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CIOs Have Accelerated Their Digital Transformation Efforts by At Least One Year or More

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4 years ago

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Farid Faraidooni, the Chief of New Business and Innovation Officer at du, says that organisations need to consider the right governance model in their security operations, so they can better detect threats and respond

How has the security threat landscape evolved over the past few months?
Many people working from home have done so using unprotected network environments, personal devices and newly created tools and applications. They have also carried out their tasks with limited network security while adapting to the new normal, and these elements have collectively resulted in virtual settings becoming an easy target for hackers. This situation, together with a lack of security awareness and education in general, has left people vulnerable to phishing attacks, and social engineering campaigns.

What sort of security challenges are people facing when working from home and how is your company equipped to handle those challenges?
The pandemic meant that entire workforces immediately had to find new ways to work from home and this challenged businesses across the globe. Unprotected home network environments were previously mentioned and, from a cyber-security perspective, organisations have been required to scale up their security response to enable and protect personnel working virtually who were at risk from hackers without impacting productivity.

Organisations have had to rethink their security practices, implementing new levels of security controls outside their respective workplaces. One of the weakest security links in the IT chain are people themselves, as many have not participated in any type of security awareness or education and are subsequently victims of phishing attacks, and social engineering campaigns.

At du, we offer two solutions – Secure Remote Access and Digital Workplace. Both of these enable employees to securely access corporate resources including email, content and applications, using any device, without hindering productivity nor employee experience.

How has ransomware evolved during the pandemic period and what are you doing to tackle the problem? How can companies overcome digital security and privacy challenges?
It is clear the pandemic has left people more vulnerable to ransomware attacks. It’s not so much about new levels of sophistication, but rather around having greater access to people’s environments with less security protecting the endpoints in question. If we include ransomware and look more broadly across the entire security landscape, there are numerous security best practices that should be considered to build cyber resiliency.

The first is for an organisation to have the right security controls in place, particularly for endpoint devices. Companies need to ensure they have adequate security processes in place and that the right security controls are followed throughout company procedures, such as improved security set up when onboarding or offboarding new employees. Secondly, organisations need to consider the right governance model in their security operations, so they can better detect threats and respond. Ultimately, outsourcing organisational security management to a Security Operations Centre represents the best opportunity to detect threats early, protecting environments both internally and at the edge 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Thirdly, organisations should adequately educate their employees, which will enable them to identify security threats and reduce exposure. At du, we support organisations with various security consulting services that help them understand their security posture, identify gaps, and provide solutions to strengthen their overall cyber resiliency. These revolve around strengthening security controls, better protecting endpoints, and offering a complete security operations management service in our Security Operations Centre. This is operational 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and enables fast detection and response to breaches and minimises impacts on organisations.

Do you believe companies today have accelerated their digital transformation initiatives?
In the latest IDC CIO Study, it is clear that 78 per cent of CIO’s have accelerated their digital transformation initiatives by at least one year or more, with digital resiliency, business continuity, and automation the key themes driving faster digital transformation. In the UAE, migration to the cloud is a critical leap for many organisations. This is the foundational platform for many digital transformation initiatives, with cloud security also becoming a major focus.

What are the cybersecurity trends for 2021?
In the digital era, the amount of data is exponentially increasing, so are the attacks surfaces and the number of sophisticated attacks. Thus, advanced security technologies such as Security orchestration and automation are key for the future, as is leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to reduce reliance on people and eliminate human error. These emerging trends enable organization to better analyze data to better predict attacks and ultimately prevent them.

What are the key factors to consider to make sure digital economies of today are secured?
One of the biggest recommendations for any organisation securing their digital environment is to rethink the way they approach security. Today, the traditional perimeter, restricted to the office or enterprise data center, is quickly disappearing. Workloads and data are being distributed across multicloud environments. Employees expect to be able to work from home using any device. Today, more than ever, Cybersecurity is no longer confined to IT.

In fact, cybersecurity has been elevated to a boardroom topic due to its direct correlation to Trust. According to a Global survey by IDC, 60% of CEOs globally listed Digital Trust among their top 5 priorities. To stay ahead and effectively managed risk, organizations need to initiate a digital trust framework within their organization that focuses on delivering key cybersecurity outcomes including Vulnerability, Identity Management, Trust Management and Threat Management.

Those outcomes can only be achieved if key capabilities covering prediction, protection, detection and response are put in place. Coupled with educating employees well so they are cyber aware, this will make a real difference as the source of most breaches comes from human error due to lack of understanding and awareness.

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Events

Matrix to Exhibit NDAA Compliant Surveillance at ESX North America 2025

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1 week ago

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June 5, 2025

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Matrix is scheduled to participate in the Electronic Security Expo (ESX) North America 2025 on June 16 and 17, at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. ESX brings together security integrators, consultants, and technology leaders from North America to explore industry innovations.

As demand for intelligent, scalable, and regulation-aligned security infrastructure grows in the U.S., video surveillance and access control remain central. The U.S. surveillance market is projected to exceed $37.27 billion by 2030 (Grand View Research), and with rising cyber threats, there’s a shift towards solutions that protect both physical assets and their underlying data.

Matrix will present its NDAA-compliant video surveillance solutions, which are required in the North American market for government and critical infrastructure projects. At the event, Matrix will showcase its cyber-secure video surveillance portfolio. This includes network cameras compliant with ISO/IEC 27402 standards and a Video Management System (VMS) designed to guard against the OWASP Top 10 Desktop Security Risks. This setup aims to protect surveillance footage from tampering, hacking, and unauthorized access, which is important as video is increasingly used as legal evidence and for compliance.

