With the aim of setting new standards for data and Cybersecurity solutions ODP and ITHCA Group launch Jabreen smart infrastructure

Maqbool Al Wahaibi:
     Jebreen Smart Infrastructure is the largest cloud system that provides integrated solutions with global standards in the fields of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and cyber security

Said Al-Mandhari:
     Jabreen smart infrastructure cloud system will contribute to accelerate digital transformation in light of the transformation race in the region.

     Muscat, March 2024: Oman Data Park (ODP ) and ITHCA Group launched Jabreen Smart Infrastructure Solutions, the largest cloud systems with a new identity in the Sultanate of Oman. The launching ceremony of Jabreen Smart Infrastructure Solutions, was under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Ghosn bin Hilal bin Khalifa Al-Alawi, President of the State Financial and Administrative Audit Institution. This cloud system aims to provide the Omani market with various packages of integrated cloud solutions, artificial intelligence solutions, cyber security solutions. This phase comes , after the first phase investment of ITHCA Group in attracting advanced cloud services from Oracle, in order Jabreen Project to be the second phase , to provide an advanced package of cloud solutions, including the “cloud infrastructure as a service (IaaS) solutions,” “platform as a service (PaaS) solutions,” and “software as a service (SaaS) solutions, while by this launching , the company will contributes to set new standards for data and cyber security solutions.

     Jabreen Smart Infrastructure solutions, with its renewed identity, offers integrated technical solutions in accordance with the international standards, to contribute to strengthen the cloud systems in government entities and private sector companies and establishments in the Sultanate of Oman, base on the principles followed in the country.It will also play vital role in saving data and reducing the cost by moving from capital cost to the current cost, as well as will contribute to advance the pace towards artificial intelligence. Jabreen Smart Infrastructure solutions,will also contribute to acceleratethe digital transformation in light of the transformation race in the region.

     Jabreen Smart Infrastructure solutions willstrengthen the provision of advanced systems using artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and cyber security solutions to serve government entities, banks, and companies professionally ,it will also provide other services related to data and information analysis, as well as advanced solutions that will help various sectors to be more dynamic in their contribution to business growth in a more streamlined manner.

     In a statement on this subject, Eng. Maqbool Al Wahaibi, CEO of Oman Data Park, said: “The new Jabreen Smart Infrastructure solutions will provide its solutions to various government entities , private sector, oil and gas sector, and banks, through direct cooperation between Oman Data Park, and ITHCA Group, to supply the market with these advanced systems.”

     Al-Wahaibi added: As the largest cloud system in providing technical solutions in accordance to the international standards while adhering to the Omani standards followed in this field, this system will contribute effectively to enhance the internally data storage and reducing the cost by moving it from capital cost to commercial cost, in order to acerbate the process of digital transformation in the country.

     He emphasized that, Oman Data Park will also pay great attention to small ,medium enterprises and technology companies operating in the Sultanate, by managing direct sales operations in a way that supports the digital sector’s journey in the Sultanate of Oman and enhancing the economic and strategic plans that are compatible with Oman Vision 2040 in its technological context.

     For his part, Eng. Said bin Abdullah Al-Mandhari, CEO of ITHCA Group, said: “The cloud partnership between ITHCA Group and ODP enhances the identity of Jabreen Smart Infrastructure solutions, as well as embodies the public and private sector’s cooperation efforts to implement the strategies of the communication and information technology sector towards accessing the Fourth Industrial Revolution”.

     Al-Mandhari added: This strategic partnership between ITHCA Group and ODP ,will also contribute to accelerate the pace of projects work, as it will strengthen the provision of advanced cloud services, cyber security solutions, Internet of Things solutions, other ready-made solutions, and various technical support services.

     The servers of the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), will power the Group’s processing, networks , while the networks will transfer its data and communications, where the devices connect users of the group’s services through professional technical support by ODP.

     The Platform as a Service (PaaS), will contribute to enhance ITHCA Group’s competitive capabilities through platforms that provide speed and innovation in delivering flexible and reliable solutions for the group’s development needs, in affordable enough to launch without committing large sums of capital.

