On October 13th, QUALCO participated in the 18th IT Directors Forum, hosted by BOUSSIAS Events at the Athens Music Concert Hall. The event brought together international thought leaders in ICT, top decision-makers, and influential CEOs to discuss the strategies and challenges modern organisations are facing today. The Forum empowered CIOs and IT Directors to navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape, leverage the benefits of digital businesses, foster innovation, and strengthen organisational resilience.
Christos Christopoulos, IT Business Development & Sales Manager at QUALCO, joined a panel discussion alongside Nikos Anastopoulos from Google Cloud, Elina Grigoraki from VMware, Michalis Bozos from Check Point and George Bobolos from MTI. The discussion, moderated by Giannis Rizopoulos, focused on what digital transformation means for CIOs. Christopoulos highlighted the solutions QUALCO IT Services provides, the most significant threats faced by the Greek market, and the expected technological trends.
According to Christopoulos, businesses today are endangered by their reliance on outdated systems and methodologies that prevent them from keeping up with technological advancements. Threats can originate from multiple sources, even from within an organisation itself.
"Something seemingly harmless, such as a Wi-Fi accessory not directly connected to the leading network, can pose a risk," he emphasised.
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities can be a prime target for those aiming to exploit a company. It’s important to note that not all threats come through the cloud, and it's surprisingly easy for systems to become unmanageable. As he explained, the complexity of these challenges requires a holistic strategy and the employment of experts who can identify and strategise against vulnerabilities. These professionals will guide strategic planning, follow continuous risk-aligned monitoring, and ensure prompt system updates. Additionally, consistent assessments and upholding Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are crucial to maintaining timely updates.
Upcoming Technological Trends
The IT Business Development and Sales Manager emphasised that cybersecurity is expected to lead the way, especially with the rise of cyber-attacks. As businesses evolve, so do cyber threats. Therefore, companies need to be proactive and embed security, to enhance customer trust and shareholder value, as well as to strengthen their resilience against threats. With emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence playing a pivotal role, it’s crucial to ensure the protection and integrity of data and algorithms. Following a tailored, end-to-end cybersecurity approach, businesses can overcome challenges and adapt to future uncertainties.
Christopoulos also discussed the emergence of quantum-resistant encryption as another notable tech advancement. This type of encryption aims to address the vulnerabilities in our current cryptographic algorithms, which form the foundation of online security, privacy, and information transfer. As quantum computers advance, there is a growing concern that they could break these algorithms, exposing the digital world to cyberattacks and fraud. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop and standardise quantum-resistant algorithms to ensure our digital data remains secure against next-generation threat, which is expected to arise in the next decade or two.
"Although not yet fully embraced by the market, this is one of the most significant upcoming threats", he explained.
How QUALCO Can Help
For more than 20 years, QUALCO has been designing a wide range of technology solutions and services. Working with leading providers such as Check Point, Qualys, Fortinet and others, QUALCO serves the needs of a demanding, global clientele and builds long-term partnerships and trusted relationships. By offering innovative IT services that drive meaningful business growth, the company's dedicated team of professionals configures clients' IT infrastructure through advanced digital technologies, ensuring their cybersecurity.
QUALCO IT Services protects customers against potential threats, ensuring a seamless, secure and flexible work experience. The company provides customised solutions, including network infrastructure, cloud solutions, and consulting services, that are tailored to meet each client’s unique needs. Following a vendor-agnostic approach, QUALCO uses the proper infrastructure to modernise its clients' digital environments, empowering them to thrive with security and confidence.