PFH Office of the CTO Newsletter - Issue 3 - November 2024

Welcome to the latest issue of the PFH Office of the CTO Newsletter. This month, we cover the Dell Forum Dublin 2024, where PFH was named Dell Partner of the Year for the fourth consecutive year. We also have an overview of how Armis can help organisations meet the requirements outlined in the NIS2 Directive. Finally, we highlight Citrix's announcement of the general availability of Citrix DaaS on Amazon WorkSpaces Core.

Dell Forum Dublin 2024

Stephen O'Herlihy recaps the Dell Forum Dublin 2024.

This year's Dell Forum in Dublin had all the highlights you'd expect—cutting-edge discussions on AI, data protection, cyber resilience, and security. These topics, while crucial, are becoming staples at such conferences, reflecting the continued focus on digital transformation and protecting valuable data assets in today's cyber-threat-heavy world. However, what caught my attention was something much more subtle, something that hints at the broader direction our industry might be taking.

For the first time, there was no Broadcom VMware expo stand at the Dell Forum. For an event that I consider the biggest infrastructure solutions conference in Ireland, this absence is significant. The Dell Forum is a venue to showcase the best in infrastructure, with VMware traditionally being a cornerstone of hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) and hybrid cloud discussions. This year, the landscape looked a little different—and this feels like a sign of the times.

Does this mean the industry is changing direction? I think it's fair to say yes. Walking through the expo, it was clear that the market is broadening. Stands from Nutanix, Red Hat, and Microsoft, all showcasing alternative HCI and hybrid cloud solutions, really stood out. It's fascinating to see Nutanix back in partnership with Dell, offering robust options for HCI, after a period where that relationship seemed less prominent. Microsoft, too, has some intriguing HCI solutions with Dell, further adding to the diversity of options that were once VMware's domain.

This increasing competition is healthy for the market and brings new energy to what was, not long ago, a "VMware-only" show. For customers and partners, the growing variety of solutions on offer opens up new possibilities for building infrastructure in ways that best suit their needs, whether that's through Nutanix's approach to HCI, Red Hat's open-source cloud solutions, or Microsoft's growing HCI offering.

However, the absence of VMware—or rather, its Broadcom incarnation—at such a significant event raises questions. Is this a sign that VMware's grip on the HCI and hybrid cloud space is loosening? Or is it simply a reflection of a market in transition, with multiple paths now available for those designing next-gen infrastructure? Either way, it's clear that the infrastructure landscape is changing quickly.

As someone involved in delivering infrastructure solutions, it is refreshing to see competition grow. We no longer live in a world where VMware is everyone's default choice. Customers now have the freedom to explore, compare, and choose from a range of cutting-edge solutions that may fit their specific needs better. And with the likes of Nutanix and Microsoft back in the picture, Dell has more robust and varied offerings to pair with its hardware.

The Dell Forum 2024 was a clear indication that the winds of change are blowing through the infrastructure world. We're witnessing an industry that's diversifying and adapting to new technological advancements and market dynamics. For anyone involved in infrastructure, this is a space to watch closely. Competition and innovation are always positive forces—and they are shaking the sector in ways we haven't seen for quite some time.

So, while AI, data protection, and cyber resilience dominated the keynotes, the real story for me was on the expo floor—a sign of the changing times in the infrastructure landscape. The competition is heating up, and it's going to be interesting to see where the industry heads next.

PFH Wins Partner of the Year

The Dell Forum Dublin also hosted the Dell Partner Awards 2024. I'm delighted to share that for the fourth year in a row, PFH retained the Partner of the Year title. Opening up the possibility of a Drive for Five!

In the captivating world of all Ireland hurling finals, the phrase "five in a row" holds a special, almost sacred meaning. No hurling team has ever achieved this monumental feat due to the difficulty and the level of performance required to sustain excellence over five consecutive seasons. And though the world of technology is quite different from the hurling pitch, five in a row remains elusive here too. We're thrilled to have been named Dell Partner of the Year five times in the last six years. That's an incredible achievement, but as any Cork man would say, we approach it with a sense of modesty (there's a joke in there).

PFH is proud to be in a position to achieve the elusive five in a row at the Dell Partner Awards 2025! However, as Limerick fans know well, consecutive title journeys can be abruptly interrupted, much like Cork halted Limerick's hurling dominance. Now, don't get me wrong—I wouldn't dare compare the PFH award wins to the mighty Limerick hurling achievements. That's not our style. What I will say, though, is that the same principles apply to our success: teamwork, commitment, and the trust of those who support us. We wouldn't be in this position without the strength and dedication of the PFH team. Our success is not just our own but shared with our customers, who trust us to design and deliver best-in-class solutions year after year.

Sporting analogies aside, the recognition we receive from Dell is genuinely significant. Dell Technologies has a comprehensive portfolio of solutions and maintains a majority market share here in Ireland. To be named a top partner consistently in such a competitive space speaks volumes about the depth of our expertise and the trust we've built. With the industry, the Dell awards are highly respected, and we're proud to play our part in contributing to the ongoing success of Dell Technologies in Ireland.

But as we celebrate, the challenge is set. The "drive for five" has begun, and we're more motivated than ever to build an even stronger team, deliver even better results, and continue to raise the bar for ourselves and our customers.

Of course, I'm fully aware this ambition might backfire—and there's every chance my fellow Dell partners will remind me of this note come 2025, just as I did with my Limerick friends when Cork knocked them out of the running. But for now, we're focused, grateful, and ready for whatever the future holds. Let's see what the next year brings!?

