UAE Firms Use AI In Cybersecurity Strategies

The recent study commissioned by Cisco sheds light on a significant uptick in the utilization of AI technologies within cybersecurity strategies among organizations in the UAE. According to the findings, 91% of surveyed companies are incorporating AI into their security measures, particularly focusing on threat detection, response, and recovery.

The 2024 Cisco Cybersecurity Readiness Index reflects the current era characterized by intense connectivity and a swiftly evolving threat landscape. Despite facing a variety of cyber threats ranging from phishing and ransomware to supply chain and social engineering attacks, companies are actively fortifying their defenses. However, the complexity of their security setups, often consisting of numerous individual solutions, poses a challenge in effectively countering these threats.

These challenges are exacerbated in today’s dispersed work environments where data is dispersed across various services, devices, applications, and users. Nevertheless, 87% of companies express moderate to high confidence in their ability to defend against cyberattacks with their existing infrastructure, highlighting a proactive approach to navigating evolving threats.

The 2024 Cisco Cybersecurity Readiness Index evaluates companies’ preparedness across five key areas: Identity Intelligence, Network Resilience, Machine Trustworthiness, Cloud Reinforcement, and AI Fortification, encompassing 31 corresponding solutions and capabilities. The index is based on a survey of over 8,000 private sector security and business leaders across 30 global markets conducted by an independent third party.

Fady Younes, Managing Director for Cybersecurity at Cisco in the Middle East and Africa, emphasized the critical importance of proactive cybersecurity measures in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. By prioritizing cybersecurity investments and embracing innovative solutions, organizations in the UAE can navigate the digital realm confidently while safeguarding their operations against emerging threats.

Additional Insights:

• Anticipated Cyber Incidents: 85% of UAE respondents anticipate a cybersecurity incident disrupting their business in the next 12 to 24 months. The financial impact of being unprepared can be significant, with 65% reporting a cybersecurity incident in the past year, costing at least US$300,000 for 52% of those affected.
• Point Solution Challenges: The traditional approach of adopting multiple cybersecurity point solutions has proven ineffective, with 82% of UAE respondents citing that it hampers their team’s ability to detect, respond, and recover from incidents. Despite this, 78% of organizations have deployed ten or more point solutions in their security stacks, with 26% using 30 or more.
• Persistent Cyber Talent Gap: 90% of UAE companies identify a talent shortage as an issue, with 51% reporting more than ten unfilled cybersecurity roles. Notably, 95% of UAE companies plan to integrate AI technologies into their cybersecurity frameworks to address more than 10% of these vacant positions, signaling a proactive approach to talent shortages.
• Increased Cybersecurity Investments: In response to these challenges, companies are bolstering their defenses, with 68% planning significant upgrades to their IT infrastructure in the next 12 to 24 months. This includes upgrading existing solutions (66%), deploying new solutions (54%), and investing in AI-driven technologies (54%). Moreover, 99% of companies plan to increase their cybersecurity budget in the next year, with 91% expecting substantial growth of 10% or more.

To effectively combat today’s threat landscape, companies must accelerate meaningful investments in security, including adopting innovative security measures and a security platform approach, enhancing network resilience, leveraging generative AI effectively, and increasing recruitment efforts to bridge the cybersecurity skills gap.