Companies in UAE prioritize data protection in their security strategy

Nine out of ten organizations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have stated that data protection is the essential priority in their security strategy as they manage to overcome a threat and regulatory landscape that is becoming increasingly complex. According to the IDC’s Enterprise Security Trends in the UAE survey, which was commissioned by Microsoft and showcased the newest cloud security innovations across all industries in the UAE, this is the case.

“There’s no doubt the risk landscape has become more complex, and while cybersecurity solutions have matured a great deal, threat actors are not idling. As organizations continue to pursue their digital transformation journey, security has to be considered every step of the way to ensure a safer digital environment for all,” says Mohammed Arif, Business Group Director, Modern Work, and Security, Microsoft UAE.

According to the findings, enterprise-wide cloud usage is on the rise as executives seek to assure flexibility, agility, and business continuity in their everyday operations. According to IDC over 70% of firms have expedited their digital transformation goals by at least a year, and the cloud is a primary driver of this. As enterprises prepare to navigate a post-COVID-19 environment, trust in cloud technologies continues to grow.

An ever-changing threat landscape

Bad actors have noticed the growing processing of data on the cloud, and there has been a noticeable increase in cyberattacks. In reality, cyberattacks in the United Arab Emirates increased by 250 percent in 2020. More individuals than ever before were pushed to learn, work, shop, bank, and connect online as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The threat surface has grown as a result of more devices, networks, and connection points, emphasizing the necessity for a strong security plan.

Ransomware and malware attacks have been the top security concern for UAE organizations in the previous year, and as a result, endpoint protection, which includes anti-malware and anti-ransomware, has emerged as the key security solution utilized by IT departments.

At the same time, government officials are putting pressure on businesses to preserve their company, employee, and consumer data. In today’s digital economy, the use of security governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) services have aided compliance, and as a result, 95 percent of companies have placed customer data protection at the top of their security strategy agenda.