Alain Penel, the Regional VP for ME and Turkey, at Fortinet, says it is critical to maximise artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches to defend against evolving attack techniques

Tell us about the cybersecurity trends for 2023.
The threat landscape continues to evolve and 2023 is predicted to bring forth both old and new threat tactics. CIO and CISO teams are being asked to overcome significant challenges as they work to manage business-critical initiatives such as securing work-from-anywhere, ​enabling digital acceleration, ​staying ahead of increased cyber risk, ​and supporting sustainability goals.

Last year many organizations faced increased cyber risks resulting from the convergence of IT and operational technology (OT) networks. So, investment in solutions like FortiNDR can allow organizations to quickly identify anomalies, analyze emerging threats in real-time, and automate responses to mitigate cyberattacks.

With attacks increasing in speed, agility, and sophistication, it is also critical to maximize artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches to defend against evolving attack techniques. Given that most organizations are still struggling with talent shortages for skilled cyber workers, organizations should strongly consider services like FortiGuard AI-Powered Response.

Organizations should also consider deception technology. Deception can provide value across the attack chain by not only deceiving adversaries, but also detecting, enabling forensics data, or even helping with real-time mitigation.

What is the theme of your participation at GISEC 2023?
As has been the case for many years, GISEC is a key platform for industry leaders to meet and discuss cybersecurity challenges as we face an increasing number of cyberattacks and see the nature of threats changing due to digital transformation. As an industry leader in cybersecurity, for more than 20 years, it was an obvious choice for Fortinet to participate in this major event. We will be present on stand A90 (Exclusive Networks).

At Fortinet, innovation lies at the heart of everything we do and is rooted in over 20 years of prioritizing research and development in our company’s culture which has resulted in the industry’s broadest portfolio of cybersecurity solutions with over 50 security-related products. We offer a wide range of technologies, including Secure SD-WAN, next-generation firewalls, 5G, and OT security, which can be delivered in software, hardware, cloud, and as a service.

Which products and solutions will you be showcasing at GISEC 2023?
Thanks to a dedicated pod on the booth, visitors will be able to discover our latest solutions from the Fortinet Security Fabric, the platform at the heart of the Fortinet security strategy. The Fortinet Security Fabric brings together the concepts of convergence and consolidation to provide comprehensive cybersecurity protection for all users, devices, and applications across all network edges.​

Zero Trust Access, Secure Networking, Cloud Security, and Security Operation solutions, among others, will all be available for on-demand demonstrations.

How are you equipped to help companies overcome digital security and privacy challenges?
Well over half a million customers trust Fortinet’s solutions. Our security solutions are the most deployed, most patented, and among the most validated in the industry. Our broad, complementary portfolio of cybersecurity solutions is built with integration and automation in mind, enabling more efficient, self-healing operations and rapid response to known and unknown threats.

Just recently, we announced new security operations center (SOC) augmentation services designed to help strengthen organizations’ cyber resiliency and support short-staffed teams strained by the talent shortage.

Is there a skills gap in the cybersecurity industry? What needs to be done in order to bridge that gap?
The cybersecurity skills gap continues to be a serious problem worldwide. According to the Fortinet 2022 Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report, the organizations surveyed say that the cybersecurity skills gap has contributed to 80% of breaches. Inadequately trained employees and short-staffed cybersecurity teams are making it difficult for organizations globally to keep their critical digital assets safe from threats, which is why cybersecurity awareness and training, among other things, is a critical part of any security strategy to protect organizations against threats.

Fortinet wants to be a significant contributor to bridging the talent shortage. As part of this commitment, Fortinet has pledged to train one million people in cybersecurity by 2026. The Fortinet Training Advancement Agenda (TAA) and Training Institute programs are our initiatives focused on educating individuals and providing certifications to anyone who wants to expand their knowledge base.