iScholar Partners with Anand Kumar of Super30; Targets High Percentage Into IITs by 2017

iScholar, a start-up that provides online courses, has partnered with Anand Kumar of Super30 fame, in an effort to bring down costs of IIT-JEE entrance exam coaching by 90 per cent. Now the start up is hoping to get about 30 per cent of the students into various IITs in 2017 academic year.

Anand Kumar, who became well known in the media and academic circle is the brain behind Bihar-based Super30, which yearly selects 30 meritorious students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds aspiring to get into IITs.

“We know that students coached by Kumar have a 100 per cent success rate when it comes to IIT entrance. We want to replicate this for more students who are unable to afford coaching,” said Rajendra Prasad Nadella, Chief Managing Director, iScholar.

A typical IIT-JEE preparation course runs for a whole year and costs ₹80,000 to Rs 1 lakh and upwards. The annual fees for the iScholar courses works out to ₹6,000, which includes features such as access to content, computer-based training coaching in real-time and interaction with faculty.

Reports indicate that each year over 2.5 lakh students appear for IIT JEE entrance exams and about 1.5 lakh take the test but only 10,000 students or so get in while another 10,000 odd students opt for the Regional Engineering Colleges spread all over the country. What's interesting is that, 80 per cent of these students are from urban India . Now we attempt to get more students from the rural areas into these esteemed university, says Nadella.

For students who do not have access to internet, the start-up will provide downloadable courses. “The courseware will help more aspiring students to get into IIT,” said Kumar. iScholar students will get access to professors such as Aniruddh Sinha, Ravi Ahlawat, Kashish Mathur and Akhil Narayan.

Further, to avoid instances of course material being illegally shared, the start-up has encrypted the courseware, which can be accessed only through its learning management software.

The website has been created by professionals from top IT companies using C++, Java and open source platforms for live streaming and along with video tagging to enable to watch particular videos. The content can be accessed even on a 256 kbps dongle. "Today we have over 450 hours of video and since every one should get access to high quality education, we have developed it as a low-cost two way audio, video and interactive platform targeting the BPL families in India," adds Nadella.

Liquid Telecom & RBH Neotel Acquisition will Create the First Pan-African Fibre Player

Today, Liquid Telecom, a privately owned, pan-African telecoms group, majority owned by Econet Wireless Global, announces that it has entered into an agreement to acquire South African communications network operator Neotel. The shareholders of Neotel – Tata Communications of India and minority shareholders led by Nexus Connexion – have agreed for Liquid Telecom to acquire Neotel for ZAR6.55 billion. Liquid Telecom is partnering with Royal Bafokeng Holdings (RBH), a South African empowerment investment group, which has committed to take a 30% equity stake in Neotel.

The transaction, which is subject to obtaining all affirmative approvals and other corporate approvals that may be required by the shareholders of Neotel and other regulatory approvals, is transformative and will create the largest pan-African broadband network and B2B telecoms provider. Through a single access point, businesses across Africa will be able to access Liquid Africa’s 24,000km of cross-border, metro and access fibre networks. These currently span 12 countries from South Africa to Kenya, with further expansion planned.

Commenting on the transaction, Nic Rudnick, Liquid Telecom CEO, said, “We are excited about this transaction. Leveraging the strengths of RBH, Neotel and Liquid Telecom will offer an unprecedented fibre network with a unique set of services and international connectivity for telecom operators and enterprises across sub-Saharan Africa. For the first time, African companies will be able to connect with each other in a cost effective and reliable way, all on a single fibre network. We will also be increasing investments into Neotel to cater for rapidly accelerating mobile and enterprise traffic, enabling us to launch exciting new products and services.”

Albertinah Kekana, Royal Bafokeng Holdings CEO, said, “This transaction is part of our divestment strategy and in line with objectives to invest in high growth infrastructure sectors. As a long term investor, we are pleased to be partnering with Liquid Telecom who has a very credible track record in rolling out fibre in challenging and diverse markets. This deal represents our long-term investment approach and our commitment to the African growth story.”

