Friends of FinTech – July 9th 2021
09 July, 2021
Welcome to a friends edition of the FinTech Five! This week we are taking a closer look at some of the week’s most noteworthy news from our fantastic FinTech Wales Friend Members who continue to provide their support, knowledge, and expertise to our region’s FinTech community. We’ve also included one news story involving us at Fintech Wales… for good measure.
1. Deloitte named a leader in Asia/Pacific Cloud Security Services by IDC MarketScape
First up this week, Deloitte – a leading global provider of audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax and related services – have been named as a leader in the IDC MarketScape: Asia/Pacific Cloud Security Services 2021 Vendor Assessment.
The IDC MarketScape recognizes Deloitte as a leader with differentiated capabilities and strategies in cloud platform engineering, learning programs, and talent.
“The landscape of cyber threats is constantly evolving. To prepare clients for these risks, Deloitte firms advise, implement, and manage a comprehensive portfolio of cyber solutions and services to suit clients’ current industry sector requirements and enterprise-wide needs,” says James Nunn-Price, Asia Pacific Cyber Risk Services Leader, Deloitte Global Risk Advisory.
“Deloitte is a full lifecycle service provider of cyber cloud services with end-to-end-capability to help clients from advisory on cyber cloud strategy through to design, build, and ongoing managed services,” adds Nunn-Price.
On the vendor inclusion criteria, the report notes, “IDC narrowed down the field of players…and subsequently collected and analyzed data on these 14 cloud security services providers with relevant portfolios and regional scale.”
Read the full announcement on Deloitte’s website here to discover additional report findings
2. Vantage Data Centers Breaks Ground on Berlin and Warsaw Campuses
Next up, Vantage Data Centers, a leading global provider of hyperscale data center campuses, announced on Thursday that it has broken ground on two greenfield campuses in Berlin and Warsaw.
The development of these sites is part of the company’s US$2B European expansion and will provide hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises with best-in-class hyperscale data center campuses in two sought after EU regions.
Berlin Data Center Campus (BER1): As part of the company’s environmental sustainability program, Vantage will offer customers renewable energy options at the campus to reduce their carbon emissions.
Warsaw Data Center Campus (WAW1): This campus will also offer customers renewable energy options and will feature hyper-efficient cooling with outside air economization and EV charging stations, along with amenities such as customizable workspaces, secure storage and multiple meeting space options.
“The groundbreakings of Berlin and Warsaw are yet another testament to Vantage’s rapid global growth and industry-leading time-to-market strategy,” said Antoine Boniface, president of Europe at Vantage Data Centers. “In the past six months alone, Vantage’s significant progress of our greenfield developments in Berlin, Warsaw, Zurich and Frankfurt has proven that we are prepared to deploy premier hyperscale facilities at industry-leading speed in order to best serve the needs of our customers.”
You can read more about Vantage’s most recent expansions on their website, here
3. Direct Line Group signs up to the Race for Zero Campaign
Next, Direct Line Group have announced that they have committed themselves to the Race for Zero Campaign pledging to reduce its carbon emissions to contribute to the fight against global warming.
A partner of the United Nations backed campaign ‘Race to Zero’, the Business Ambition for 1.5°C is a global call to action for companies and industry leaders to align themselves to taking the steps necessary to limit global warming to no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Last year, Direct Line Group pledged to become a carbon neutral company, using a three-step strategy to reduce its emissions beginning with becoming carbon neutral in 2020 by offsetting via high impact social projects. The company pledged to sign up to science-based targets by 2022.
Penny James, Chief Executive Officer at Direct Line Group, said:
“I’m proud to have signed the Business Ambition for 1.5°C on behalf of Direct Line Group, demonstrating our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint as part of our transformation programme to build an insurance company of the future. Our sustainability strategy is now embedded across the business with colleagues from every part of the group addressing what they can do to make a tangible difference. Rather than viewing this as a race to net-zero DLG is approaching it as a race to the top because there are huge environmental, operational and consumer benefits in reach.”
For more information, vitis Direct Line Group’s website here
4. IFF Research launch research into connected devices and cyber security
Next, IFF Research has launched research into connected devices and cyber security. The research is being carried out on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and will give insight into how UK businesses procure, use, and manage connected devices within their network.
The research will explore awareness of the security vulnerabilities of connected devices, perceptions of who is responsible within the business for handling the procurement, use and management of connected devices, and the role of cyber insurance in managing risk.
The findings of this research will be used to help the DCMS and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to improve regulatory interventions regarding the use of connected devices within enterprise, as well as in the development of communications and guidance for their safe and secure use.
IFF Research is looking to speak with people who have responsibility for the security of connected devices within their organisation’s network. This is usually the Chief Technology Officer, Chief Security Officer, IT Director, Senior Risk Officer, or equivalent. Representatives from IFF Research will be conducting telephone interviews between June and July 2021, which will last around 20 minutes.
5. School debate initiative raises bar for communication skills in Wales
Last but not least this week, students from Cardiff’s Fitzalan and Cantonian High Schools competed in a sponsored Show Debate which centred on cryptocurrency and its positive or negative impacts on society, aimed at developing the critical communication skills necessary to pursue fulfilling careers.
The event, held at Fitzalan High School, was devised by Fintech Wales, and organised in partnership with Debate Mate, Cardiff Commitment and the Seren Network.
Secretary to the Treasury MP John Glen and Sarah Williams-Gardener, FinTech Wales CEO, were in attendance at the event and congratulated both teams on their efforts and achievements during the debate.
On the debate’s success, Sarah Williams-Gardener, FinTech Wales CEO, said: “It’s critical we develop and run events like this as they provide students with essential business skills whilst building their confidence in communication and debating, all skills which are necessary to thrive in the modern workplace.
“I’m always keen to maximise every opportunity to raise awareness of the conversations taking place around our rapidly growing FinTech sector and highlight the potential career paths available to students who wish to pursue a career in financial technology. That’s why we believe events such as these are so important.”
You can read more about the event here
Until Next Week
And that’s it for the FinTech Five this week. Thank you for reading, and don’t forget to join us next week for more of the best content from across our FinTech Wales membership.