Shifting Microsoft Azure SQL into overdrive

TCS+

#Tech #Business #South Africa #TechCentral

30:55

A secret field that summons lightning. A massive spiral that disappears into a salt lake. A celestial observatory carved into a volcano. Meet the wild—and sometimes explosive—world of land art, where artists craft masterpieces with dynamite and bulldozers. In our Season 2 premiere, guest Dylan Thuras, cofounder of Atlas Obscura, takes us off road and into the minds of the artists who literally reshaped parts of the Southwest. These works aren’t meant to be easy to reach—or to explain—but they just might change how you see the world. Land art you’ll visit in this episode: - Double Negative and City by Michael Heizer (Garden Valley, Nevada) - Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson (Great Salt Lake, Utah) - Sun Tunnels by Nancy Holt (Great Basin Desert, Utah) - Lightning Field by Walter De Maria (Catron County, New Mexico) - Roden Crater by James Turrell (Painted Desert, Arizona) Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.…

about a year ago 24:37

MP3•Episode home

Microsoft Azure SQL is a fully managed and scalable cloud database service – and its myriad benefits mean your company should be considering it if it isn’t already using it.
To unpack this in more detail, Preegan Chetty, Microsoft Azure product manager at First Distribution, and Silicon Overdrive Microsoft business executive Jody Roberts join TechCentral’s business technology show TCS+.
In the episode, they unpack:
• The relationship between First Distribution and Silicon Overdrive;
• Silicon Overdrive’s market focus;
• What Azure SQL is and how it’s helping companies with their digital transformation initiatives;
• Why many South African businesses run SQL Server databases, usually on-premises, and what the advantages are of moving these databases into the Microsoft Azure cloud;
• The cost advantages of shifting, and what’s involved in doing so;
• The security considerations of shifting from on-premises SQL Server to Azure SQL;
• The features that make Azure SQL particularly secure;
• Use cases of businesses leveraging Azure SQL; and
• Azure SQL Database vs SQL Managed Instance vs SQL Service on Azure virtual machines – the differences between these options, and why businesses should choose one over another.
Don’t miss the discussion.
--
TCS+ episodes are sponsored.

100 episodes

Shifting Microsoft Azure SQL into overdrive

TCS+

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

100 episodes

#Tech #Business #South Africa #TechCentral

All episodes

TCS+

1
Switchcom and Huawei eKit: networking made easy for SMEs 24:40

13 days ago24:40

24:40

Networking equipment wholesaler Switchcom Distribution has partnered with Huawei Technologies to bring new offerings to the South African market and elsewhere in Africa. In the first episode of this series, Switchcom national sales manager Lynton Brits and Huawei account manager Tanki Lebatla told TCS+ about the rationale behind the partnership and some of the networking and backup power equipment the companies have on offer. That video is available here. In this second episode of the series, Brits is back on TCS+, this time accompanied by Jan Keyser, CEO of Konnekt SP, a provider of networking solutions to small and medium enterprises. In this episode of TCS+, Brits and Keyser delve into: • Why networking solutions providers and small and medium enterprises are draw to the Huawei networking eKit distributed by Switchcom; • The different types of networking equipment that comes with the eKit solution; • The software support Huawei provides to make network configuration easier for engineers using the eKit; • The advantages of purchasing a homogenous solution from the same brand in making network configuration easier for installers; and • Tools for managing the software-defined networks deployed using the eKit as customer need evolve over time. This insightful conversation is not to be missed, especially for SMEs looking for networking solutions and the vendors who install them.…

TCS+

1
Inside MTN's big brand overhaul 31:11

5 weeks ago31:11

31:11

The Better Connection. Everywhere You Go. Or simply just Y’ello. Brand identity matter, and MTN South Africa – one of South Africa’s most valued brands – is keenly aware of that fact. Indeed, when a big consumer brand changes its brand positioning, it’s always a big deal – not only because of the work involved behind the scenes but also because it helps shift the narrative for that brand in small but important ways in the public consciousness. For a handful of times in its storied, 31-year history, MTN has refreshed its brand image. And it’s just hit the “play” button on the latest overhaul. In this episode of TechCentral’s TCS+ business technology podcast, MTN South Africa GM for residential and post-paid services Bertus van der Vyver unpacks the company’s latest brand identity and why it made the decisions it did. In the podcast, Van der Vyver chats about: • Whether brand ends up influencing strategy, or the other way around; • How the new brand positioning – the payoff line is Together We Make Moves – aligns with MTN’s ongoing efforts around customer experience, network innovation and its service offerings; • How consumers will experience the brand refresh; • How the changes tie into MTN’s social and business commitments; and • How MTN’s new brand identity will allow the company to differentiate itself in the market, including in relation to its competitors. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation about the value and importance of branding.…