     As for the Software as a Service (SaaS) , it is a fast, reliable, and secure app to support ITHCA Group technically, while the SaaS of ODP , is capable to run ITHCA operations in a few minutes and can deploy the new programs through its cloud environment to ITHCA endpoints, while updates are managed by the professional team at Oman Data Park without wasting the group’s time on sourcing, installation and troubleshooting.

     It is also noteworthy that ODP, the Sultanate’s first managed cloud services and cyber security provider, plays an integral role in supporting the digital transformation of Oman, through their offering of an all-in-one solution of computing, cloud computing, data storage, networking, web hosting and network security services. ODP also offers the Sultanate’s first Artificial intelligence-ready cloud infrastructure – Nebula AI powered by Nvidia. More details of their services can be found at www.omandatapark.com

ODP and Antom Collaborate to Revolutionize Digital Banking & Open API in Oman

     Muscat, March 2024: Oman Data Park (ODP), the Sultanate’s first IT-managed and cloud services provider, and Antom , the leading digital banking innovator based in Oman, have joined forces in a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU),to introduce cutting-edge financial solutions to the Omani market through leveraging ODP’s robust infrastructure and Antom’s expertise in digital finance , via the state-of-the-art Antom Digibanc platform in Oman .

     The signing of MoU ,was under the auspice of His Excellency Sheikh Ghosn bin Hilal bin Khalifa Al-Alawi , President of the State Financial and Administrative Audit Institution , in presence of the managements of the managements of the two companies and the invited guests .

     This collaboration promises to deliver unparalleled services in key areas including , Digital Banking Platform as a Service (SaaS), Open Banking and APIs Development, Instant Digital Lending, and Instant Credit Card Issuance services.

     Commenting of this launching, Eng. Maqbool Al-Wahaibi, CEO of Oman Data Park, said: “Our collaboration with Antom represents a significant step forward in Oman’s digital economy. By combining our expertise in managed IT services with Antom’s cutting-edge digital banking solutions, we are poised to reshape the future of banking in Oman and deliver unparalleled value to our customers.”

     Al-Wahaibi added:Oman Data Park took the lead in establishing the company’s cyber security center known as Cyber Security Park to provide pioneering and effective smart security solutions to various sectors ,including banking and financial sector , to reduce electronic attacks. It is a center with all capabilities that enable it to repel more than (8000) electronic attacks faced by various institutions in the Sultanate Oman daily, while its unremitting efforts contributed to providing specialized sites to host and save data inside the Sultanate instead of saving it abroad.

     For his part , Abdullah Al Nassri, CEO of Antom, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration: “Our partnership with Oman Data Park represents a significant milestone in our journey to transform Oman’s Open banking landscape and a game changer for API-driven innovation in the Sultanate of Oman. Antom Digibanc is designed to empower individuals and businesses, offering secure, efficient, and personalized financial services.”

     Base on the Digital Banking Platform as a Service (SaaS) , Antom Digibanc will provide a comprehensive SaaS solution, enabling banks and financial institutions to swiftly deploy and manage digital banking services, including account management to secure transactions, while the platform ensures a seamless user experience.

     In the Open Banking and APIs Development, Antom enterprise-grade digital enablement platform is built on an open architecture and collaborative governance framework with 550+ out-of-the-box APIs. Open APIs will empower developers, fintech companies, and businesses to create innovative financial products and services.

     In the Instant Digital Lending, the Antom Digibanc streamlines the lending process, offering instant loan approvals and disbursements. Whether for personal loans, mortgages, or business financing, customers can access funds swiftly and conveniently.

     As for the Instant Credit Card Issuance, the platform facilitates real-time credit card issuance, eliminating paperwork and long waiting periods. Customers can apply for credit cards online and receive immediate approval, enhancing their financial flexibility.

