Active Defense & Deception , Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning , Business Email Compromise (BEC)

Cybersecurity Expectations in 2021 in the Middle East

The year 2021 will see an increase in third-party vendor risks, the evolution of MSSPs, and maturity in identity governance as enterprises in the Middle East region take a fast track approach to 'cloud-first' strategy, according to a panel of experts.

See Also: The State of Organizations' Security Posture as of Q1 2018

To tackle risks arising from these trends, CISOs should invest in predictive analytics, tools for right data risk modeling, and continuous monitoring to secure the environment in the post COVID era, the panel says.

The panel was part of Information Security Media Group's recent Cybersecurity Virtual Summit: Middle East.

While two-factor authentication is an important access control mechanism, identity has become critical now and is maturing in defining the access control policies for remote working to address third-party supply chain risks, says Bharat Raigangar, Hon Advisor - ISACA UAE Board and GM - Business Head - India, Middle East, Africa for Cybersecurity & Risk Services, for a large enterprise, in a video panel discussion.

Predictive analysis and cognitive tools will gain prominence in the year ahead as part of threat intelligence gathering to detect attack indicators, says Nitin Shingari, Head-Information Security, National Health Insurance Company, Daman.

Collaboration will be key as we progress into 2021 for security practitioners. Enterprises are increasingly adopting the managed security service providers' model, and MSSPs will take more responsibilities in securing the digital ecosystem, says Ahmed Baig, Founder, CISO Council, UAE.

In this video panel discussion, the three experts address:

• Impact of the pandemic on enterprise security;
• Technologies being harnessed by the enterprises in tackling threats;
• Cybersecurity investments in 2021.

Raigangar is a cyber-defense enthusiast and an advisor in cyber risk management, specializing in cyber defense, cyber fraud, and cyber resilience. He played a strategic role in building the cybersecurity advisory services practice at Wipro. He has more than 22 years of leadership experience in global risk, compliance, audit, and assurance. He also has experience as a Strategic Advisor, working with CXOs.

Shingari is head, information security at National Health Insurance- Daman. He is a proven information security leader with 17 years of information security experience and has been in the Middle East for more than a decade. Shingari led information security service delivery for Etihad Aviation Group, Abu Dhabi Airports, in his previous role. He managed multiple domains as a technical consultant working with top MNC companies IBM & TCS.

Baig is a chief executive officer at Emirsec, where he leads strategy and transformation initiatives to ensure the development of action plans to achieve strategic goals. He is also the founder of the CISO Council in Dubai. He is a prominent GRC and cybersecurity executive in the MEA region with more than 20 years of experience in cybersecurity and risk management, technology strategy, and transformation in enterprise customers and advisory services.