By Nilesh Jain, Vice President – South East Asia and India, Trend Micro
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), adopted in April 2016 after four years of deliberations, is now in force. The regulation made headlines around the globe with its stricter data protection standards, substantial fines, and most of all, extensive reach. The GDPR affects any organization that holds an EU citizen’s personal data, no matter the size or location. A company based in Asia is as accountable as a multinational enterprise with offices across Europe — as long as it collects and processes the data of EU citizens.
The regulation also delineated the data protection obligations of affected organizations — from adopting state-of-the-art security methods to providing people more access to and control of their data. Recognizing the sweeping changes required for compliance, the EU authorities granted member states and organizations two years to get ready and prepare. And today, the transition stage is over — the GDPR will now be enforced.
What happens now?
Enforcement means that organizations should already be processing personal data in accordance with the GDPR — including provisions for data subject rights. Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) of EU member states will also already be able to penalize organizations that are not compliant. Depending on the member state, it is possible that regulators will immediately take action to address any noncompliance. Some regulatory bodies, however, plan on being more lenient with businesses and organizations that have started but not yet completed their compliance efforts.
What is the worst-case scenario? An organization is liable for damages caused by noncompliance and is subject to corresponding administrative fines. The heftiest fine is 20,000,000 euros or up to 4 percent of annual turnover, whichever is higher.
What is the best-case scenario? If an organization is fully compliant with the GDPR, or uses the regulation as a starting-off point and goes beyond the minimum standards, then there are significant advantages. Some benefits would be: secured valuable information, more efficient operations with proper archiving and data management, and increased trust from customers and users.
While the GDPR applies to personal data of EU citizens, the GDPR has sparked a change in privacy regulations across the world. The 2018 enforcement allowed several countries to make their own legislative improvements — the U.K. and Australia are just two of a number of regions that have also updated their data protection laws. This only indicates that GDPR compliance is a good opportunity — not just for multinational enterprises but smaller organizations as well — to keep up with global advances in data privacy and state-of-the-art security.
What should organizations be doing?
Ideally, all the groundwork for compliance should have been finished by now, and items on the compliance checklist should have been ticked. Organizations should already be able to provide products or services that address their customers’ rights as outlined in the GDPR. Those using third-party applications or suppliers should watch for updates concerning issues like the “right to be forgotten” and stricter user consent standards and make sure they are working properly. Several laws as well as software changes are also expected to be in effect starting today or in the coming months, and organizations should be ready for any necessary changes.
For those not yet fully compliant, some member state DPAs have reassured companies “acting in good faith” or on the way to compliance that they will initially be treated with consideration. It’s crucial to document steps being taken as well as to prioritize addressing potential security risks.
Ready or not, the road to GDPR compliance does not end on enforcement day — assessments and audits should be regular moving forward.
Building better data protection
The GDPR was enforced to set a new standard for data privacy and protection. One key element to this is building in privacy measures from the first stages of development — not patching up problems after they occur. As organizations create new products and applications post-implementation day, privacy by design must be kept in mind.
Through its new rules and standards, the GDPR encourages organizations to rethink existing data management policies and invest in state-of-the-art security for data protection. To reiterate, compliance efforts should be constant after GDPR implementation day; staying up to date with cybersecurity developments plays a major part.
We created an infographic to demonstrate the path well-protected personal data takes — leaving the data subject’s hands and on to an organization for secure processing. It also shows what happens if something goes wrong and what happens if everything goes right.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has inaugurated India’s first 14 lane Expressway – The Delhi-Meerut Expressway (Delhi Section) from Nizamuddin Bridge to UP border, proudly developed by NHAI and Welspun Enterprises Ltd. under Hybrid Annuity Model. Nitin Gadkari - Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Mansukh L. Mandaviya - Union Minister of State for Road, Transport & Highways, Shipping and Chemical & Fertilizers, Maheish Girri - Member of Parliament, Rajendra Agrawal – Member of Parliament, B. K. Goenka – Chairman of Welspun Group and Sandeep Garg – MD & CEO, Welspun Enterprises Ltd. were also present on this milestone occasion.
