2020

Toronto, Canada and Dubai, UAE –  December 15, 2020 – Qnext Corp. an award-winning Red Herring Top 100 global winner for disruptive technology and BluGrass Technologies (BGT), a proven IT managed services provider in the Middle East, announced today that BluGrass will offer FileFlex Enterprise as a Zero Trust Data Access (ZTDA) platform for hybrid-IT.

FileFlex Enterprise is the world’s first remote data access and sharing solution designed from the ground up to facilitate business processes effectively and efficiently on a zero-trust platform to reduce business risk and increase productivity.  FileFlex Enterprise combines AES256 end-to-end encryption (E2EE) and a Zero Trust Data Access (ZTDA) platform to provide true next generation secure remote data access and sharing of a hybrid-IT infrastructure that includes on-premises, cloud-hosted and SharePoint storage.

“With Zero Trust Data Access, FileFlex Enterprise incorporates the next generation of cyber security.  We are thrilled to offer this cutting-edge technology to our customer base,” said Tony Alam, CEO of BluGrass Technologies. “With the onset of COVID-19, FileFlex Enterprise enables our clients to equip their remote workforce so that they can securely access and share from their modern hybrid-IT infrastructure”.

“BluGrass Technologies is an established leader and we are excited to partner with them,” said Anthony Decristofaro, CEO and President of Qnext Corp.  “Known for its highly qualified consultants, project managers, engineers and network of technology partners, skilled service providers and IT resources, BluGrass has a proven track record with its many clients”.

About BluGrass Technologies

Founded in 2016, BluGrass Technologies (BGT) is an IT managed services provider with a permanent presence in 5 Middle Eastern countries. BGT’s mission is to address clients’ concerns as regard to the business disruptions due to fast technology changes; fear of cyberattacks and scarcity of IT resources. BGT “AIME” methodology is proven with many clients and the services are reinforced by proficient experts; quality of work; supreme products; visible cost saving and upsurge in IT efficiency.

BGT offers a wide range of applications and infrastructure management services delivered by highly qualified consultants, project managers and engineers. BGT is backed up by a channel network consisting of 50 technology partners, 60 skilled service providers and access to over 200 IT resources; this strong network empowers BGT to serve its clients diligently; frequently beyond clients’ expectations.  For more information visit https://www.blugrass.com/

Media contact:   info@blugrass.com

About Qnext

Selected as a Red Herring Top 100 global winner for disruptive technology, Qnext is recognized as one of the technology industry’s most exciting and innovative private companies, Qnext Corp. is an innovator in remote access, file sharing and collaboration software. Its products are designed to support the modern Hybrid-IT corporate storage structure with the highest level of security including a zero-trust data access (ZTDA) platform and support for integration with the latest Intel SGX secure enclave technology. Qnext is a technology partner with Microsoft, Intel and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE).  For more information visit https://blugrass.fileflex.com/

Media contact: mediarelations@qnext.com

Tensions lately have been at an all-time high in Boardrooms regarding the rapid progress in new technologies and the unknown impacts it can have on a businesses’ future performance, profitability, confidentiality of data or even continuity. The fumbling from the risks of information technology has increased, especially in traditional Boards that include members who are unacquainted with this territory and don’t appreciate the extent to which their firms depend on “information assets”. Even more so, they seem to be oblivious of the importance of information technology in shaping the strategies of their companies and the risks which could disturb their business due to system failures or security breaches. This lack of awareness often leads to a slowdown or negligence in making fateful and even existential decisions. There are many examples of global companies who did not realize the stimulus of technological developments on their businesses and their future; their hesitancy led to massive losses, shares falling and even bankruptcy.

The importance of IT governance:

Still in many Western and Eastern countries, Boards do not give special importance to the subject of IT governance, due to their unfamiliarity with the topic. Board members often lack the basic knowledge necessary to ask key questions about technology risks and around the impact of high-tech changes on the business itself. Traditionally, this responsibility is left to the information technology executives, who define the course of action according to their whims. Therefore, the lack of control over IT activities by the Board is treacherous as it could expose the organization to the same risks resulting from incompetent assets or financial management. Several global companies have understood the IT threats and risks and have created special Board committees to monitor and oversee the Information technology’s activities. The IT governance team worked closely with the audit and governance committees. Subsequently, IT governance committees were recognized and became a major and auxiliary in carving strategic decisions and monitoring company’s IT performance. Involving IT governance at Board level led these companies to gaining competitive advantages in their markets i.e.: Procter & Gamble, Vodafone, Wall Mart, and Federal Express.

The Role of an IT Governance Committee

The Boards, who decide to oversee the activities and the impact of information technology on their businesses need to form an IT governance committee. It begins by recruiting independent directors or specialists, whose main role is the preparation of the committee’s charter and its relationship with other Board committees.

After its formation the committee’s main task is to understand the IT road map of the executive management and its impact on the company’s business in the foreseeable terms. What should distinguish the work of a competent committee is its ability to bridge the knowledge and communication gaps between the executive management and the Board of Directors. Accordingly, the role of the committee is pivotal since it will help the executives to avoid digging into
technical details and technological terms but to focus on the opportunities available and draw a broader picture of their IT strategy and its impact on the business growth and success.

The committee’s role is also to review the cyber security measures implemented by the company and engage specialists to assess the vulnerability of the firm vis- à-vis cyber threats. A Gulf flavored GDPR will be applied soon in United Arab Emirates which will force most companies to review their IT and cyber security measures in order to comply with the state rules and regulations concerning user
data protection.

In addition to the above tasks, IT governance committee’s further role is to challenge the IT projects proposed by executive management and its efficacy and necessity; to assess the success of projects implemented and its contribution to the business’s progress; to inquire the adoption of certain technologies which might not benefit the firm or could be a waste of time and money.

The IT governance committee is as important as the audit committee. Its role helps to balance the current business and future needs; ensure the seriousness and feasibility of investments in IT projects; ensure the protection of “digital assets” and “business continuity”. The relationship between these two committees should be close; for IT matters can affect economic and regulatory
issues, IT governance committees are geared to understand the fundamental dynamics governing changes in technology and its ability to transform the company’s economic outlook.