Ts. Izuddin Abdullah, TNB Integrated Learning Solution, ETCIO SEA
Ts. Izuddin Abdullah, Head of IT, TNB Integrated Learning Solution Sdn Bhd is an award-winning transformative technology leader with 20+ years of extensive experience in IT focusing on operations, project management, mobile solutions & strategy, network security, IT infra management and IT training.
As the Head of IT, Izuddin currently oversees governance, data-driven strategy, digital transformation, digital capability building, information risk management as well as enabling the technological operation needs to support the operational excellence at TNB Integrated Learning Solution Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), previously known as Institut Latihan Sultan Ahmad Shah (ILSAS). ILSAS continuously develops more than 30,000 TNB talents to competently serve the nation.
In an exclusive interaction with us, Izuddin Abdullah shares his thoughts on areas tech leaders will be prioritising the most for spending this year and what technology is he the most excited about in 2024.
What is going to be your foremost priority this year as Head of IT at TNB Integrated Learning Solution Sdn Bhd?
This year, my main priority as the IT leader will be protecting our systems and data. This means staying vigilant against cyber threats, implementing strong security measures, and making sure that our software and hardware are consistently updated. In addition, we will focus on ensuring our IT infrastructure is flexible, dependable, and can accommodate the changing needs of our organisation. This may involve bringing in new technologies, enhancing existing systems, and encouraging an innovative and forward-thinking culture among our staff. Employees must receive training and upskilling opportunities to ensure they have the skills needed as the IT industry changes.
My ultimate goal is to provide our organisation the tools it needs to successfully use technology to accomplish its objectives while reducing risks and maximising opportunities.
Which technology are you the most excited about this year? How are you looking to implement it at TNB Integrated Learning ?
Large Language Models (LLMs) is a very exciting technology. Our company can benefit from this technology by enhancing learning content and delivery through automated content curation, personalised learning pathway, and interactive learning experiences. Through strategic use of LLMs, we can help create a more engaging, productive, and accessible learning environment for the organisation. LLMs can assist educators rather than replace them, providing them with tools to customise, simplify, and improve the learning process for students.
Worldwide IT spending is expected to total $5 trillion in 2024, an increase of 6.8% from 2023, as per Gartner reports. While generative AI (GenAI) had significant hype in 2023, it will not significantly change the growth of IT spending in the near-term. Which areas do you think tech leaders will be prioritising the most for spending?
You’re right, while Generative AI is a powerful technology, it’s unlikely to be the sole driver of the significant IT spending increase in 2024.
From my point of view, tech leaders are more likely to prioritise their spending on cybersecurity. Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and costly.
Tech leaders are expected to focus on investment in detecting and stopping threats. These tools can recognise and react to online attacks immediately. It is important to also provide security awareness training for employees. Investing in educating employees on cybersecurity best practices is crucial in order to prevent breaches.
Furthermore, many businesses are still in the midst of implementing digital transformation initiatives. They’ll likely invest in emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and big data analytics that can be used to gain insights from data, automate tasks, and improve decision-making.
Given the challenging geo-political conditions and another year of slow global growth in 2024, what do you think will be the impact on IT budgets?
The challenging geopolitical conditions and slow global growth in 2024 may result in various effects on IT budgets. Organisations might choose to be more careful when it comes to spending, concentrating on implementing strategies to control costs in order to maintain their financial stability. This might include closely examining IT budgets, postponing unnecessary projects, and searching for efficiencies in IT operations. IT budgets may prioritise projects with a quick return on investment (ROI) or address critical business needs, potentially delaying investments in long-term transformative technologies. Technologies that enable cost savings, efficiency improvements, or revenue generation are likely to receive more attention.
Increased geopolitical conflicts and cyber threats could lead organisations to allocate additional resources to enhance resilience and security measures. This could include investments in cybersecurity technologies, disaster recovery planning, and business continuity strategies.
Investments in entirely new initiatives could be postponed to focus on optimising existing technology infrastructure and maximising its value. Spending on experimental or non-essential technologies might decrease as companies focus on core IT needs. Overall IT spending may increase slightly but not at the rate predicted based on pre-existing trends. The specific impact on IT budgets is expected to differ based on industry, geographic location, and financial status and strategic goals of each organisation.
