FINAL WORD

Analysts benefit from advanced tools that assign risk scores , prioritising the highest-risk threats automatically .

Cybercrime is an ever-increasing challenge for organisations of all sizes , across all industries in the Middle East . According to Statista , the average cost of data breaches in the region stood at over $ 8 million in 2023 . The consequences of cyberattacks are wide-ranging and extend beyond damaging financial losses . A successful breach jeopardizes the security of critical assets leading to long-term damage to an organisation ’ s reputation .

Combatting the modern threat landscape requires smarter , more efficient methods to safeguard sensitive data . Deploying AI-powered security solutions not only empowers organisations with the tools to mitigate security risks , but also delivers new efficiencies to minimise security operations centre , SOC costs , ease analyst burnout , and address widening skills gaps .

In recent years , the Middle East has established its position as a global hub for technological innovation . As the region prepares for upcoming initiatives , including Saudi Vision 2030 , it is becoming an increasingly attractive target for cybercriminals due to its emphasis on digital transformation .

Rising cyber risk is a multifaceted threat that should be considered a business risk by all organisations due to the severe operational disruption brought by a successful attack . These risks are being driven by several key factors including :

The global cybersecurity workforce gap has reached a record high , with 4 million professionals needed to adequately safeguard digital assets , according to ISC2 . This shortage of skilled professionals leads to burnout , reduced effectiveness and higher turnover rates . On a wider scale , this leaves organisations more vulnerable to harmful breaches .

Threat actors are taking advantage of AI to improve the speed and accuracy of their attacks . Advancements in AI have supercharged the threat landscape , with cybercriminals deploying smarter strategies to exploit data , including AI-generated phishing attacks . These attacks leverage AI to make phishing emails more convincing whilst removing traditional signs of malicious content including incorrect spelling and grammar .

Security teams are being tasked with analysing larger amounts of data than ever before due to the proliferation of the digital landscape . A significant part of this involves chasing false positives . This is one of the most time-consuming tasks for security teams and can lead to slower response times to real threats .

Advanced cybersecurity strategies are needed to keep pace with complex threats and maximise SOC activity . In response to this , more governments and organisations across the Middle East are adopting AI in cybersecurity . Security teams have been using AI to detect vulnerabilities and generate threat alerts for years , but recent

INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS 67