

  • Weathering The Economic Storm: Why Malaysian Financial Institutions Must Leverage Technology And Focus On Customers

    Weathering The Economic Storm: Why Malaysian Financial Institutions Must Leverage Technology And Focus On Customers

    The current economic downturn, driven by the after-effects of the pandemic, the war on Ukraine and significant supply chain disruptions, is not exclusive to Malaysia, or even Asia – indeed, it is happening globally, and its effects will be far-reaching and felt for some time to come. Already we’ve seen significant, wide-scale lay-offs across all industries, interest rate rises and a general slowing in overall economic activity and growth.

    However, unlike previous recessions, many of today’s financial service providers have access to innovative technologies that can mitigate the impact of this economic upheaval, particularly when it comes to the provision of credit to businesses.

    Enabling The Flow Of Credit Is Essential To Economic Recovery

    Financial institutions and other organisations offering credit will always be in demand during tough times, as businesses seek short-term solutions to keep the lights on and the doors open. Having access to credit is vital for the global economy, and ensuring this credit is flowing where it’s needed is a critical role of the lending industry.

    Technology plays an enormous part in ensuring credit gets where it’s needed, whether that’s through simpler digital application processes offered by tech-enabled SME lenders, AI-driven credit reporting, easier access to account information via mobile apps, or the ability to rapidly launch new products or features to meet the changing needs of customers.

    Technology also enables faster approval rates for businesses and individuals seeking loans, which can provide a much-needed cash injection just when they need it.

    Tech-Enabled Banks And Financial Service Providers To Survive And Thrive

    Having next-generation technologies at the heart of a financial institution can make a significant positive difference to the bottom line when times are tough. Modern, cloud-native technologies that are charged on a per user, SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) basis can be incredibly cost-effective, with organisations only paying for the service that they use. This can enable financial institutions, lenders, and others providing financial services, to scale efficiently – both up and down – as the market dictates.

    As an example, composable, cloud-native banking and lending platforms, which enable greater flexibility, also effectively lower technology costs, which can have a significant, positive impact on operations during tough economic times.

    In any business, we know that the key benefits of technology are increased efficiency and productivity – reducing costs and increasing output. Leveraging the power of technology like cloud, data and analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning can help to streamline processes, speed up decision-making, and lower overall operational costs.

    Crisis? Or Opportunity?

    Recessions can, of course, be catastrophic to businesses, however it’s important that organisations are also aware of the potential opportunities that these testing times can deliver. Changing customer needs and behaviours, combined with slowed market conditions, can be an ideal breeding ground for innovation and new ways of thinking.

    By understanding your customers and acknowledging their specific pain points, banks, financial institutions, fintechs and other organisations offering financial services can develop unique solutions that meet the specific needs of their customers in the current economic environment, while also opening up new revenue streams.

    As the macroeconomic climate continues to deteriorate, financial institutions, lenders and fintechs must leverage the power of technology to boost the lending pipeline and develop new and innovative customer-centric lending solutions to ensure their survival.

    About the Author

    William Dale is the Regional Vice President Asia Pacific at Mambu, the cloud banking platform that powers hundreds of the world’s most well-known banks and financial service providers, including Western Union, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, N26, BancoEstado, OakNorth, Raiffeisen Bank, ABN AMRO, Bank Islam and Orange Bank.

    www.mambu.com

  • Women in AI – Two Female Founders Team Up to Launch World’s First AI-Driven Marketing Strategy Platform

    Women in AI – Two Female Founders Team Up to Launch World’s First AI-Driven Marketing Strategy Platform

    Brand Soul Malaysia, a leading brand strategy consultancy firm in Malaysia, launches the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) driven marketing strategy platform in collaboration with Robotic Marketer. Recognised for its sustainable brand building and marketing strategy formulation, the new partnership with Robotic Marketer is a women- led venture by Stella Wong and Mellissa Smith, stepping towards building the future of marketing.

    Over the last decade, Malaysian business owners have encountered unprecedented business challenges and struggled to expand their organisations under fierce competition to manage their brands effectively. Despite several government initiatives, most SMEs find it challenging to differentiate their brands in the global market due to weak branding and marketing strategies and a lack of digital marketing skills. Companies without a strategy or plan are at risk of spending more resources on ineffective campaigns and missing out on valuable opportunities.

    With the launch of Robotic Marketer in Malaysia, Brand Soul intends to transform the branding and marketing landscape by becoming the sustainable brand and AI marketing partner for growing businesses, helping them to capitalise on AI and ChatGPT technology for better marketing ROI.

    Another Women-Empowered Milestone

    According to a report by Grant Thornton in 2021, Malaysia has achieved a new record with 37% of women occupying senior leadership positions. This partnership is a reflection of this achievement which has resulted from persistent efforts made over the years to enhance skills and expertise, enabling women to reach the pinnacle of the business world.