Speaking on behalf of Tata Communications, Neotel’s majority shareholder, Vinod Kumar, Managing Director and CEO, said,“Liquid Telecom is the right partner for the next phase of Neotel’s evolution. Convergence of technologies and services will be the key driver of growth across the globe and this transaction will encourage inclusion and support the growth aspirations of the African continent. We believe that Liquid Telecom will deliver on the vision of a well-connected Africa, which will augur well for the South African telecom industry and Neotel’s customers.”

Nexus Connection, Neotel’s minority shareholder, also welcomed the transaction.  Speaking on behalf of Nexus, Kennedy Memani, said, “We welcome this transaction with Liquid Telecom. It will see the sale of Neotel to new shareholders who have the vision, expertise and funding to continue to grow the company and to allow it to reach its full potential in South Africa and across the African Continent. We are confident that customers and employees will benefit from the transaction and from the resulting stability and business expansion.”

The transaction is subject to approval by South African regulatory authorities and is expected to be completed later this financial year.

Corporate Data Theft & Malware Infections Among Biggest Threat to Digital Business in 2016

Insider data theft and malware attacks top the list of the most significant concerns for enterprise security executives, a new report from Accenture and HfS Research reveals. Of those surveyed, a majority (69 percent) of respondents experienced an attempted or successful theft or corruption of data by insiders during the prior 12 months, with media and technology organizations reporting the highest rate (77 percent). This insider risk will continue to be an issue, with security professionals’ concerns over insider theft of corporate information alone rising by nearly two-thirds over the coming 12 to 18 months. Additionally, the research shows that a budget shortage for hiring cybersecurity talent and well-trained employees is hindering the ability of organizations to properly defend themselves against these attacks.
 
The survey, “The State of Cybersecurity and Digital Trust 2016’”, was conducted by HfS Research on behalf of Accenture. More than 200 C-level security executives and other IT professionals were polled across a range of geographies and vertical industry sectors. The survey examined the current and future state of cybersecurity within the enterprise and the recommended steps to enable digital trust throughout the extended ecosystem. The findings indicate that there are significant gaps between talent supply and demand, a disconnect between security teams and management expectations, and considerable disparity between budget needs and actual budget realities.
 
“Our research paints a sobering picture. Security leaders believe threats are not going away, in fact they expect them to increase and hinder their ability to safeguard critical data and establish digital trust,” said Kelly Bissell, senior managing director, Accenture Security. “At the same time, while organizations want to invest in advanced cyber technologies, they simply don’t have enough budget to recruit or train skilled people to use that technology effectively. To better manage this security problem, businesses will need to work in tandem with the extended enterprise ecosystem – business units, partners, providers and end users – to create an environment of digital trust.”
 
Despite having advanced technology solutions, nearly half of all respondents (48 percent) indicate they are either strongly or critically concerned about insider data theft and malware infections (42 percent) in the next 12 to 18 months. When asked about current funding and staffing levels some 42 percent of respondents said they need more budget for hiring cybersecurity professionals and for training. More than half (54 percent) of respondents also indicated that their current employees are underprepared to prevent security breaches and the numbers are only slightly better when it comes to detecting (47 percent) and responding (45 percent) to incidents.
 

The report identified five significant gaps disrupting the ability of enterprises to effectively prevent or mitigate well-organized and targeted cyber-attacks, including:

• Talent: Thirty-one percent list either lack of training or staffing budget as their single biggest inhibitor to combating attacks
• Technology: Firewalls and encryption top the list of the most important technologies to combat cyber threats, but the largest increase in deployments anticipated in the next 12 to 18 months are in the areas of cognitive computing and AI (31 percent) and data anonymization (25)
• Parity: An enterprise is only as secure as its least secure partner, yet only 35-57 percent of all enterprises said they assess ecosystem partners for cyber integrity and preparedness, with BPO partners being the least vetted and credit partners being the most vetted
• Budget: Seventy percent cite a lack of, or inadequate, funding for either cybersecurity technology or security talent, including training
• Management: While 54 percent of respondents agree or strongly agree that cybersecurity is an enabler of digital trust for consumers, 36 percent believe that their executive management considers cybersecurity an unnecessary cost

 “While the gaps we identified can be overcome, they do collectively underscore the need for an inherently different approach, one that includes more robust risk management measures and the development of digital trust,” said Fred McClimans, research vice president, Digital Trust and Cybersecurity, HfS Research. “There is an important opportunity to address these gaps by rethinking how digital trust and security can be holistically woven into the enterprise fabric through the integration of automation and AI solutions as well as through business partnerships and processes.”