TCS+

1
Snode CEO Nithen Naidoo on the cybersecurity opportunity 37:08

11 weeks ago37:08

37:08

Nithen Naidoo, founder and CEO of Snode Technologies, shares valuable insights on Snode and the cybersecurity space with TechCentral’s TCS+. -- Snode Technologies evolved from a consultancy to a product-focused company almost by accident. The product was developed on the ground, which led to the philosophy of customer-led design, emphasising solutions that directly addresses the problems customers are experiencing. In this episode of TechCentral’s TCS+, Snode founder and CEO Naidoo unpacks the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone and not letting fear dictate decisions. He believes South Africans are more than capable of building world-class technology and that the cyber landscape offers opportunities to innovate without requiring large investments. He stresses the importance of adopting technology securely to propel businesses forward. Nithen has learnt the importance of collaboration and acknowledges that there are still many problems in the cybersecurity industry that are yet to be solved. What Snode does today Snode has grown to cover over eight million devices and protect systems and companies across six continents with a team of 60 staff. The company’s mission is to “solve cyber”. It has developed a platform that is highly automated and is moving towards autonomous security operations. This platform is designed to address the high costs of managing cybersecurity and the need for better automated solutions. Snode’s technology uses metadata around packets instead of the data packets themselves for threat detection, which allows for privacy preservation. It leverages advances in machine learning and AI for innovation-driven security solutions. They also use mathematics as a fast and accurate method for threat detection. Furthermore, they use digital twin technology to simulate different types of scenarios, enabling predictive and prescriptive analytics for customers. This technology automatically classifies assets and understands their value to a business by using data from both internal and external sources. The company’s solutions extend to both IT and OT (operational technology) environments, with a focus on the convergence of the two. Snode’s technology is protocol-independent and can eavesdrop on communications without needing proprietary information, which is beneficial in environments like industrial IoT and medical IoT. Snode’s focus on continuous threat exposure management (CTEM) moves beyond traditional risk and vulnerability management. It looks at a company’s security through the lens of the asset, enriching available siloed data with the much-needed context to manage a company’s exposure holistically. What the future holds Snode aims to be a leader in the cybersecurity industry, acknowledging that the sector still has valuable problems to solve. Its vision is not just for South Africa, but for the whole of the African continent. Naidoo says he wants to create a secure environment for African entrepreneurs to drive innovation. Snode already has a global reach, with a presence across six continents, and is working with the defence and critical national infrastructure sectors in a number of countries. Snode plans to expand its approach to cybersecurity, using predictive capabilities for broader applications such as preventative maintenance in the OT environment and improving safety in various industries. It aims to change the traditional view of cyberthreats, moving towards a unified approach across threat management, vulnerability management and penetration testing. For more, visit techcentral.co.za -- This episode is sponsored.…

TCS+

1
Shifting Microsoft Azure SQL into overdrive 24:37

16 weeks ago24:37

24:37

Microsoft Azure SQL is a fully managed and scalable cloud database service – and its myriad benefits mean your company should be considering it if it isn’t already using it. To unpack this in more detail, Preegan Chetty, Microsoft Azure product manager at First Distribution, and Silicon Overdrive Microsoft business executive Jody Roberts join TechCentral’s business technology show TCS+. In the episode, they unpack: • The relationship between First Distribution and Silicon Overdrive; • Silicon Overdrive’s market focus; • What Azure SQL is and how it’s helping companies with their digital transformation initiatives; • Why many South African businesses run SQL Server databases, usually on-premises, and what the advantages are of moving these databases into the Microsoft Azure cloud; • The cost advantages of shifting, and what’s involved in doing so; • The security considerations of shifting from on-premises SQL Server to Azure SQL; • The features that make Azure SQL particularly secure; • Use cases of businesses leveraging Azure SQL; and • Azure SQL Database vs SQL Managed Instance vs SQL Service on Azure virtual machines – the differences between these options, and why businesses should choose one over another. Don’t miss the discussion. -- TCS+ episodes are sponsored.…

