Cyber Security

Proactive Threat Intelligence is Essential in Securing Critical Infrastructure

Published

4 weeks ago

February 19, 2025

Emad Fahmy, the Systems Engineering Director at NETSCOUT says attackers are employing adaptive techniques to evade detection and extend attack durations, exhausting security teams

Can you provide an overview of the current cybersecurity landscape for critical infrastructure in the MEA region?
The MEA region faces an increasingly complex cybersecurity landscape as digital transformation accelerates. Threat actors are leveraging automation, AI-driven tactics, and DDoS-for-hire services to target critical infrastructure. Traditional security measures are no longer sufficient, making real-time network monitoring, predictive analytics, and AI-driven security strategies essential. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, and energy remain prime targets due to their reliance on IoT and interconnected systems. To build resilience, governments and private enterprises must adopt unified cybersecurity policies, invest in AI-driven solutions, and foster public-private partnerships.

What are the most notable trends in cyber-attacks targeting these systems?
Cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure in the MEA region are increasingly leveraging persistent DDoS campaigns, AI-driven automation, and multi-pronged assaults. Attackers employ adaptive techniques to evade detection and extend attack durations, exhausting security teams. Supply chain vulnerabilities are also a growing concern, as adversaries exploit third-party integrations to infiltrate networks. AI-enhanced phishing campaigns are becoming more sophisticated, bypassing traditional defences. To counter these evolving threats, organisations must adopt advanced threat intelligence, behaviour-based threat detection, and zero-trust security frameworks.

Which sectors in the MEA region are most vulnerable to cyber-attacks, and why?
The most vulnerable sectors include finance, healthcare, and energy due to their high reliance on digital infrastructure and IoT devices. The financial sector faces frequent DDoS attacks aimed at disrupting operations and causing financial losses. Healthcare systems, with vast patient data and critical real-time operations, are prime ransomware targets. The energy sector, vital to regional economies, is susceptible to state-sponsored attacks that aim to disrupt supply chains. Enhanced visibility, real-time monitoring, and multi-layered cybersecurity strategies are crucial to securing these industries.

What are the primary motivations behind cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure in the MEA region?
Cyber-attacks in the MEA region are driven by financial, geopolitical, and sabotage-related motives. Cybercriminals target financial institutions for fraud and disruption. Geopolitical tensions contribute to state-sponsored attacks on energy and government systems, aiming to weaken rivals and exert influence. Sabotage-driven threats often target national infrastructure to cause widespread disruption. As the threat landscape evolves, governments and organisations must collaborate to establish cohesive cybersecurity frameworks and real-time threat intelligence sharing.

How important is employee training and awareness in preventing cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure?
Employee training is a critical defence against cyber-attacks, as human error remains a leading cause of breaches. Attackers exploit untrained personnel through phishing and social engineering tactics. Organisations must implement continuous security awareness programmes, teaching employees how to identify suspicious activities and respond to potential threats. These should be complemented with AI-driven monitoring and zero-trust architectures to build a multi-layered defence against cyber threats.

What role does proactive threat intelligence play in securing critical infrastructure systems?
Proactive threat intelligence is essential in securing critical infrastructure, enabling organisations to detect and mitigate cyber threats before they escalate. By leveraging AI-powered analytics and real-time threat feeds, businesses can anticipate attack patterns and strengthen their defences accordingly. Advanced predictive models allow security teams to assess vulnerabilities and deploy countermeasures pre-emptively. Additionally, cross-sector collaboration and intelligence sharing between public and private entities enhance regional resilience against sophisticated cyber threats.

Are there any technologies being deployed to safeguard critical infrastructure in the region?
Several advanced technologies are being deployed to protect critical infrastructure in the MEA region. AI and machine learning enable predictive threat modelling and automated anomaly detection. Zero-trust architecture is increasingly adopted to restrict access and minimise insider threats. Multi-cloud security strategies enhance visibility and control across hybrid infrastructures, reducing risks associated with vendor dependencies. Behaviour-based detection systems play a key role in countering persistent, adaptive attacks, ensuring long-term cybersecurity resilience.

What are the biggest challenges companies face in securing critical infrastructure in the MEA region?
Organisations in the MEA region face challenges such as a shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals, outdated legacy systems, and resource constraints. Many struggle to recruit experienced personnel, while new entrants often lack foundational knowledge in networking and security architecture. Outdated infrastructure creates security gaps, making organisations more vulnerable to sophisticated attacks. Limited cybersecurity budgets further impact the adoption of advanced security solutions. To address these challenges, businesses must invest in training, automation, and platform-based security approaches to enhance protection.

