Kuala lumpur: Zoho Corporation's IT division, ManageEngine, has announced plans to open a data centre in the ASEAN region this year. Arun Kumar, the regional vice-president for Asia Pacific (APAC), highlighted that ManageEngine already operates 20 data centres across the United States, Europe, India, Australia, Japan, and the Middle East, and is now looking to expand its footprint in the ASEAN region. According to BERNAMA News Agency, Arun Kumar emphasized the importance of data sovereignty, especially as critical organisations and infrastructure move to the cloud. He mentioned that ManageEngine is considering establishing data centres in major ASEAN economies to meet these requirements. In addition to the data centre, ManageEngine plans to open a regional office in Malaysia, aiming to create a training and technical hub to nurture talent in the ASEAN region. Arun noted Malaysia's potential, citing its pool of young, IT and language-savvy individuals, which positions the country as an ideal location for ser ving customers in Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. Currently, over 750 Malaysian enterprises, including government agencies, banks, and manufacturing companies, use ManageEngine's products. This makes Malaysia one of the company's fastest-growing markets in ASEAN. The proposed office in Malaysia would ensure closer ties with customers and enhance service delivery. ManageEngine has already established regional offices in Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore within the ASEAN region. Arun also commented on the digital transformation wave sweeping across ASEAN, driven by government initiatives that are outpacing GDP growth. However, he noted challenges such as siloed security tools and limited cybersecurity investments. ManageEngine CEO, Rajesh Ganesan, discussed the global technology landscape, highlighting the challenge of building new talents to meet market demand. He stressed the importance of understanding customer needs, aligning with business models, and providing the right tools. Ganesan advised enterpr ises to embrace frequent disruptions in the technology sector, emphasizing the need for upskilling and reskilling. Based in Chennai, India, ManageEngine operates offices in over 30 locations worldwide, serving organisations in more than 190 countries. The company offers over 60 products and tools, including solutions for identity and access management, enterprise service management, and IT operations management.