TCS+

1
Just how secure is your cloud database? 12:17

22 weeks ago12:17

12:17

In the second episode of this series on migrating to Microsoft Azure SQL, the focus turns to what’s involved in moving from SQL Server to Azure SQL, and First Distribution’s Preegan Chetty returns to discuss the key priority of securing databases in the cloud. If you missed episode 1 in the series, you can find it here – or dive straight into this interview. Preegan Chetty, who is Microsoft Azure product manager at First Distribution, unpacks: • What makes Azure SQL a secure choice for companies today, including features such as data encryption (when data is at rest or in transit), threat detection and firewall protection; • Why companies shouldn’t simply assume that the cloud is secure because it’s being managed by a hyperscale cloud services provider; • Azure SQL’s performance, and the optimisations that can be done to make the system fly; and • The role of AI in cloud database management. Don’t miss any of the episodes in this insightful series.…

TCS+

1
Moving from SQL Server to Azure SQL – what you need to know 14:34

22 weeks ago14:34

14:34

Is your company thinking about modernising its IT infrastructure? Is it planning to migrate from an on-premises Microsoft SQL Server database to the cloud-based Azure SQL Solution? Then this podcast is for you. In this two-part series, we delve into greater detail on what’s involved in a cloud database migration. First Distribution’s Microsoft Azure product manager Preegan Chetty is our guest in the studio for this episode. He unpacks: • The risks and opportunities involved in the migration; • What companies need to be aware of before they even embark on a migration to Azure SQL; • How Microsoft helps companies with their migration projects; and • The top motivating factors driving companies to migrate away from an on-premises SQL Server solution to Azure SQL. Don’t miss this informative discussion – and be sure to catch episode 2 in this series with First Distribution.…

TCS+

1
Bolt doubling down on safety for riders and drivers 13:23

22 weeks ago13:23

13:23

The operating environment in South Africa for ride-hailing services like Bolt is fraught with complexity, while the country’s crime problem only contributes to the challenge of getting passengers safely from A to B. This complexity is compounded by the nuances of operating in different areas. Municipal districts have different permitting requirements, while competitive elements from other transport sector players, like taxi associations, presents further challenges. Fulfilling a ride request in the Cape Flats at 11pm is a different proposition to one in Sandton at 2pm. Simo Kalajdzic, senior operations manager at Bolt South Africa, tells TechCentral’s business technology show, TCS+, about how Bolt is approaching these challenges. He delves into: • The overall problem that Bolt is trying to solve for South Africans; • Bolt’s strategic approach to safety on the platform; • The £100-million investment into safety Bolt has pledged at a global level; • The technological solutions baked into the Bolt app for both drivers and passengers; • The industry-wide collaborations Bolt has undertaken to address safety from an ecosystem perspective; • How drivers and riders are empowered to be safe on the platform; • Feedback from a recent stakeholder engagement meeting held in Cape Town; and • Bolt’s long-term vision for safety in the South African context. This episode is not to be missed!…

TCS+

1
Beware the Toxic Cloud Trilogy – a discussion with Tenable 22:47

23 weeks ago22:47

22:47

Companies moving to the cloud – and those already there – need to be aware of the Toxic Cloud Trilogy, three pitfalls in cloud computing that must be avoided. Bernard Montel, technical director at exposure management company Tenable for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, recently unpacked this for TechCentral’s audience in an episode of TCS+ (watch or listen to the interview below). Montel unpacked what the three risk factors are that make up the Toxic Cloud Trilogy – critical vulnerabilities, excessive permissions and public exposure – and how to deal with each of them effectively. Tenable recently published its 2024 Tenable Cloud Risk Report, which examines findings by the Tenable Cloud Research team based on telemetry from millions of cloud resources across multiple public cloud repositories. In this episode of TCS+, Montel discusses: • Tenable, its history and its focus areas in the information security industry; • Why companies should take the Toxic Cloud Trilogy seriously, and how it amplifies risk for organisations; • The key findings in Tenable’s Cloud Risk Report and what they mean in practice, including addressing the Toxic Cloud Trilogy; and • How Tenable Cloud Security can help companies overcome the Toxic Cloud Trilogy. If you’re involved in protecting your organisation’s data and assets in the cloud, don’t miss this important discussion.…