     It is noteworthy that ODP, the Sultanate’s first managed cyber security and cloud services provider, plays an integral role in supporting the digital transformation of Oman, through their offering of an all-in-one solution of computing, cloud computing, data storage, networking, web hosting and network security services. ODP also offers the Sultanate’s first Artificial Intelligence ready cloud infrastructure – Nebula AI powered by Nvidia. More details of their services can be found at www.omandatapark.com

The Data Park (TDP) inks a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with 247 Labs Inc at Riyadh, KSA

     Riyadh, March 2024: As a part of its participation in Leap Tech at Riyadh, in Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center, at Kingdom of Saudi Arabia KSA, held during the period of 4- 7 March 2024, The Data Park (TDP), the leading provider of data centre services, cloud solutions, and managed services in the gulf region, inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with 247 Labs Inc, a reputed provider of software development, implementation services, and comprehensive innovative technology solutions globally.

     The MoU, signed by Eng. Maqbool bin Salem Al-Wahaibi, CEO of The Data Park (TDP), and, Eng. Azwar Khalid, CEO of 247 Labs Inc., in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Amer Al-Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Sultanate’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communication and Information Technology.

     In accordance with this MoU, the two parties will join a collaborative partnership, where 247 Labs will serve as the AI development arm for TDP, providing expert software development and implementation services to support TDP’s objectives.

     The collaboration framework between the two leader companies will also include the development of AI-driven solutions, software engineering, project management, and technical support by 247 Labs, based on TDP’s requirements.

     Stating on this occasion, Eng Maqbool bin Salem Al-Wahaibi, CEO of The Data Park (TDP), said: ” Our collaborative partnership with 247 Labs Inc, will contribute to strengthening the infrastructure of artificial intelligence (AI) in the GCC countries including the Sultanate of Oman “.

     He emphasized the capabilities of The Data Park in providing the best levels of AI service, relying on the team of professional experts at TDP, one of the first providers of managed services in this field, in the information technology and cloud services in the Gulf region.

     For his part Eng. Azwar Khalid, CEO of 247 Labs Inc, expressed his pleasure in joining this partnership with Data Park, stressing that, MoU the two parties, considered a quantities leap for the business relationships of 247 Labs Inc. with offshore companies such as TDP “

     It is also noteworthy that The Data Park (TDP), the prominent player in cloud services and cyber security in the region, plays an integral role in supporting the digital transformation of Oman, through their offering of an all-in-one solution of computing, cloud computing, data storage, networking, web hosting and network security services. TDP also offers the Sultanate’s first Artificial intelligence-ready cloud infrastructure – Nebula AI powered by Nvidia. More details of their services can be found at www.omandatapark.com

During the renowned Leap tech event in Riyadh, KSA The Data Park (TDP) and GO Telecom Company solidified a strategic partnership

     Muscat, March 2024: During the renowned Leap tech event in Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center, at Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the period of 4- 7 March 2024, where with the blessing of HE Dr. Ali bin Amer Al-Shidhani ,Undersecretary of the Sultanate’s MTCIT, The Data Park (TDP) ,the prominent player in cloud services and cyber security ,and Go Telecom, signing a strategic partnership ,furthering their collaboration to enhance digital infrastructure and security offerings in the region.

     The agreement was signed by Eng. Maqbool bin Salem Al-Wahaibi, CEO of The Data Park (TDP), and Yahya Al Mansour CEO of GO Telecom.The signing ceremony was attended by His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Amer Al-Shidhani , Undersecretary of the Sultanate’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communication and Information Technology, while Eng. Maqbool Al-Wahaibi expressed his pleasure with this auspicious presence ,saying that :“We are honored to have HE. the Undersecretary facilitates this momentous partnership between The Data Park (TDP) and Go Telecom”.

     By this agreement, The Data Park (TDP) in cooperation with GO Telecom will provide cloud services, managed services and co-selling to achieve mutual beneficiary for the two parties in the booming cloud managed services market at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

     The signed business deal between the two leader companies will contribute to expanding the global portfolio of The Data Park (TDP) as well as strengthen the services of GO Telecom, which is reputed for its capabilities in building solutions that enable the Beneficiaries of its services to enjoy the highest quality interactions with their customers through its malty functions channel solutions including over voice, instant messaging, email, SMS and social media services.

     Commenting on this deal, Engineer Maqbool bin Salem Al Wahaibi, CEO of The Data Park (TDP), said: “We are delighted with our partnership with GO Telecom, whose service is at the top of the industry for reliability, connectivity and professional customer service, while The Data Park (TDP) is one of the leaders companies , that provides a variety of cloud infrastructure data services through the third-level data centre, Including a wide range of cloud applications, and operates the only virtual data centre in the country.”