Accompanying him, Nitin Gadkari – Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation said “Congratulations to NHAI and Welspun Group for completing the green and sustainable Delhi - Meerut Expressway in record time.
Welspun Group through its technological excellence has also been contributing to the nation’s growth through its various businesses verticals and is proud to be associated with NHAI to develop various HAM projects.
Commenting on the occasion, B. K. Goenka – Chairman of Welspun Group said, “We congratulate the Honorable Prime Minister on completing 4 successful years at the Centre and sharing his vision to transform and connect India. We are thankful and proud to be associated with NHAI under the Hybrid Annuity Model. Welspun Enterprises was the first Company to achieve the financial closure for this expressway project. We are proud to contribute through industry first initiatives like vertical gardens, cycling track, solar lighting and beautification of this stretch. The completion of this expressway along with NHAI strongly showcases our strength in Infrastructure and truly resonates with our philosophy of ‘Leading Tomorrow Together’.”
Welspun Enterprises Ltd. developed the Delhi-Meerut Expressway (Package I) in a record time of 18 months as against the scheduled 30 months, setting a new benchmark with operational efficiency and commitment. The stretch also features India’s first Cycling Track on both sides, Vertical Gardens, Solar panels for Lighting, Drip water irrigation, replicas of prominent monuments like Qutub Minar & Ashoka Stambh, Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS), CCTV’s and plantation of new trees. The project consists of a six-lane expressway in the centre, flanked by two four-lane highways on either side - making it 14-lanes in total.
Designed for a speed up to 120 km/h, this expressway will substantially reduce the travel time from 45 minutes to just 8 minutes. It will also help in reduce pollution, better fuel efficiency and enhanced quality of life of millions of people.
Welspun Group, known for its various social initiatives, has played a key role in rehabilitating the slums on the highway. It also runs various social awareness programs with the local population in the areas of hygiene, women empowerment and education for children. It played a pivotal role in converting this expressway into a green belt with sustainable initiatives like drip water irrigation, solar plant and landscape development.
Japanese auto major Toyota plans to increase local content of the Baleno and Vitara Brezza models, which it will receive from compatriot Suzuki for selling in India under their partnership to make them price-competitive, a senior company executive has said.
The likely changes to be brought in the two models “are still under work-in-progress and how the final products gets rolled out will be known over the course of time”, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Vice President Atsushi Oki said.
“Toyota will further boost their outlook on components localisation in support to ‘Make in India’ initiative, to achieve cost effectiveness,” he said, when asked how costly the two models under the Toyota badge would be when compared to what Maruti Suzuki is already selling in India.
When asked by when TKM will start selling Vitara Brezza and Baleno in India, he said the details of each model such as the schedule of the start of supply will be considered at a later stage.
In March this year, in continuation of their partnership discussions that kicked off in 2017, Suzuki agreed to supply premium hatchback Baleno and compact SUV Vitara Brezza to Toyota, while Toyota will supply Corolla to Suzuki.
The two companies agreed last week to expand the scope of their collaboration and discuss new joint projects in the fields of technological development, vehicle production, and market development.
Under the agreement, TKM would manufacture models developed by Suzuki for sale in India through their respective brand networks.
Tech Mahindra Foundation trained over 50,000 jobless youth through over 100 Smart Vocational Training Centres, according to COO of Tech Mahindra Foundation Chetan Kapoor here on Saturday after launching a certificate course in logistics and supply chain management in association with CII Institute of Logistics.
The full-time course will be conducted under the aegis of Tech Mahindra IT & Logistics Academy, also under the CSR arm of Tech Mahindra Ltd. The academy has campuses in Visakhapatnam, New Delhi and Chandigarh. The last two are dedicated to courses in healthcare. The fourth one will be launched in Mumbai.
The training centres and academy works in the areas of education and employability through identified partner NGOs. As a part of employability, the foundation runs Smart Vocational Training Centres across 12 cities offering short-term vocational courses free of cost to the unemployed youth. Upon successful completion of the training, the youth are extended placement support in the open-market.