Additionally, Matrix will present its VAPT-compliant access control solutions, designed to secure physical access points, digital credentials, software interfaces, and third-party integrations. With over 40% of security breaches involving stolen or compromised credentials (IBM, 2024), securing all access points is important. Matrix access control systems track, verify, and protect interactions.

“North America is a strategic market for us, and we’re here to grow with the people who know it best—local partners,” said a Matrix spokesperson. “Our goal is simple: deliver cybersecured, NDAA compliant solutions that help integrators and consultants win customer’s trust, and build long-term relationships.”

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Cyber Security

Positive Technologies Hosts International Cyber Camp for Students and Graduates

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2 weeks ago

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May 30, 2025

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Positive Technologies has announced the dates for the Positive Hack Camp, an international cybersecurity educational program for students and young cybersecurity enthusiasts at the Positive Hack Days cyberfestival. The camp will run from July 26 to August 10 in Moscow. Positive Hack Camp combines intensive training in ethical hacking, real-world practical exercises, and international experience sharing. Prospective applicants must submit their registration before June 15.

Positive Hack Camp is a global educational initiative by Positive Technologies with the support of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development and CyberEd, a partner of the Cyberus foundation. The program brings together young professionals from around the world, offering them top-tier, hands-on experience from Positive Technologies, a leader in result-driven cybersecurity. Last year’s cyber camp brought together over 70 participants from 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

From July 26 to August 10, over 100 future cybersecurity leaders will engage in training sessions, hands-on labs, and workshops based on real-world cybersecurity challenges. The program will be led by white-hat hackers from Positive Technologies – researchers credited with discovering thousands of critical vulnerabilities. Their findings have contributed to enhanced security for companies such as Apple, Cisco, Dell, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Mitsubishi, Oracle, and PayPal. Beyond training, the camp offers cultural tours, cross-border networking, and friendship-building activities – creating a global cybersecurity community.

“Positive Hack Camp is a unique program uniting talents to build a more secure digital future. Our mission is to develop highly skilled cybersecurity professionals who can protect their nations’ digital sovereignty. Through intensive training and hands-on sessions, participants learn to prevent, detect, and combat cyberthreats. As a leader in result-driven cybersecurity, Positive Technologies is proud to share our expertise with the global community,” said Yuliya Danchina, Positive Technologies Customer and Partner Training Director, Head of Positive Education.

This program, conducted in English, is for students and young professionals over 18, who are aspiring ethical hackers, ready to grow fast and build international contacts. Safety, food, accommodation, and chaperoning for the participants are included. Applications must be submitted on the official website by June 15, 2025.

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Cyber Security

DESC to Highlight Dubai’s Cyber Defense Strategies as GISEC 2025 Government Partner

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1 month ago

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May 5, 2025

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The Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) is set to participate as the official government cybersecurity partner for the eighth consecutive year in the 14th edition of the Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference (GISEC Global 2025), taking place from May 6-8 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The Center’s participation in GISEC Global 2025, which gathers over 25,000 cybersecurity professionals representing more than 160 countries, aligns with its strategic objectives aimed at advancing the Dubai Cyber Security Strategy and reinforcing Dubai’s position as one of the world’s digitally safest cities.

This participation reflects the Center’s commitment to safeguarding digital infrastructure, fostering innovation, enhancing cyber resilience, and promoting robust cooperation at both the local and international levels. During the three-day event, DESC will spotlight a number of key initiatives, including the “Dubai Cyber Challenge”, an exclusive competitive simulation designed to enhance the cyber readiness of Dubai government entities, and the “School of Cyber Defense” CTF competition, which attracted registrations from over 300 university students, engaging them in technical challenges and hands-on training. These programs form a key part of DESC’s ongoing efforts to build a pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals equipped to navigate evolving digital threats.

H.E. Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, CEO of the Dubai Electronic Security Center, commented, “DESC’s participation in GISEC Global 2025 reflects our steadfast commitment to securing Dubai’s digital future through proactive cybersecurity measures, innovation-driven initiatives, and an integrated ecosystem that fosters collaboration by building partnerships across public and private sectors. GISEC continues to serve as a dynamic platform where industry leaders, experts, and innovators come together to shape the future of cybersecurity.”

“GISEC 2025 provides a critical platform for strategic engagement with global cybersecurity innovators, allowing us to gain insights into emerging technologies and anticipate future threats. These interactions directly support our efforts to create forward-looking policies, develop advanced cyber solutions, and empower national talent to lead in this field. Through such initiatives, we continue to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global hub for cybersecurity excellence and digital innovation,” Al Shaibani added.

DESC experts will also take part in high-level panel discussions addressing key challenges and emerging trends in the cybersecurity landscape. The Center will also formalize strategic partnerships and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), aimed at enhancing cross-sector collaboration and strengthening national efforts to secure the cyber space.

Visitors to GISEC Global 2025 are invited to explore DESC’s initiatives at Stand A80 in Hall 7, where DESC will showcase its latest projects, including future-ready cybersecurity guidelines and certification programs designed to keep pace with the evolving digital landscape and strengthen national capabilities. The stand will also serve as a unique opportunity for attendees to engage with DESC’s experts and explore opportunities for joint collaboration.

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