     For his part, Yahya Al Mansour CEO of GO Telecom stated: “What sets GO Telecom apart from our competitors is that we pride ourselves on striving to hit a 5-star rating from every customer as a reference for future sales, as GO Telecom aims to hit that level of excellence with our customers, we believe that our new strategic relation with ODP will open new future horizons for us in GCC countries “. 

     It is also noteworthy that The Data Park (TDP), the prominent player in cloud services and cyber security in the region, plays an integral role in supporting the digital transformation of Oman, through their offering of an all-in-one solution of computing, cloud computing, data storage, networking, web hosting and network security services. TDP also offers the Sultanate’s first Artificial intelligence-ready cloud infrastructure – Nebula AI powered by Nvidia. More details of their services can be found at www.omandatapark.com

Maqbool Al Wahaibi, CEO of Oman Data Park says that entrepreneurs are privileged to be provided a platform with tools to experiment and explore viable alternatives to contribute to the country’s economy

Sunday, February 17, 2019

Maqbool Al Wahaibi, CEO of Oman Data Park says that entrepreneurs are privileged to be provided a platform with tools to experiment and explore viable alternatives to contribute to the country’s economy.

A country’s healthy economy is based on a strong SME foundation. SMEs in Oman have been promoted by both the Government as well as private companies and play a mega role in employment generation. The Government’s contribution towards the micro and SMEs platform has resulted in adding to the GDP of Oman’s economy. Al Raffd Fund, SME authority and venture capitals such as Oman Tech Funds offer the necessary impetus to start the engines towards progression.

Oman Data Park commissions its Cyber Security Centre

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Oman Data Park, Oman's leading Cloud computing company, celebrated the commissioning of the company's Cyber Security Centre at Knowledge Oasis Muscat under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Futtaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, in the presence of senior government officials, board members, as well as CEO’s and senior management teams from its customers.

The Centre seeks to provide IT services, enhance managed security services including a 24/7 cybersecurity operations and a network operations team, managed by an elite team of experienced Omani experts.

The Centre’s two security and network operations teams hold extensive experience in dealing with various cyber threats. The enhanced focus on the newly commissioned Cyber Security Centre will further drive the company’s determination for higher security activities as well as preparation for the 4th Industrial revolution and Gig economy.

On the occasion of the Centre’s commissioning, Eng. Maqbool Al Wahaibi, CEO of Oman Data Park, expressed his delight at the opening of the Cyber Security Centre, adding that the centre will enhance Oman Data Park’s services and will highly contribute in strengthening the company’s position in the Sultanate as a leader in cloud computing.

Al Wahaibi pointed out the various challenges that the company has faced since launching its operations in 2012 in increasing awareness of Cloud services in the Sultanate and how the company has achieved many successes over the past years through a well-defined business plan that showcased the operational and long term benefits to be reaped by both private and government entities.

“Managed data centre services and accompanying cloud services are vital parts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution axis, whose features are already emerging on the ground, such as online shopping, robot-managed enterprises, self-automated vehicles, smart digital industries, Assets and sensitive resources, such as oilfields, power stations, logistics, aviation, banks and other sectors..

It is no secret that as technology evolves, security risks becomes high as its threats impacts are not limited at individuals and institutions, but extends to be real threat to the national security and economic resources of countries.

In order for the Sultanate to maintain its advanced position as a preferred investment destination, by enjoying the stable security and political environment that has been established by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, we must strive to continue the development of the cyber security system. Oman Data Park is determined to invest heavily in this field, along with the efforts of the competent institutions in the State, to provide digital security protection by establishing a specialized cybersecurity centre working side by side with the relevant institutions in the Sultanate.”

He further added, ” The Oman Data Park Cyber Security Centre focuses on four main areas: educational aspects through the release of free periodic reports, which contain the most important types of actual security risks, offering training courses for individuals and institutions, providing security services. The Centre will also link with other local and international centres to identify the most important potential security risks in cyberspace to reduce their occurrence in an early stage.”