Kapoor said Tech Mahindra Smart Academy for IT & Logistics located at Tech Mahindra Campus here in July, 2017 offered courses with the intention to offer advanced courses in IT and logistics sector to unemployed youth. During the first year of operations, only courses related to IT sector were offered such as graphic and web Ddsign, 2D-animation and web development.
Certificates awarded
The students who completed training and internship in IT courses were awarded certificates by Harshavendra Soin, Global Function Head-(Support), Tech Mahindra Limited and G. Sambasiva Rao, president, AP Chamber of Commerce & Industry Federation. Global Function Head (Support) of Tech Mahindra Harshavendra Soin was the chief guest.
Speaking on the occasion, Sambasiva Rao said a specialised full-time course in logistics and supply chain management would offer plenty of job opportunities in the port and logistics sector.
Among others, Gowri Shankar Maddala, Location Chair-Vizag, Tech Mahindra Limited, Sudheer Babu, Head of Operations-Hyderabad and Vizag, Tech Mahindra Foundation and Sai Sridhar from CII Institute of Logistics, Chennai.
Acer has unveiled new Nitro Series gaming desktop PCs and monitors that expand its Nitro product family, designed for outstanding casual gameplay at affordable prices. The new Acer Nitro 50 Series desktops and Nitro VG0 and RG0 Series monitors easily handle demanding processing and graphics requirements for both content creation and consumption.
Acer Nitro 50 Desktops
Acer created the Nitro 50 Series for those seeking the processing power and capabilities only a desktop PC can offer. These performance PCs are powered by up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processors, and equipped with up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 GPUs to deliver superior performance for graphic-intensive tasks including gaming.
They deliver stunning 4K resolution visuals and can support up to four displays[iii] simultaneously for immersive gameplay. With up to a 3TB HDD and a 512GB SSD, there’s no shortage of storage. They sport a handy wireless charging deck[iv] for keeping users’ Qi-enabled wireless devices powered up and ready to go. To top it off, the Nitro 50 series features striking and edgy armour-inspired housing with front-facing LED lighting that emits a sinister red glow.
Lastly, the Nitro 50 desktops optimize network speed for gaming, browsing, and streaming through Realtek Dragon LAN. For totally immersive entertainment or to transform the gaming experience into an eye-popping stereoscopic experience, just match the Nitro 50 desktop with an Acer Nitro VG0 or RG0 monitor.
Nitro VG0 and RG0 Series Monitors
These new IPS[v] monitors with AMD Radeon FreeSync1 satisfy gamers’ need for speed with a blazing fast response time of up to 1ms Visual Response Boost (VRB) for smooth gameplay without breaking the bank. The Acer Nitro VG0 series is available with 27-, 23.8- and 21.5-inch panels delivering true-to-life color, and resolutions of 4K UHD, WQHD or Full HD. The ultra-thin Acer Nitro RG0 series boasts a sleek .27-inch thin profile and is offered in 27- and 23.8-inch models. Both models feature sophisticated but functional design that have earned them 2018 Red Dot Design Awards.
Boasting AMD Radeon FreeSync, the new Nitro monitor’s frames sync with the graphics card’s frames to eliminate screen tearing and minimize lag, allowing for smooth gaming. Integrated Visual Response Boost (VRB) decreases blur in fast moving images to achieve the effect of a 1ms MPRT, along with up to 144 Hz refresh rates. Integrated 6-axis color adjustment lets gamers fine-tune color, hue and saturation to best suit the game at hand, while built-in black boost enables gamers to select from 11 black level options to optimize visual advantage and clearly spot enemies, duck for cover, or navigate curves on a race track.
The new Nitro RG0 series’ 1920x1080@75Hz resolution delivers excellent visual detail, and is perfect for 1080p Full HD gaming, multimedia, and productivity applications, including Blu-ray Disc console gaming and widescreen cinematic playback.
The IPS panels provide accurate views even at wide angles of up to 178 degrees horizontally and vertically. For optimum viewing angles, the monitors can tilt from –5 to 20 degrees [–5 to 15 degrees for RG0 series]. Meeting 72 percent of the NTSC standard and delivering a 250 cd/m2 brightness, Acer Nitro monitors produce vibrant colors and images. Two 2W stereo speakers4 deliver quality audio and HDMI, VGA and DisplayPort ports4 connect to a wide array of PCs to support powerful sound effects.