GoAir’s Offers Monsoon Air Package Across India Starting Rs 849

GoAir, one of India’s leading airlines, has announced their limited period Monsoon and more offer across its network. Base fare during the offer period starts at Rs 849 (excluding taxes) for travelers that book flights between June 29 to July 2 for the travel period between July 1 to September 30, 2016..

Apart from the discounted ticket prices, GoAir has also rolled out many exciting offers on bookings. Travelers can avail 60% discount on pre-booking meals through all sales channels. Flyers who opt for using PayTM wallet will get an additional 10% cash back (up to Rs 500). Bookings done through the website, www.GoAir.in become eligible to get Rs 200 Café Coffee Day vouchers. GoAir has launched this unique offer as part of its constant endeavor to make air travel affordable and exciting for customers.

The offer can be availed through the company website, www.GoAir.in or online travel portals, GoAir Call Centre, airport ticketing offices, through travel agents, and the GoAir App that is available on both Apple iOS and Google Android. Passengers will be required to download the latest version of the Apps to be able to make the bookings.

Crayon Software Appointed Microsoft’s Cloud Solution Provider Program in India

Microsoft has announced the appointment of Crayon Software Experts India Pvt Ltd (Crayon) as a Cloud Distribution Partner under its Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) Program in India. As part of this program, Crayon will help its customers (both - SMBs and Enterprise) in India to adopt Microsoft’s cloud based technology solutions like Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Office 365, Windows Intune and Enterprise Mobility Suite (EMS) subscriptions. Crayon will also work with Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Telecommunications Providers (Telcos) and Web Hosting firms to deliver these solutions to customers in India.

Cloud Solution Providers are partners who build solutions leveraging Microsoft cloud for customers across the country on a pay-as-you-go model. The CSP Program enables Customers to adopt value-added solutions and offerings supporting their specific requirements on the cloud. Customer’s working with Crayon, can customize their IT requirements by leveraging its deep experience in cloud migration, software asset management and delivery of fully managed services. Crayon will also own the complete customer life cycle, combined and customized solutions, while directly provisioning and supporting Microsoft cloud offerings for their customers.

Vikas Bhonsle, CEO -  Crayon explains “We are thrilled about the opportunity to support the growth of our partners and customer’s, through the adoption of this technology. The combination of Microsoft’s cloud offerings and Crayon’s reach across India, provides customers with enterprise grade cloud solutions while maintaining the flexibility and scalability to suit their business needs. Crayon being a leading CSP player globally, allows our Customer’s to leverage our deep proven expertise.”

Manohar Hotchandani, Director – Business Development, Microsoft India says “We are pleased to welcome Crayon to our list of elite partners in the Microsoft Cloud Services Program in India. Accelerating cloud adoption amongst SMBs, Crayon’s capabilities will offer customers greater technical edge with enterprise-grade technology and fully managed services delivered from the Microsoft Cloud. Crayon’s rich experience in software asset management and associated consulting services will further help build the confidence within customers to choose a single-window IT-partner for all their cloud requirements.”

Microsoft launched the Cloud Solutions Partner program for India in 2015. Some other Microsoft CSPs in India include Redington India and Ingram Micro.

Corsair’s New Range of Magnetic Levitation Technology Fans Offer High Airflow and Low Ultra-Low Friction

Corsair, a leading in high-performance PC hardware, today announced the launch of ML PRO and ML PRO LED 120 and 140mm Fans in India. These fans include an entirely different range of bearings which will change the way PC enthusiast's expectation from a high-performance cooling fan.