Maitham Al-Lawati, General Manager of the Cyber Security Centre at Oman Data Park, showed a presentation on on ODP’s cyber security capabilities, highlighting the major attacks in 2018, such as e-mail spoofing, DDoS, targeted malware, counterfeit mobile applications, sales of stolen credentials in the black market, as well as imposition on social media, to name a few.

“The threat level is always on the rise and our customers look forward to maintaining their safety. This is why we are preparing for the future with this newly commissioned Cyber Security Centre where we will continue to offer an even more advanced level of Intelligence, protection and mitigation to our present and future clients.’’ He further thanked the supporting partners Fortinet, Cisco and MenaInfoSec for their part in enabling the cyber security offerings.

According to a new survey of risk managers and workers by the Depository Trust and the Clearinghouse Corp., the biggest threat to markets in 2019 is the threat of a cybersecurity attack. In today’s interconnected world, no business can ignore such threats as ransom demand, phishing, malware and others.

The commissioning of the Cyber Security Centre is also a celebration of Oman Data Park’s achievements as a leading player in the data centre services sector in Oman, whether it is a government company, a private company or even a small and medium enterprise operating in or outside the Sultanate of Oman. ODP is fully equipped to to serve with cost-effective and secure IT needs and lead the customer’s business into tomorrow while they comfortably focus on their core business activities. In addition, Oman Data Park partners with qualified vendors to provide comprehensive security services and threat analysis for proactive and reactive security services.

The company currently operates three Tier-3 global data centres located in the Knowledge Oasis Muscat(KOM) in Rusayl, Wattayah, and Duqm Districts. The Data Centre provides a diverse set of services such as Co-location, Managed Security, Cloud and Disaster Recovery services to name a few. At present, Oman Data Park serves a large number of businesses including major banks and oil and gas companies operating in the Sultanate.

The winner of the 2018-19 Telecom Innovations Award for Cyber Security, ODP was highlighted by Gartner as a key player in the GCC for Public Cloud Computing. The company’s services are also ISO 27001/ISO 2000 certified and PCI-DSS and EU GDPR- ready.

Maqbool Al Wahaibi, CEO of Oman Data Park says Ready to contribute ODP’s support to the transformation of Duqm into a smart city

Interview by:
Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Shezawi

Mr. Maqbool Al-Wahaibi, CEO of ODP, said that there are many gains for companies operating in The Special Economic Zone Authority in Duqm (SEZAD) due to the adoption of smart city applications and programs. Commenting on the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), by SEZAD with the Korean side, for cooperation in the field of smart cities, Al-Wahaibi indicated that the adoption of intelligent systems contributes to reducing the operating cost of companies, speeding up their services and upgrading their performances. In addition, the use of innovative technological solutions in roads, port and mega projects operation, water and power networks and other services contributes to SEZAD’s development and improves the services it provides to locals, residents and investors.

In an exclusive interview with Duqm Economist, he asserted that Oman Data Park is ready to contribute to the success of this initiative. He added that the cloud data centre in Duqm is one of the enablers for such projects. “The systems operating smart cities, such as servers and data storage, need a data centre capable of achieving this goal. As the centre is ready, it will be one of the enabling elements for the implementation of projects related to smart cities,” elaborated Al-Wahaibi. “We look forward to being one of the contributors to the transformation of Duqm into a smart city and we are ready to contribute actively to these ambitions.”

More than expectations   

In his interview, Al-Wahaibi praised the level of demand for the cloud data centre in SEZAD though inaugurated only last February. “The performance of the centre since its launch and so far, exceeds our expectations. We currently have a good group of companies that benefit from its services and expect the coming period to witness an increase in their number and the joining of major companies, such as Duqm Port and Dry Dock to our clientele. SEZAD was the first client of the company, which was a real boost to our efforts,” stated CEO of ODP. He added that ODP’s vision is to make its centre of cloud data in Duqm a centre of training and qualification of national cadres in the field of cloud systems and data management, and a specialized research centre in this area.