Integrated Acer Game Mode has eight pre-set display modes to optimize visuals depending on the type of content being displayed. Display modes include Action, Racing, Sport, User, Standard, ECO, Graphic and Movie. Settings are easily accessed through a hotkey or the On Screen Display (OSD) settings menu.
Acer VisionCare encompassing Flickerless, BlueLightShield, ComfyView and low-dimming technologies enhance viewing comfort during long gaming periods. Outfitted with a VESA mount, the monitors can be hung on a wall to free up desk space, leaving more room for game sticks, mice and more. In addition, a ZeroFrame design maximizes viewing area and supports near seamless multi-monitor setups.
Pricing and Availability
The Acer Nitro 50 gaming desktops will be available in North America in July starting at $799; in EMEA in May starting at €999; and in China in July starting at ¥5,999.
The Acer Nitro VG0 gaming monitors will be available in North America in June starting at $129.99; in EMEA in May starting at €129; and in China in May starting at ¥999.
The Acer Nitro RG0 gaming monitors will be available in North America in July starting at $169.99; and in EMEA in May starting at €139.
Acer has announced its new Swift 5 notebook designed for users who want superb portability, solid performance, and a touch of style. With a 15-inch display, the elegant chassis weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lbs), ideal for people always on the go. The Swift 5 is powered by Windows 10, the latest Intel Core processors and features exceptional performance and battery life that lasts through the workday.
“There’s been great feedback on Acer’s amazingly light 14-inch Swift 5, and we are now pushing the limits with the 15.6-inch model,” said Jerry Hou, General Manager, Consumer Notebooks, IT Products Business, Acer Inc. “We’ve kept the weight under the 1 kg mark by using ultra-narrow bezels and a marginally larger chassis.”
The Swift 5’s Full HD IPS1 touchscreen features ultra-narrow bezels measuring just 5.87 mm (0.23 inches), giving it an incredible 87.6% screen-to-body ratio to maximize the viewing experience. The Swift 5 features Acer Color Intelligence technology, which dynamically adjusts gamma and saturation in real-time, optimizing screen color and brightness without clipping or over saturation, while Acer BluelightShield technology allows adjusting of the screen’s blue-light emission over extended periods of use.
The Swift 5 is constructed with advanced materials including ultra-light magnesium-lithium alloys for the top and bottom cover, and magnesium-aluminum alloys for extra sturdiness on the palm rest area. Thanks to the LED backlit keyboard, users can work effectively on the go all day and even at night.
Powered by the latest Intel processors, the Acer Swift 5 offers an exceptionally fast and responsive experience with battery life that lasts through the workday. The Swift 5 features Intel Wireless-AC 9560 which offers 2x2 802.11ac wireless Gigabit performance that enhances streaming, sharing, conferencing, and gaming experiences.
Up to 1 TB of SSD storage and up to 16 GB of DDR4 memory keeps the system fast and responsive, while connectivity is provided through one USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 2 port (10 Gbit/s data transfer, supporting power delivery and display output), two USB 3.1 Type-A ports (one with power-off charging functionality), an HDMI port, and an SD card reader. The Swift 5 supports Windows Hello through a fingerprint reader, allowing users to log in to their accounts faster and more securely.
Pricing and Availability
Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To find out about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office or retailer via www.acer.com.
Acer has unveiled its new Predator Orion 5000 series gaming desktops, designed for gamers who require superior performance and an adaptable chassis for future expansion. The company also released the mid-range Predator Orion 3000 series gaming desktops, as well as an expanded collection of Predator accessories designed to support gamers as they tackle their mission of choice.
"Getting the specs right is just half the fight. Predator Orion desktops provide a well-rounded choice for gamers with a striking chassis, built-in airflow management, expandability, and award-winning software that brings everything together," said Jeff Lee, General Manager, Stationary Computing, IT Products Business, Acer. "We're excited to add the new 5000 and 3000 series to the Predator Orion family, and together with the top-of-the-line Predator Orion 9000, Acer is providing a full lineup of gaming desktops that cater to a wide range of needs."