TCS+

1
Why your company needs network monitoring as a service 33:02

24 weeks ago33:02

33:02

Trace Network Operations, founded in 2016, provides bespoke network solutions in network management and network monitoring. Company founder Darryl Theron saw a gap in the market for a company that provides leading solutions in this space, stemming from his many years of experience in the pan-African infrastructure market. This episode of TechCentral’s TCS+ business technology podcast, hosted by Jaydev Chiba, delves into how Trace Network Operations supports its customers in the areas of network management and network monitoring as a service (NMaaS) with Theron and his colleague, Gert van Deventer. The company’s solutions are built around a product called StableNet, a carrier-grade network management and monitoring system that is built from the ground up. Trace Network Operations also uses other technologies, including the Red Hat Ansible automation platform, Cubro, Sophos, NetWitness and FNT. The company’s solutions are designed to help businesses solve problems such as: • Lack of visibility into network activity: Many businesses lack the tools and expertise to monitor their networks effectively. This can lead to problems such as security breaches, performance issues and outages. • Difficulty in troubleshooting problems: When problems do occur, it can be difficult to identify the root cause and resolve them quickly. • Lack of automation: Many network management tasks are still performed manually, which is time-consuming and prone to errors. Trace Network Operations addresses these issues by providing a comprehensive suite of NMaaS solutions that includes: • Network monitoring: StableNet provides real-time visibility into network activity, allowing businesses to identify and resolve problems quickly. • Network management: The company’s solutions help businesses to automate many network management tasks, such as configuration management, change management and fault management. • Security monitoring: It integrates solutions such as NetWitness and Cobra to provide comprehensive security monitoring and management. Trace Network Operations offers its solutions on a flexible basis, allowing businesses to tailor the level of service that best meets their needs. The interview also includes a few case studies of how Trace Network Operations’ solutions have been used to provide value and benefits for companies.…

TCS+

1
Obsidian’s Muggie van Staden on the power of ITSM 24:57

24 weeks ago24:57

24:57

Information technology service management (ITSM) is more than another buzzword. It’s a concept that helps organisations design and deliver IT services to customers and, when well executed, it can have a huge impact on productivity as well as customer and employee experience. But too often companies don’t do it right, leading to headaches and lost productivity. To unpack the topic, Muggie van Staden, MD at open-source enterprise software specialist Obsidian Systems, joins TechCentral’s TCS+ to discuss the latest trends in ITSM and what they mean for South African organisations. Van Staden unpacks: • The concept of ITSM and what it involves; • How successful companies utilise ITSM to better manage customer experience, free up IT resources, align IT with business goals, enhance security and risk mitigation, foster scalable growth, and accelerate digital transformation; • The emerging trends in ITSM that are shaping how organisations manage their IT services and IT infrastructure; • The role of artificial intelligence and automation in ITSM; • The shift to Agile and DevOps integration; and • Where Obsidian fits into the ITSM picture. Don’t miss a fascinating conversation with a leader in the ITSM space in South Africa.…

TCS+

1
How to stop a data disaster – a discussion with Veeam 43:17

25 weeks ago43:17

43:17

Veeam is helping organisations in South Africa and the rest of the African continent safeguard their most valuable asset: their data. In this episode of TechCentral’s TCS+, four senior executives from Veeam unpack the latest trends in data resilience and protection, and explore how African organisations can better protect themselves against a data disaster. To unpack this in detail, TCS+ is joined in this two-parter episode by Veeam’s: • Mena Migally, regional vice president, Europe, the Middle East and Africa; • Brendan Widlake, regional director and country manager, Africa; • Ian Engelbrecht, head of technical sales, Africa; and • Lisa Strydom, senior manager for channel and alliances, Africa. Topics covered in the discussion include: • The unique challenges that businesses in Africa face when it comes to securing and managing their data; • The role of data resilience in helping African businesses maintain continuous availability of their data in the face of growing cyberthreats. • Securing on-premises and cloud-based environments and the challenges involved in doing so; • How Veeam works with local partners to ensure African businesses optimise their data protection strategies and build resilience; • How Veeam helps companies deal with ransomware attacks, both before and after they happen; and • The emerging trends and innovations in data resilience and protection. For more information on Veeam’s portfolio of data resilience solutions, including backup, recovery, cloud data management and disaster recovery, visit Veeam’s data resilience portfolio.…