What role do MEA governments play in regulating and enforcing cybersecurity standards for critical infrastructure?
MEA governments play a crucial role in regulating and enforcing cybersecurity standards. Many countries are implementing unified cybersecurity policies to establish sector-wide defences. Public-private partnerships are being encouraged to facilitate information sharing and coordinated responses to cyber threats. Additionally, regulatory frameworks are being strengthened to mandate best practices, ensuring industries adhere to stringent security protocols to safeguard national assets.

How can companies ensure business continuity while recovering from a cyber-attack on their critical systems?
Ensuring business continuity after a cyber-attack requires a robust incident response and recovery strategy. Organisations must implement real-time monitoring, backup and disaster recovery plans, and incident response frameworks to minimise downtime. AI-driven anomaly detection helps identify threats early, while multi-cloud strategies reduce dependency on single providers, enhancing operational resilience. Regular simulations and stress-testing response capabilities further prepare businesses for cyber incidents, ensuring swift recovery and minimal disruption.

Cyber Security

Positive Technologies Discovery Leads D-Link to Recommend Router Replacements

Published

16 hours ago

March 19, 2025

Priyan Sampath

Vladimir Razov, an expert from the PT SWARM team, has discovered a vulnerability in several models of D-Link routers. According to Mordor Intelligence, D-Link is one of the top three Wi-Fi router manufacturers in the world. The vendor has been notified of the threat in line with the responsible disclosure policy and recommends that users switch to more recent devices.

The vulnerability, which is registered as BDU:2024-06211 with a CVSS 3.0 score of 8.4, affects the following D-Link models: DIR-878, DIR-882, DIR-2640-US, DIR-1960-US, DIR-2660-US, DIR-3040-US, DIR-3060-US, DIR-867-US, DIR-882-US, DIR-882/RE, DIR-882-CA, and DIR-882-US/RE. At the time of the research, vulnerable routers could be discovered using search engines in the United States, Canada, Sweden, China, Indonesia, and Taiwan.

According to the manufacturer, these models are no longer supported. D-Link recommends retiring the outdated devices and replacing them with supported devices that receive firmware updates. “If this vulnerability is successfully exploited, a malicious user authorized in the router’s web interface can compromise the entire device and gain access to all traffic passing through it,” says Vladimir Razov, Web Application Security Analyst at PT SWARM, the offensive security department at Positive Technologies.

As a temporary measure to mitigate the threat, Vladimir Razov recommends using OpenWrt (an open-source embedded operating system based on the Linux kernel and designed specifically for routers) or changing the login credentials for accessing the router’s web interface. Previously, Positive Technologies helped address vulnerabilities in Zyxel routers and other Zyxel devices. Positive Technologies also enhanced its PT Industrial Security Incident Manager (PT ISIM) with an additional expertise pack, enabling cybersecurity teams to detect attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in MikroTik routers and Cisco switches.

Cyber Security

Sophos Study: MDR Users Claim 97.5% Less in Cyber Insurance

Published

2 days ago

March 18, 2025

Chris Fernando

Leading cybersecurity provider Sophos has released findings from a new study quantifying the financial impact of various cybersecurity controls on cyber insurance claims. The research compares the effect of endpoint solutions, EDR/XDR technologies, and MDR services on claim amounts, offering valuable insights for both insurers and organizations.

Sally Adam, Senior Director, Solution Marketing at Sophos, said, “Every year, organisations spend huge amounts of money on their cybersecurity. By quantifying the impact of controls on the outcome of cyberattacks, this study enables them to focus their investments on the most cost-effective options. At the same time, insurers have a major influence on cybersecurity spending through the controls they require of organisations wishing to be covered and the discounts they offer when a given scheme is in place. This study enables them to encourage investments that can make a real difference to incident outcomes and the resulting claim amounts.”

The Sophos study reveals a dramatic difference in cyber insurance claims: organizations using MDR services claim a median compensation of just $75,000, a staggering 97.5% less than the $3 million median claimed by organizations relying solely on endpoint solutions. This means that endpoint-only users typically claim 40 times more in the event of an attack. The study attributes this significant reduction to the rapid threat detection and blocking capabilities of MDR services, which can effectively prevent extensive damage.

