Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
– More than half of cybersecurity leaders in the Middle East cite a lack of funding as the top challenge in doing their jobs.
– Cybersecurity spending in the Middle East and Africa is set to top $238 billion in 2024, according to Gartner.
According to new research from Deloitte, more than half of cybersecurity leaders in the Middle East cite a lack of funding as the top challenge in doing their jobs. This is compared to 36% of security leaders worldwide. Despite this, cybersecurity spending in the Middle East and Africa is set to top $238 billion in 2024, according to Gartner, which is a significant increase from a projected $2.6 billion in 2022. The rise in spending is due to increased attacks against targets in the regions. Guy Rosenthal, VP Product at DoControl, says that this increase in spending is evidence of the focus and concern about cybersecurity in markets such as the Middle East.
Rosenthal also notes that it is easier for organizations in the Middle East that are starting fresh to ramp up their cybersecurity programs, as they don’t have the technical debt of long-standing programs. This allows them to explore and embrace new innovations, such as enterprise browsers and zero trust models, which can solve multiple security problems in a more cost-effective way. Jose Seara, CEO and founder at DeNexus, adds that the adoption of automation and artificial intelligence tools can make it easier and faster to deploy cybersecurity solutions and detect new cyber threats.
The Deloitte report also highlights the importance of training and certification programs in engaging, retaining, and developing cybersecurity talent in the Middle East. Nearly 70% of respondents in the report see training programs as crucial. Tariq Ajmal, cyber leader at Deloitte Middle East, emphasizes the need for organizations to invest in upskilling their employees to keep up with the continuously changing cybersecurity landscape. He also notes the importance of raising awareness about the need for investment in cybersecurity across all sectors and industries in the region.
In conclusion, while cybersecurity leaders in the Middle East face challenges of a lack of funding, the region is set to see a significant increase in cybersecurity spending in the coming years. Organizations in the region have the opportunity to start fresh and embrace new innovations, while also investing in training and certification programs to develop their cybersecurity talent.
