Microsoft hosted the second edition of its CISO Executive Series today, designed to support chief information security officers in their efforts against the ever-changing threat landscape, in the company’s ongoing commitment to intelligent cybersecurity in the Arab Gulf region.
The event, this year titled “A Hacker’s Guide to Security Strategy”, was held at the Burj Al Arab, Dubai, and allowed security professionals to network with peers, as well as hear from a cybersecurity specialist – Paula Januszkiewicz, CEO and Founder of CQURE Inc – on current and upcoming threats.
International headlines continue to feature the plight of high-profile victims, as private- and public-sector organisations fight their ongoing daily battles with cyber-criminals. Recent years have seen a marked rise in targeted and sophisticated attacks, as businesses try to figure out how to secure their digital estates.
“Most organisations know what cyber-attackers are likely to go after, once they have breached the corporate perimeter,” said Cyril Voisin, Executive Security Advisor for France, Italy, the Middle East and Africa at Microsoft’s Enterprise Cybersecurity Group. “That means that you know where to focus your efforts; and that is the beginnings of a formal, coherent, inhouse security strategy. Coupled with the power of the intelligent cloud and the perspective of seasoned White Hat experts like those heard here today, organisations should be in great shape to take the fight to the cyber-criminals.”
“It is vital that regional organisations understand the evolving threat landscape and adjust their security posture accordingly,” he added. “We invest US$ 1 billion annually in cybersecurity, so that our customers can be confident that the Microsoft cloud is a safe home.”
At the CISO Executive forum, Paula Januszkiewicz shared insights, and an outside-in perspective of securing a business.
“Cyber troublemakers are devious and creative. We have to think like them, to anticipate their attack vectors and behaviours; only then can we secure that which matters most: our precious digital assets,” she said.
Januszkeiwics also stressed on the importance of upskilling of security professionals to meet changing needs of the digital era. “According to the industry’s statistics, by 2019 the market will need 6 million security professionals, but only 4 to 5 million of them will have the needed qualifications. Hence, it is also very important to address this gap by levelling up” she added.