The study also highlights a clear benefit to combining EDR or XDR with endpoint solutions, as the average insurance claim for users of these tools is just $500,000, which is one-sixth of the $3 million average claim for those using only endpoint solutions.

The Sophos study indicates that the predictability of cyber insurance claims varies significantly depending on the security controls in place. Claims from organizations utilizing MDR services show the highest predictability, suggesting consistent and reliable threat mitigation. This is likely due to the 24/7 expert monitoring, investigation, and response that allows for swift action against threats at any time. Conversely, claims from users of EDR/XDR tools are the least predictable, implying that their effectiveness in preventing major damage heavily depends on the user’s expertise and speed of response.

The Sophos study also reveals significant differences in recovery times from ransomware attacks. Endpoint solution users average a 40-day recovery, while EDR/XDR users take the longest at 55 days. In stark contrast, organizations using MDR services recover the fastest, with an average downtime of just three days. These findings underscore MDR’s effectiveness in minimizing the impact of cyberattacks and highlight the less predictable recovery experiences associated with EDR/XDR tools, whose success is dependent on user expertise.

Adam concludes, “The research confirms what many people instinctively know: the type of security solution used has a significant impact on cyber insurance claims. Cyberattacks are inevitable, but defences are not. These results are a useful tool for organisations wishing to optimise their cyber defence and their return on investment in cybersecurity. They will also be useful for insurers looking to reduce their exposure and offer suitable policies to their customers.”

Cyber Security

Fortinet Strengthens OT Security for Critical Infrastructure

Published

2 days ago

March 18, 2025

Chris Fernando

Fortinet has enhanced its OT Security Platform to better protect critical infrastructure from modern cyberthreats. The upgraded platform offers more than basic OT visibility with the new FortiGuard OT Security Service, expanded hardened solutions for network segmentation and 5G in demanding environments, and an improved OT SecOps portfolio for automated threat response and compliance management.

“Fortinet has been building an industry-leading OT Security Platform for 20-plus years and remains at the forefront of OT security innovation,” said Nirav Shah, Senior Vice President, Products and Solutions at Fortinet. “As cyberthreats against critical infrastructure and across industries such as energy, transportation, and manufacturing continue to grow, Fortinet remains committed to delivering comprehensive security solutions tailored for operational technology environments. These latest enhancements give organizations the tools they need to improve their OT security posture and adhere to regulatory requirements—all managed through a single, unified platform.”

The latest Fortinet OT Security Platform enhances OT security with:

Advanced Threat Protection: New FortiGate Rugged NGFWs combined with the enhanced FortiGuard OT Security Service offer superior security enforcement, detecting threats using over 3,300 OT protocol rules, nearly 750 OT IPS rules, and 1,500 virtual patching rules. This protects against known exploited vulnerabilities and provides virtual patching for older OT systems. Secure remote access is also improved with updates to FortiSRA, including enhanced secrets and password management.
Secure Segmentation: The new FortiSwitch Rugged 108F and FortiSwitch Rugged 112F-POE industrial-grade switches enable precise security control at the port level, preventing unauthorized lateral movement within OT networks. Built on Fortinet’s unified FortiOS, these switches simplify network and security management.
Resilient Connectivity: Two new ruggedized 5G solutions are introduced: the IP67-rated FortiExtender Rugged 511G for secure, high-speed connectivity to remote OT sites, and the IP64-rated FortiExtender Vehicle 511G for fleet vehicles. Both feature embedded Wi-Fi 6 and new eSIM capabilities for easier carrier selection.
Enhanced OT SecOps: Fortinet’s AI-driven security operations capabilities are strengthened with updates to FortiAnalyzer 7.6 and FortiDeceptor 6.1, offering deeper threat insights and simplified compliance reporting for OT security teams. FortiNDR Cloud now includes OT protocol support for threat hunting, while FortiNDR (on-premises) adds features like a Purdue Model view and a device inventory covering OT and the Mitre ATT&CK ICS Matrix.

The Fortinet OT Security Platform delivers a unified view and comprehensive security tools to simplify the management of OT and remote site security. It empowers organizations to easily assess, secure, and report on risks, including meeting complex regulatory compliance. Fortinet uniquely offers seamless segmentation and a complete ruggedized portfolio of OT security solutions all managed by a single operating system, FortiOS. Its deep integration within the Fortinet Security Fabric makes it a leading platform in the industry, providing an effective, efficient, and holistic approach to OT security and compliance that surpasses standard offerings.