Investments, Innovations And Intelligence To Be The Way Ahead In Middle East

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B Swaminathan | IMAWS

The Middle East is rapidly emerging as a key player in the global cyber security landscape, driven by a surge in tech investments and a heightened focus on digital transformation. Governments and private sectors in the region are increasingly aware of the threats posed by cybercrime and are prioritizing investments in robust security solutions. In recent years, countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia have launched national strategies to bolster their cyber defenses.

The UAE’s Cyber Security Strategy 2021 aims to enhance its infrastructure while fostering collaboration between public and private entities. Similarly, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 emphasizes technology as a driver for economic diversification, leading to substantial funding in cyber security initiatives. Venture capital in the region is also on the rise, with significant funding flowing into start-ups focused on innovative cyber solutions. The burgeoning tech ecosystem, particularly in cities like Dubai and Riyadh, has attracted global players and local entrepreneurs alike.

Furthermore, partnerships with international firms enhance local capabilities, fostering knowledge transfer and skill development. As geopolitical tensions rise, the emphasis on cyber resilience will only increase, positioning the Middle East as a crucial hub for cyber security innovation and investment in the coming years.

Some of the leading solution partners from regions in Oman, Bahrain and other places share their views:

Awareness On Cyber Security Is Must: Shamsuddin Sidibapa, TOP Tecno, Oman

The sectors, retail, healthcare, most of them, it all depends, Awareness on latest trends and qualification (certification) is an issue in this region. It’s not about our end customers who are not qualified. I would say the markets, suppliers and the system integrators are not doing a very good job when it comes to training and qualifying their customers. I feel the companies in the in the region are just selling solutions instead of teaching and qualifying their customers. As far as their or as far as the sales pitch goes, the understanding is they will get AMCs and they’ll get money to maintain their solutions. But that is not how it supposed to be. Because it has been updating every year, and it is the fastest right now. For companies who are looking for a good solution partner, they should would say they need to acknowledge and include qualifications and certifications for their teams in every tender, doesn’t matter if it is $50,000. Doesn’t matter if it is $5 million. They have to make sure their team is ready for the solution, they have to make sure the team is having enough control over the solutions, they’re buying.

AI is not cost-cutting, but productivity: Don Thomas, SAM Evangelist and Cloud Specialist, Computer World W.L.L

One big challenge in the industry is to do with regulations as data regulations of the government is critical to understand. But which government has been changing. For example, AWS have their data center in our region. Coming days, most of the technologies would be built around AI. If you ask me, if organizations start looking at AI as an cost-cutting or investments, I feel, AI is not about cost cutting. But, Ai, is more about productivity. How fast and how easy, can they have worked to, you know, day to day work, you know be achieved. So that’s something that can help achieve their part. As far as industry-wise adoptions, I feel that BFSI sector will be adopting advanced tech. Because they would be wanting to use that in their core applications, banking applications. Other than that, it would be the healthcare, retail and baking sector. The customer expectations are changing mainly towards the FinTech solutions. We are seeking a lot of advanced digital solutions to provide, to facilitate the room. No. My life. You’ll see here some some solutions related to smart home for the consumer part. On the future predictions, I think it will go in the direction of smartest solutions and more digital. So, most of the company will move from legacy part to towards the digital part.

More Cloud Adoption To Happen- Fadheela Al Adraj, Almoayyed Computers Middle East(ACME)

Cloud is very advanced. it is getting very advanced. people prefer to go with cloud depending upon the size of the company, be it small or large. the biggest challenge is security and data. many people think that being on cloud is not safety, but that is wrong, even today, most of the attacks I can say 70% of the attacks are happening within the network in cloud. There are two things to look at security on the cloud, and security of the cloud.

More Investments to Happen In Cybersecurity space: Mohamed Abdulla, Key Account Manager and Yaser Al Yusuf, Cybersec Solutions Architect, Virtu Thinko

In the coming years, most investments will happen in Bahrain in the cyber security space. Within cybersec, if you ask me, it will be in the End Point security. We have been receiving calls from customers from financial institution to find out the best solution to tackle some of their mainstream problem. We partner many companies and many solutions provider. providers. Some of them help us for solutions in the endpoint and most of them are cloud users.