    Stella Wong, Founder of Brand Soul

    “We are thrilled to be the leading licensee of Robotic Marketer in Malaysia to extend our service offerings. With ChatGPT technology becoming the buzzword in almost every industry, we aim to become Malaysia’s first branding and marketing consultancy that puts technology and experience into real practice. Our goal is to help our clients succeed by making marketing easier, more efficient and more cost-effective,” says Stella Wong.

    “The marketing automation platform is a game-changer for businesses as we give them full control over their marketing performance, with up-to-date data analysis, reporting and full visibility of marketing strategy performance in one single platform. One of its key features is creating a comprehensive marketing plan with the target audience and competitor insights and marketing tactics aligned to key marketing objectives. It also features a 12-month marketing calendar with real-time data and industry benchmarking analysis. We cannot wait to see how it disrupts the traditional marketing methods and helps businesses to grow,” adds Stella Wong.

    Mellissah Smith, the CEO of Robotic Marketer, also comments on the partnership, stating, “We are delighted to partner with Brand Soul. When we were looking to expand into Asia, we sought a forward-thinking company that embraces technology to drive better marketing performance for their clients. We found that Brand Soul had accumulated respect in the industry working with companies that benefited from their creative approach and performance-centric brand marketing campaigns.

    Mellissah Smith, CEO of Robotic Marketer

    The leap into data-driven marketing strategies using artificial intelligence is a good fit with Brand Soul’s expertise in branding and marketing.”

    Having worked closely with over 1000 companies across various industries with specialities in the branding and marketing sectors, the founders understand the fast-evolving nature of businesses. Individually they have also helped businesses drive their branding and marketing through the thick and thin of the pandemic and the current global situation.

    Moving forward, Brand Soul will launch a series of AI marketing awareness programmes and introduce Channel Partnership Programme to help software companies and their channel partners develop go-to-market strategies to build brands and generate leads. Companies that Robotic Marketer work with across the channel include SAP, Oracle, Mitel and Zift.

    Brand Soul will also offer Robotic Marketer as part of its branding and marketing services suite, including brand strategy, brand identity, digital marketing, seed marketing, content creation and more.

    For more information, please visit Brand Soul’s official website at www.brandsoul.com.my or contact+017-513 6870.

    About Brand Soul Malaysia

    Founded in 2016, Brand Soul Malaysia is an independent, sustainable-driven, and innovative brand and marketing strategy design consultancy based in Kuala Lumpur.

    Known for helping organisations to improve profitability and achieve sustainable growth through a data-driven approach, Brand Soul has revolutionised how branding & marketing is done with its differentiators, namely data-led brand strategy & identity framework, integrated web design & content strategy, precise marketing, and brand-centred training & development programmes.

    Brand Soul’s innovative approach to branding and marketing led it to win several coveted awards. Brand Soul has worked with local and international clients, including Petronas, GDEX, Ho Wah Genting, Medtronic, Viewpoint, Yinson and more.

  • AWS’ Cloud Infrastructure Region To Accelerate Rate Of Innovation For Malaysia

    AWS’ Cloud Infrastructure Region To Accelerate Rate Of Innovation For Malaysia

    Amazon Web Services’ RM25.5 billion investment into Malaysia – making it the first in the region for cloud computing infrastructure with 3 availability zones is a catalyst on many fronts.

    MRANTI believes this will accelerate the rate of innovation as it opens up more bandwidth for Malaysian innovators to closely collaborate with leading science, technology and innovation teams across the value chain, from anywhere in the world, at speed and with greater capacity, reliability, availability, manageability and security. This will raise the stature of our R&D for commercialisation while elevating more Malaysian technologies to market. 

    This in turn, will enhance the country’s security of innovation supply.

    AWS’s investment also opens up new pathways for upstream and downstream R&D services and solutions to be developed in Kuala Lumpur – which is ranked as a top 10 innovation hub in the region.

    It will also help us draw in the right talent and move Malaysia up the innovation value chain as the next-generation cloud infrastructure system will support a host of technologies by high-growth companies, set to take flight in the coming years.

    Malaysia is already a base for many leading multinational and leading technology companies, and we believe more will follow in AWS’ lead in this regard.

    Dzuleira Abu Bakar, CEO MRANTI

    MRANTI is committed to connecting investors and innovators to accelerate ideas to impact.  In this regard, we look forward to collaborating with AWS and Malaysian institutions, startups, and companies to deliver cloud-powered applications to fuel economic development across the country and to spur job creation, skills training, and educational opportunities for communities.

    Ultimately, it will serve the needs of the rakyat, business and industry  – as outlined in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI)’s strategic initiatives and framework to enable Malaysia to migrate from a technology consuming to a technology producing nation strongly based on an innovation-driven economy.

    About MRANTI

    MRANTI is the one-stop research commercialisation agency with the resources to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative ideas that will drive impact. As a connector, collaborator and catalyst, MRANTI will connect problem statements (demand) with solutions (supply), bridging collaboration between public and private sectors (transition);  increase private sector participation, either through market access, investment, advisory or consultation and facilities for testing and prototyping.