Tech nibs

NET2S has launched its new Information Security Division in London. The new division will offer the three key services of ethical hacking, risk management consulting, and product integration. The UK division is currently involved in numerous system conversion and optimization projects, and in various regulatory compliance projects involving Sarbanes Oxley. Hans Haverhals, formerly of Nebulas Security and MIS Corporate Defense Solutions, will head the division. Haverhals brings to the company over a decade of experience in the IT security business. He has developed and managed regional offices for IT security resellers in the UK and Europe, managed vendor and distributor partnerships, and established consistently strong sales records within the channel over the years. "As the means of distributing information continues to grow, the ability to keep it secure is an increasingly difficult and complex challenge for companies," states Frédéric Ponzo, MD of NET2S London. "With the potentially catastrophic consequences of even the smallest data leakage, not to mention the damaging headlines, financial institutions are all too aware of the implications of poor information security."

Misys has established a partnership with Wipro Ltd to increase its services capability in the Middle East as part of its strategy to capture growth in rapidly expanding markets. Wipro will found a centre of excellence around Misys Opics Plus to expand distribution capacity and accelerate delivery of solutions to customers. Pre-tax profits of financial institutions in the Middle East grew by more than 30% on average last year, according to The Banker. Technology is widely seen as crucial in driving productivity improvements and providing access to new, complex instruments, as firms in the region capture increased market share and compete in a global marketplace. Tower Group, the research and advisory services firm focused exclusively on the global financial services industry, estimates that IT investment in the region’s financial services is expected to grow by more than 10% a year over the next 4 years, from $3.5bn to $5.7bn in 2011.