February 26, 2024 at 01:49PM
Zero-trust security adoption is set to rise tenfold in the Gulf region by 2025, with finance and oil and gas sectors leading. Current predictions suggest 10% of large enterprises will have a mature zero-trust program by 2025, driven by the need for robust security in a region experiencing increased cyberattacks. UAE’s cloud uptake is expected to stimulate zero-trust adoption.
Key Takeaways from the Meeting Notes:
1. Zero-trust security adoption is set to increase tenfold in the Gulf region by the end of 2025, with finance and oil and gas industries leading the way.
2. Nader Henein predicts that 10% of large enterprises in the Gulf region will have a “comprehensive, mature, and measurable” zero-trust program in place within the next two years.
3. Zero-trust strategy requires verification each time a user or device requests access to applications and the network, considering everything untrusted until verified.
4. The Gulf region is seen as a younger and more open market for cybersecurity evolution and growth compared to western regions.
5. Zero-trust adoption is mainly driven by regulated industries such as banking, finance, and oil and gas due to heavy cyberattack targeting.
6. Cloud adoption in the UAE is growing, with expected significant economic value and spending on public cloud services.
7. More than 55% of cloud security managers in the Middle East plan to prioritize zero-trust strategies, while UAE organizations are struggling to implement it fast enough due to key challenges in achieving full visibility within their organizations and hybrid/multi-cloud environments.
8. Channel partners are expected to play a key role in bringing widespread zero-trust awareness and adoption to the region.
Overall, the Gulf region is experiencing significant growth and interest in zero-trust security adoption, particularly in the context of evolving cloud technology and cybersecurity challenges. Channel partners and international vendors are anticipated to play a crucial role in facilitating adoption and providing practical paths to implementation.