TCS+

1
Inside Eswatini’s big fibre roll-out plans 6:32

25 weeks ago6:32

6:32

Eswatini is on a mission to roll out high-speed fibre broadband infrastructure for its citizens. According to Themba Khumalo, MD of The Eswatini Posts & Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC), the landlocked territory will draw lessons from leaders in national fibre roll-out in other markets as it deploys infrastructure to the population. In this episode of TCS+, filmed on-site in Cape Town during Africa Tech Week, Khumalo delves into: • The role of EPTC Eswatini; • Features unique to Eswatini that make the challenge of a national fibre roll-out a little easier than it might be in other territories; • EPTC’s national fibre strategy; • How the population will benefit from the speed upgrades that a fibre roll-out will enable; • The proposed timelines for the competition of the national fibre roll-out; and • The role government will play in accelerating infrastructure roll-out. Don’t miss the conversation.…

TCS+

1
What Google Cloud solutions mean for companies in Africa 29:59

26 weeks ago29:59

29:59

In the final episode of a three-part interview series with TechCentral’s TCS+, Digicloud Africa executives unpack what Google Cloud’s solutions mean for end-user organisations in Africa. Digicloud Africa is Google Cloud’s enablement partner on the continent, and the company’s CEO, Gregory MacLennan, and head of technical operations Louis van Schalkwyk return to the show to chat about what Google Cloud software can do for businesses that deploy it. In episode 1 of this series, we had a look at Digicloud, what it does, and its relationship with Google. In episode 2, we looked at the company’s reseller partner model, what it involves and how it works with its reseller partners. (LINKS TO SHOWS TO BE INSERTED WHEN AVAILABLE.) In the final episode, MacLennan and Van Schalkwyk unpack: • The Google Cloud advantage relative to other cloud and enterprise software solutions; • How companies can use Google Cloud to innovate and grow their businesses; • The importance of using open IT infrastructure like Google’s – and what this means for collaboration and information security; • What Google Cloud offers in specific sectors, including education; • Examples of African enterprises and government agencies doing interesting things with Google Cloud technology; • How Digicloud Africa works with resellers to offer Google Cloud solutions to companies, educational institutions and government – and how Digicloud supports those resellers in client engagements and deployments; and • Becoming a Google Cloud reseller through Digicloud and what’s involved. Don’t miss insightful interview, and the others in this series!…

TCS+

1
Pinnacle’s Jacque Visagie – AI will transform SA business 26:38

26 weeks ago26:38

26:38

Pinnacle, one of South Africa’s leading technology distributors, is going all-in on AI. The company, which represents some of the leading brands in the artificial intelligence space, is working closely with its vendors and channel partners to help local companies embrace the potential of the technology and expand employee productivity. Jacques Visage, GM for AI and Services at Pinnacle, is the man leading this charge, and he’s TechCentral’s guest in this episode of TCS+. He unpacks why Pinnacle sees AI as a strategic imperative and how it is positioning itself as an AI leader in the distribution space. In the discussion, Visagie chats about: • Pinnacle’s go-to-market strategy around AI and how it is working with its channel partners to provide AI solutions to businesses; • The company’s key partners and technology providers; • How conversations around AI in corporate South Africa have changed since the launch two years ago of OpenAI’s ChatGPT; • What South African companies are doing with AI – and what they want to do with it in future; and • The top-of-mind issues around AI in the C-suite and the biggest use cases we’re seeing so far in corporate South Africa. Don’t miss this important and insightful conversation!…

TCS+

1
Binance on the role of cryptocurrencies in digitising money 14:35

27 weeks ago14:35