"This is one of the most exciting products we've created in recent time. ML PRO fans use magnetic levitation technology to offer low noise, high performance and longer lifespan for PC enthusiasts to build better gaming rigs. Controlled by PWM, these fans that allow precision control of spin rates of over 2,000rpm to maximize airflow and reduce noise according to the situation. Loaded with Anti-vibration rubber dampers, hub-mounted LEDs, unique lighting impeller and color matched corner caps to complete color themes, these RGB LED fans help PC modders to keep their rig alive and running as great as day one." Said M A Mannan, Country Manager at Corsair.

Harnessing the patented Magnetic Levitation bearing technology and custom rotor designs, CORSAIR ML PRO fans offer both high static pressure and high air flow, with an ultra-low friction magnetic bearing that simultaneously generates lower noise and provides higher performance. Offered exclusively with PWM speed control over a huge 2,000 RPM range, CORSAIR ML PRO fans mean users don't have to choose between low-noise and high performance; one fan can deliver both silence and absolute performance. These fans are customizable with swappable color coordinated corners and are available in both 120mm and 140mm models.  The ML PRO LED version, adds an integrated lighting into the fan's hub, radiating light out through the frosted translucent blades for a vivid, striking look.

Price, Warranty and Availability:

ML PRO 120mm comes with the MRP of Rs.1899 and the product is available from Aug 2016 carrying a warranty of 5 years.

ML PRO 140mm comes with the MRP of Rs. 2399 and the product is available from Aug 2016 carrying a warranty of 5 years.

ML PRO LED 120mm comes with the MRP of Rs. 2199 and the product is available from Aug 2016 carrying a warranty of 5 years.

ML PRO LED 140mm comes with the MRP of Rs. 2699 and the product is available from Aug 2016 carrying a warranty of 5 years.

Public Sector Technology Spending to Remain Flat in 2016 Following Decrease in 2015

After nearly a decade of "doing more with less," government CIOs remain under pressure to further optimize IT and business costs while leading digital innovation in the public sector, according to Gartner, Inc. Government CIOs face organizational and cultural challenges that are barriers to harnessing the synergistic potential of social, mobile, data analytics, cloud and the Internet of Things (IoT) to drive transformational change.

Rick Howard, research vice president at Gartner, said legacy silos of systems, data and processes reinforce “business as usual” practices and behaviors that limit government participation in broader partner ecosystems capable of supporting fully digital end-to-end citizen services.

“In the digital service economy, government must make strategic investments in IT or risk perpetuating suboptimal business and service models that are financially unsustainable in the long term,” said Mr. Howard. “Government CIOs who are too slow to adopt the technology innovations that are transforming private sector service industries will increase business risk and cost, while compromising the mission of their organizations.”

Spending by national, federal and local governments worldwide on technology products and services is forecast to grow slightly by 0.3 percent to $430.1 billion in 2016, growing to $476.1 billion by 2020. This is a turnaround after a 5.2 percent decrease in 2015.

To enable government transformation initiatives, Gartner has identified the top 10 strategic technologies in 2016 and provides recommendations to CIOs and IT leaders regarding adoption and benefits. It is not a list of what government CIOs spend the most time or money on, rather it is a list of strategic technologies that Gartner recommends they should have a plan for in 2016.

1) Digital Workplace

The government workforce is increasingly populated with digitally literate employees, from frontline workers to top-level executives. The digital workplace is a business strategy to boost employee engagement and agility through a more consumerized work environment. The digital workplace promotes collaborative work styles; supports decentralized, mobile work environments; and embraces employees' personal choice of technologies.

2) Multichannel Citizen Engagement

Delivering an effective citizen experience requires a holistic approach to the citizen: (1) using data to capture and understand the needs and desires of the citizen; (2) leveraging effective social media and communications to actively engage citizens; (3) allowing the citizen to engage on his or her own terms; (4) understanding the citizen's preferred engagement channels; (5) affording seamless transitions among channels; and (6) ultimately delivering a more satisfying set of citizen interactions. Adopting a citizen-centric information management strategy with multichannel citizen engagement opportunities will deliver quantifiable benefits.