Armis Solutions to Help Deliver NIS2 Requirements

It probably hasn't escaped your notice that we sailed by the implementation date for the new EU NIS2 regulations in October. The legislation needed to enact the NIS2 regulations into Irish law is still progressing through its various stages in the Oireachtas. Ireland isn't alone in missing the October deadline. Only two EU member states passed enabling legislation on time.

What is NIS2?

Just in case you don't know, NIS2 (Network and Information Security 2) is an update to the 2016 EU NIS directive. The updated version aims to strengthen cybersecurity provisions across the EU by expanding the scope, requirements, and enforcement mechanisms.

NIS2 establishes a foundation for cybersecurity risk management and reporting requirements in several crucial infrastructure sectors such as energy, transport, health, and digital services. EU Member States must implement the necessary measures to integrate NIS2 into their national legislation in order to comply with the directive.

The updated directive aims to align cybersecurity standards across various member states. It establishes minimum guidelines for a regulatory framework and outlines practical cooperation mechanisms among the relevant authorities in each member state. Additionally, it refreshes the list of sectors and activities that must adhere to cybersecurity obligations and introduces measures to ensure compliance.?

You can read more about the requirements under NIS2 on the National Cyber Security Centre website at https://www.ncsc.gov.ie/nis2/ They have also created a tool called 'Am I In Scope' to help organisations assess their current compliance status: https://www.ncsc.gov.ie/nis2/amiinscope/ .?

At some point in the short to medium term, the Irish parliament will pass the NIS2 enabling legislation, and organisations should be working now to make sure they are compliant. The PFH Security team and our solution partners have the skills and the technologies to help you achieve compliance.?

How Armis Centrix? Can Help With NIS2 Compliance

Armis Centrix?, the cyber exposure management platform , addresses many of the core requirements included by the NIS2 directive. By providing state-of-the-art visibility into every critical asset, real-time asset intelligence, vulnerability analysis, AI-powered threat detection, and contextual incident information, Armis enables organisations to make informed and defensible cyber risk management decisions.

Key features of Armis Centrix? that help deliver the NIS2 requirements include:

??Asset Management - Discover and store an inventory of all assets, providing a complete view of the asset data and its key security attributes, including contextual insights about each one.

? Vulnerability Handling - Armis Asset Vulnerability Management (AVM) offers insights into vulnerabilities linked to every asset, irrespective of its type. For assets not monitored by vulnerability scanners, Armis works by evaluating devices using its Collective Asset Intelligence Engine. This distinctive crowdsourced database monitors over 3 billion assets globally, and the Armis research team frequently refreshes it with current information on vulnerabilities and exploits.

??Business Continuity - The Armis solution provides round-the-clock monitoring for each asset to identify any anomalies or changes in status. If there's a modification in an asset's communications, software, physical location, risk profile, or activity, the Armis solution will notify your team, and you can minimise risk and reduce your Security Operations Centre investigation time. Additionally, Armis keeps data logs to support compliance and incident forensics during post-event analysis.

??Incident Handling - Armis broadens the conventional SIEM framework by offering risk and threat insights for unmanaged assets such as Operational Technologies, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and medical IoT devices. It streamlines incident investigation by consolidating asset and security information in one place.

Read about 5 Ways Armis Address NIS2 . You can also download a free white paper on the topic from that page.

Citrix DaaS on Amazon WorkSpaces Core

?Citrix DaaS on Amazon WorkSpaces Core is a new service that allows businesses to extend their on-premises Citrix virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) to the highly scalable AWS Cloud. The service offers several new features, including volume encryption, image management updates, the creation of custom images, support for Windows Server OS, and beta support for multi-session deployments.

What’s New in Citrix DaaS on Amazon WorkSpaces Core

The general release of Citrix DaaS on Amazon WorkSpaces Core delivers multiple new features that will bring benefits to Citrix DaaS deployments. These include:

??????????? Volume encryption to secure data at rest

??????????? Updating imported images in the console

??????????? Creating a custom image

??????????? Windows Server OS Support

??????????? Multi-session Support

??????????? Single session and encrypted disks support

??????????? Automation via Terraform

??????????? Simplified cloud and on-premises resource management

??????????? High-quality audio and video, even over low bandwidth connections

Citrix DaaS for Amazon WorkSpaces Core provides flexible pricing options, support for Microsoft 365 apps for enterprise, and new Windows Server and encrypted disk support. The platform offers many features to streamline VDI deployment. Citrix DaaS and Amazon WorkSpaces Core help organisations deliver a cost-effective virtual desktop solution to users anywhere and on any device.

You can read more about the features of Citrix DaaS on Amazon WorkSpaces Core via the AWS website at https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/desktop-and-application-streaming/citrix-announces-general-availability-of-citrix-daas-on-amazon-workspaces-core/ . There is also an overview article on the Citrix Blog at https://www.citrix.com/blogs/2024/08/19/simplify-virtual-desktop-delivery-with-citrix-daas-for-amazon-workspaces-core/ .

We’ll be publishing a blog article in the near future that takes a deeper dive into the features listed above. In that forthcoming blog, we’ll also outline the business and technical benefits that flow from the new Citrix DaaS on Amazon WorkSpaces Core solution offering.

Final Thoughts

We welcome your feedback on the topics in this newsletter and on our blogs, posts, and videos. Get in touch if you want to ask a question or provide feedback. We’ll be back in early December with our next newsletter.

| PFH Technology Group Office of the CTO |