Enhancing Duqm position at the economic and investment fronts
Al-Wahaibi touched upon the objectives of the company from establishing the cloud data centre in Duqm. “We focus on realizing three main objectives, namely, strengthen Duqm position at the economic and investment fronts, attract foreign investment, and enable companies and investments to achieve their objectives smoothly. In this way, we would contribute to the Sultanate’s strategy with regard to promoting investment. Duqm is at the forefront of the government’s interest in economic diversification and the promotion of national income, and we are honoured to be one of the contributors in this regard.”

Enable companies to focus on their business
“The presence of the data centre in Duqm enables companies to focus on their main sectors, such as ports, industry, oil and gas, logistics and other sectors while ODP takes care of the corporate ICT services, which saves about 45% of the total cost of operations. “We are keen to provide our customers with a unique and scalable infrastructure supported by the necessary management expertise while ensuring the highest level of data protection at all times,” indicated Al-Wahaibi.

Backup Data Centre
He pointed out that the third objective is to create a backup data centre that enhances the services provided by the company through its head office in Muscat. If the data of the company in Muscat faces any unforeseen events, they can obtain and retrieve them from Duqm data centre. “We have concluded an agreement with Arab Financial Services Company to use the cloud data centre in Duqm as a backup centre for it in addition to the data centre in Muscat, and there are other companies with which we will sign similar agreements in the coming period,” stated CEO of ODP.

First provider of local cloud services
ODP was the first provider of local cloud services in the Sultanate. Al-Wahaibi said that the company started its operations in 2012 through a third-generation data centre in Al-Wattaya, Muscat, providing networking services to the banking sector. Then, it established a larger and more developed centre in Knowledge Oasis Muscat to meet the growing demand from various industrial and economic sectors. “This centre is the company’s main data centre, providing network connectivity, backup and disaster recovery services, as well as a wide range of other services.” He explained that the three data centres in Duqm, Al-Wattaya and Muscat are linked to each other to provide flexibility, interconnection of data and business continuity.

Main milestones
“In 2013, we launched our first cloud services from Oman placing the Sultanate on the international cloud service providers’ map. In 2014, we set up the security operations centre to meet the needs of key sectors, such as banks, oil and gas and government units that want to protect their information assets. We are proud today that we have built a strong security team. The company offers a wide range of security services, such as email security, website security, protection against denial of service attacks, vital infrastructure, phishing attacks, and others,” explained Al-Wahaibi.

Local data centres
“Our main advantage is that we provide cloud services from within Oman, where we store data and information in the company’s three data centres here in Oman. This is similar to what is happening in many Western countries, where cloud data centres provide service within their countries for greater security for corporate data. It is regrettable that still many companies buy cloud services from outside the Sultanate.”

Miscellaneous services
Commenting on the services provided by ODP Al-Wahaibi said, “The Company currently offers more than 30 services published in the second edition of our public cloud portal. These services are advanced and diverse, including web hosting, cloud servers and security services domain names, all available in our market. Our partners in Oman and abroad can access and purchase these fully automated services from our online market without having to contact or interact with us in three to four steps. “The number of companies that benefit from our services currently is about 450, and we have international customers from Australia, South America and other GCC countries. Currently, 80% of our customers are from the Sultanate, but within the next five years, we expect more of our customers to be from outside Oman.

Ambitions of company
“We are working to be among the top 10 cloud service providers in the world by 2025. I believe that our capabilities and skills allow us to achieve this vision.“We are not only interested in providing ICT services, but we also look forward to playing a vital role in digital transformation and supporting the Sultanate’s efforts to build smart cities.”

Optimism for success
Al-Wahaibi, CEO of ODP, expressed his optimism about SEZAD success in achieving its objectives: “Our confidence in Duqm encouraged us to give Duqm its priority in expanding our cloud data centre. We have plans to establish data centres in a number of the Sultanate’s Wilayats, but our confidence in the success of Duqm has made us accelerate the establishment of this centre. “Duqm projects are carefully studied and have good goals. Many projects will be implemented and will contribute to achieving SEZAD’s objectives. Despite the global challenges, we find that SEZAD projects continue and expect Duqm to become one of the most important sectors and pillars of the national economy due to its diverse projects, such as Duqm Port, Dry Dock, Duqm Refinery and advanced infrastructure,” concluded Al-Wahaibi, CEO of ODP.