3) Open Any Data

Open any data in government results from "open by default" or "open by preference" governance policies and information management practices. These make license-free data available in machine-readable formats to anyone who has the right to access it without any requirement for identification or registration. Open data is published as collected at the source ("raw") at the lowest granularity, as determined by privacy, security or data quality considerations. Open data is accessible with open APIs and is not subject to any trademark or copyright.

4) Citizen e-ID

As government becomes more digitalized, digital identity will need to become more reliable in order to serve as the core for all digital transactions. Citizen electronic identification (e-ID) refers to the orchestrated set of processes and technologies managed by governments to provide a secure domain to enable citizens to access these core resources or services. Governments should require online authentication and identity proofing, because in-person verification methods are becoming outdated for offering citizens integrated and seamless access to resources and services. This "no wrong door" business model must be able to associate each citizen with one unique and persistent identifier within the bounds of what is culturally acceptable and legally permissible.

5) Analytics Everywhere

Analytics is the collection and analysis of data to provide the insight that can guide actions to increase organizational efficiency or program effectiveness. The pervasive use of analytics at all stages of business activity and service delivery — analytics everywhere — allows leading government agencies to shift from the dashboard reporting of lagging indicators to autonomous business processes and business intelligence (BI) capabilities that help humans make better context-based decisions in real time.

6) Smart Machines

In practice, smart machines are a diverse combination of digital technologies that do what we once thought only people could do. While capabilities are evolving rapidly, it already includes deep neural networks, autonomous vehicles, virtual assistants and smart advisors that interact intelligently with people and other machines. Government IT leaders must explore smart machines as enhancements to existing business practices, and possibly as foundations for new public services or ways of accomplishing business goals altogether.

7) Internet of Things

The IoT is the network of physical objects (fixed or mobile) that contains embedded technology to communicate, monitor, sense or interact with multiple environments. The IoT architecture operates in an ecosystem that includes things, communication, applications and data analysis, and is a critical enabler for digital business applications in all private-sector and public-sector industries. The business use cases and adoption rate by government agencies vary according to service domain or program mission. Government business models are emerging that take advantage of the IoT; for example, pay-for-use or subscription-based taxation models, smart waste bin collection on city streets, and the remote monitoring of elderly patients in assisted-living settings.

8) Digital Government Platforms

Governments face constant pressure to improve service delivery and save costs. Digital platforms reduce effort and facilitate user-centric design. These platforms deliver services such as payments, identity management and verification, reusable application services and notifications (for example, SMS and email) that are commonly used across multiple domains. Globally, governments are taking a platform approach to simplify processes, improve citizen interaction and reduce expenditure.

9) Software-Defined Architecture

Software-defined architecture (SDA) inserts an intermediary between the requester and the provider of a service so that the service can change more dynamically — in other words, it is the IT equivalent of changing the tires while the car is moving. Adding a layer of software to abstract and virtualize networks, infrastructure or security has proved to be a useful way of deploying and utilizing infrastructure. Applying the same technique to software architecture improves the manageability and agility of the code so that the organization can respond to the fluidity requirements of digital government and the IoT. Some government organizations have begun implementing software-designed infrastructure (SDI), but most are still operating in traditional data centers.

10) Risk-Based Security

The cybersecurity threat environment is constantly evolving, but it represents only one dimension of a complex, multifaceted set of threats and risks. Government CIOs must adopt a threat-aware, risk-based security approach that allows governments to make knowledgeable and informed decisions about risks in a holistic fashion, allowing for a wiser allocation of resources; more sound decisions about risks and their impacts on government missions, operations, assets and people; and engagement of senior leadership in risk-based decisions.

Four new trends emerged in 2016 with the potential to significantly benefit government performance within the next three to five years. Analytics everywhere, smart machines, software-defined architecture and risk-based security will each challenge governance, human resources management, sourcing and financing practices.

“Many of these technology trends change business models in ways that need to be reflected in more modern policies, especially those related to privacy or regulation,” said Mr. Howard. “CIOs will need to be front and center in providing advice to policymaking bodies and working with industry experts who can consult on options and impacts.”