TECHNOLOGY | CYBER
The
Future of Cloud Security in the Middle East roundtable – Dubai , 09 / 02 / 23
According to a report by cybersecurity firm Group-IB , the Middle East saw a 25 % increase in financial cyberattacks in 2020 , at a cost of US $ 18.5 billion . Group-IB adds that the credentials of more than 690,000 users in MEA were stolen by malware in 2022 .
The new research report captures a snapshot of cyber and cloud security professionals ’ insights , gauges their opinions on the state of their own organisations , and their future intentions when it comes to making their business more sustainable and secure .
The rise of the CISO Traditionally , the Chief Information Security Officer ( CISO ) has always been seen as a back-office role or one filled only when there was an audit issue or a need to find IT support . They were seen and not heard , and rarely featured within the executive management team , let alone as a permanent agenda item in the boardroom .
As the cloud and cyber threat landscape becomes even more disruptive , cloud security professionals are clearly being listened to , and heard .
Two third of those surveyed for our report say they have an increased voice in the boardroom , almost three quarters say cloud security is taken seriously enough , and a similar number say they are included in strategic decision making at their organisation .
This is welcome news for security professionals and suggests a change in perception for a role that was seen as functional rather than strategic – and integral to the sustainability and success of the organisation .
“ We need to usher in the new Golden Age of the CISO ,” says Dr Aloysius Cheang , Chief Security Officer Huawei Middle East and Central Asia .
READ THE FULL STORY 58 June 2023