Predator Orion 5000 Series: Win the Battle
The new Predator Orion 5000 Series gaming desktops feature up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7+ 8700K processors paired with the latest Intel Z370 chipset1, up to 32 GB of Intel Optane memory for fast load times and improved responsiveness, and up to 2-way NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GPUs in SLI1 so gamers can enjoy their favorite game titles at incredibly high screen resolutions, as well as premium VR experiences.
“The 8th Gen Intel Core i7+ 8700K is the best desktop gaming Intel has ever built, and when combined with the acceleration and responsiveness offered by Intel Optane memory, the result is incredible performance needed for the most demanding gaming experiences,” said Steve Long, Vice President and General Manager, Client Computing Group Sales and Marketing, Intel. “The close collaboration with Acer to bring Intel’s best-in-class performance to life is on full display with the new Predator Orion 5000 and 3000 Series gaming desktops.”
“Powered with the extreme gaming horsepower delivered by our GeForce GTX 10-series GPUs, the Predator Orion 5000 can run the most graphically-demanding games with ease,” said Kaustubh Sanghani, General Manager of PC Platforms at NVIDIA. “Gamers will appreciate Acer’s flexible configuration options ensuring they can play to win on GeForce GTX - the world’s largest gaming platform.”
The Predator Orion 5000’s chassis has a transparent side panel to show off its powerful internals and is EMI-compliant to protect users and peripherals from potential electromagnetic interference. Easy-open side panels allows users to quickly swap out components and cables during upgrades. The IceTunnel 2.0 airflow management design segments the system into different thermal zones and provides each sector with its own airflow tunnel to expel heat. A front mesh panel with dust filters allows the Predator Orion 5000 to inhale massive amounts of air while filtering out annoying dust. Additional features for core gamers include Killer LAN high-speed Ethernet, cradles for audio headsets, a carry-handle for portability and Acer’s signature Predator design for aggressive yet refined styling.
Predator Orion 3000 Series: Peak Performance and Style
With up to 8th Gen Intel Core i7+ processors, and up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 GPUs, the VR- ready Predator Orion 3000 supports 4K gameplay as gamers take aim at opponents on the battlefield with crystal clarity. Like the 5000 series, the Predator Orion 3000 can be configured with up to 32 GB of Intel Optane memory to increase responsiveness and load times, and up to 64 GB DDR4-2666 RAM to support lightning fast action while playing the latest titles.
The Predator Orion 3000 Series features the same attractive design language as its bigger brother, with a transparent EMI-compliant side panel1, RGB lighting, sleek lines, blue accents and built-in headset cradles. Excellent heat dissipation is achieved with a front-facing intake LED fan, mesh cover and rear exhaust for optimized air flow throughout the chassis.
Predator Gadgets and Accessories to Complete the Gaming Experience
Alongside the new Predator Orion 5000 and 3000 series gaming desktops, Acer has expanded its gaming gadget and accessory line to complete the gaming experience with consistent quality:
• Predator Cestus 510: a customizable high-performance gaming mouse with an precise optical sensor that supports up to 16,000 DPI
• Predator Gaming Chair: includes detachable cushions, superior ergonomics, and lumbar spine support to give players an edge on marathon gaming sessions
• Predator Hard Case: protects the most valuable assets with a hard-as-rock outer shell and customizable foam inserts that fit exactly around your computer
• Predator Aethon 500 extra-durable mechanical keyboard with a lifespan of 70 million strokes per key, customizable with 16.8 million colors
• Predator Mousepad series available in plastic or fabric finishes with dramatic cinematic landscapes to keep the player in the game
Pricing and Availability
The Predator Orion 5000 gaming desktops will be available in North America in July starting at $1,499; in EMEA in June starting at €1,699; and in China in June starting at ¥15,999.
The Predator Orion 3000 gaming desktops will be available in North America in October starting at $999; in EMEA in July starting at €1,299; and in China in July starting at ¥6,999.
