INDUSTRY VIEW
CERTIFICATION AS A STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE: BUILDING TRUST AND RESILIENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST’ S SECURITY SECTOR
RUDIE OPPERMAN, MANAGER ENGINEERING AND TRAINING FOR AFRICA AND MIDDLE EAST AT AXIS COMMUNICATIONS
As the Middle East experiences rapid growth across critical infrastructure and Smart Cities, the demand for trusted, certified security partners has never been greater. Rudie Opperman, Manager Engineering and Training for Africa and Middle East at Axis Communications, tells us how professional certification drives quality, resilience and long-term value in the region’ s evolving security landscape.
Across the Middle East, the pace of growth in critical infrastructure, smart cities and large-scale commercial projects is unprecedented. To safeguard people, assets and data, governments and businesses are investing heavily in advanced security and video surveillance technologies. In this fastmoving landscape, where the stakes are high and expectations are higher, organisations need more than suppliers. They need trusted partners.
One of the most reliable ways to identify such partners is through professional certification. Far from being a simple technical credential, certification signals a culture of continuous learning, accountability and excellence. These qualities are not just essential to navigating a security industry in constant flux but also to upholding the quality and integrity of the solutions that organisations come to rely on.
From credentials to commercial impact
For business leaders, certifications are not just evidence of technical training; they represent a commitment to delivering measurable value. In a region where multi-billion-dollar infrastructure projects demand flawless execution, the assurance that comes from certified expertise can mean the difference between operational resilience and costly downtime. Certified partners bring strategic benefits:
• Higher quality of service built on up-to-date technical expertise
• Reduced risk and downtime through faster issue resolution
• Future-proofed investments as certified experts adapt solutions to new use cases such as retail analytics, urban mobility and sustainability.
Those outcomes depend on the calibre and rigour of the certification itself.
Why the quality of certification matters
Certifications vary widely in their scope and credibility. Some programmes are vendor-specific, providing deep expertise in a particular organisation’ s solutions. Others are issued by professional associations and can be applied across a range of technologies. Both bring value, but what often differentiates them is the depth and continuity of the certification process itself.
The most effective programmes go beyond initial training. They incorporate comprehensive assessments, external validation and regular recertification, helping knowledge stay relevant in a fastevolving sector. For Middle Eastern businesses operating under tightening regulatory frameworks and increasingly complex projects, partners who prioritise rigorous, ongoing certification are best positioned to provide reliable, long-term support. Credentials deliver their greatest value when that expertise is shared.
Knowledge transfer that multiplies value
Working with certified partners is not only about securing technical excellence. It is also a pathway to knowledge transfer. Certified
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