Latest news with #EVAD
Tahawul Tech
26-05-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Collaboration over competition powers future of cybersecurity, says EVAD
Abdullah A. Qaisi, CEO & General Manager of EVAD, shares how collaboration and storytelling are reshaping cybersecurity distribution in the region. The 14th edition of GISEC Global witnessed a remarkable convergence of cybersecurity leaders, with vibrant energy lasting through all three days of the event. Among the notable voices was Abdullah A. Qaisi, CEO & General Manager of EVAD, who reflected on the evolving cybersecurity landscape, both regionally and globally. Having just returned from RSA Conference in San Francisco, Qaisi brought a unique perspective to the table—highlighting how the Middle East, and particularly GISEC, is matching global standards in terms of scale, relevance, and impact. In his conversation with Qaisi emphasised that cybersecurity today is less about product pitches and more about impactful storytelling and ecosystem collaboration. He underscored the importance of moving away from a siloed, competitive mindset toward a community-driven approach where distributors, vendors, and partners collectively raise awareness and readiness in the cybersecurity space. Interview Excerpts: How do you compare the energy and scale of GISEC 2025 with other global cybersecurity events? Recently, I attended the RSA Conference in San Francisco, and coming from RSA to GISEC was a different kind of challenge—but a very exciting one. RSA is known for showcasing cutting-edge technologies, but I must say, coming back to Dubai and experiencing GISEC at this scale fills me with pride. This event truly matches international standards. Compared to last year, GISEC 2025 has seen higher visitor turnout and more focused interactions. The arrangements have been seamless, making it easy to connect and engage. Even on the third day, the energy feels like day one. What did EVAD showcase at GISEC Global 2025? This is our first year exhibiting at GISEC, although we've been part of other events like GITEX in the past. Choosing GISEC this year was the right move—its cybersecurity focus aligns perfectly with our position as a value-added distributor in the field. The audience here knows what they want, and that made it easier to present our offerings. At I(VAD), we believe cybersecurity isn't just a product to sell—it's a story to tell. We've focused on storytelling to help customers understand their needs and how our solutions fit. The cybersecurity distribution space is growing fast. How do you view this evolution and competition? Competition is intense, but I don't see other distributors as competitors. I see them as partners in building a stronger cybersecurity community. If one distributor grows, it benefits the entire ecosystem. For example, where EVAD is strong—like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, or even Kenya—we help others gain ground, and vice versa. This shared growth enriches the community. It's about collaboration, not combat. Our collective goal should be to raise awareness and understanding of cybersecurity together. That's an inspiring perspective. How do you foster this mindset across the cybersecurity community? We need to stop operating in silos. I had a recent experience at our booth where a client arrived with a distributor. The moment I introduced myself, the distributor said they couldn't engage as they were from a competing firm. I told them, 'Let's collaborate. If I can't close the deal, maybe you will. Or maybe we do it together.' That mindset shift—from competition to cooperation—is key. If your competitor is doing well, don't pull them down—rise to their level. Together, we can build a safer ecosystem. What challenges still exist in making cybersecurity more relatable? The issue is that people outside the cybersecurity world still see us as a cost rather than a safeguard. That's because the domain is complex and often poorly understood. To change this perception, we need more storytellers. 'We must humanise cybersecurity through storytelling—explain it in ways that resonate with real business needs. Once we do that, understanding and investment will follow naturally.'
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Commissioners invest in future of agricultural, natural lands
The Lee County commissioners made a landmark investment in the future of local agriculture and working lands at their Monday meeting. They voted to adopt a new conservation easement policy establishing an Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Fund and updating the existing Farmland Preservation Ordinance. The policy creates a conservation easement fund of $340,610, using roll back, or deferred, taxes generated when land is taken out of agricultural use and the Present Use Value program, most commonly when it is sold for development, according to Bill Stone, director of the county's Agricultural Extension Program. 'The newly established fund will reinvest the deferred taxes back into farmland preservation, earmarking these dollars toward landowner costs associated with conservation easement projects,' Stone said. Several residents spoke at Monday's meeting with most voicing support for the plan. 'It will empower farmers to resist rising development pressures, while advancing the public's goal of maintaining the open spaces which have always been such an essential and attractive element of life in Lee County,' said Jimmy Randolph of the Sanford Area Growth Alliance. Jim Foster noted that the county is continuing to grow and increase in population, subdivisions and schools. 'It's an increase in pretty much everything. With this type of growth, we have growing pains. One of the biggest pains is the loss of forest and farmlands,' he said. The board also voted to approve revisions to the existing farmland preservation ordinance that was last updated in 2013, Stone said. 'Along with maintaining their commitment to the Voluntary Agricultural District, or VAD, program, the board added the option for landowners to participate in the Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District, or EVAD. That program requires a 10-year irrevocable commitment from the landowner to agree to keep the land in agricultural use,' Stone said. The ordinance allows farms smaller than five acres to qualify for the VAD and EVAD programs, recognizing the growth of smaller farms in the county. 'I'm in support of the VAD and EVAD proposals, but I'm in opposition to creating a special fund that would provide taxpayer benefits to those paying taxes on the property,' Jim Womack said. 'The issue here is taking the taxpayers' money to benefit someone who doesn't want to pay taxes. The rollback taxes should come back to the taxpayer.' Commissioner Samantha Martin cast the lone vote against the conservation easement policy. Like Womack, she believes that rollback taxes should be returned to the taxpayers.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New ag ordinance can benefit county's smaller farms
Feb. 25—Lee County commissioners are being asked to adopt a new agricultural ordinance that would update the current law and offer more options for small farming opportunities. A public hearing on the proposal was held Monday at the commissioners' meeting where Bill Stone, director of the Lee County Extension Center, explained the changes in the updated ordinance. The Lee County Voluntary Agriculture District Ordinance was adopted in 2013, creating a partnership between the county and landowners who were looking to protect and preserve farmlands. However, after reviewing the changes allowed under the General Assembly's Farm Act of 2021, the Cooperative Extension staff recommended a new plan — the Agricultural and Farmland Preservation Ordinance. "It's a positive way to promote agriculture," Stone said. Three main changes are included in the proposed plan. One is eliminating the Agriculture Advisory Board-required membership based on districts. Under the current ordinance, the districts are basically designated through townships, which Stone called "antiquated." "What we found is that it restricted and kind of limited the pool of volunteer folks to serve on the board," he said. The proposed ordinance will continue to focus on Voluntary Agricultural Districts and include the Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural Districts. The EVAD ordinance requires a 10-year irrevocable agreement but would allow participating landowners to receive up to 25% of gross sales of non-farm products and still qualify as a bona fide farm under state law. Participants are also given priority in agricultural grants and cost-share program. Landowners in the EVAD are also eligible for agricultural state grants and cost-share programs. The proposed ordinance also drops the minimum acreage requirements from five acres to one acre for production of horticultural or agricultural purposes to qualify as a state bona fide farm. "We are finding more and more consistently over the last five or 10 years. There's been a huge influx in small farms in Lee County," Stone said. "What we have is that having that five-acre minimum can be very restrictive, certainly for some of our small farmers, especially for those folks that have demonstrated they can be profitable on small acreage," he said. By lowering the minimum acreage from five to one, "we anticipate we'll see a lot more people participating which will be good for the county and the farmland and promoting the viability of agriculture," Stone said.
