Nearly 95% of organizations in the UAE intend to increase investments in artificial intelligence to enhance their cybersecurity infrastructure.
A study by Palo Alto Networks revealed that 81% of chief executives in the UAE perceive AI as a crucial facilitator. They believe that this rapidly advancing technology is indispensable in their organization’s approach to cybersecurity.
AI’s role in cybersecurity measures
As organizations swiftly embrace new technologies, it becomes crucial for them to enhance their cybersecurity measures. In particular, improving their capacity to identify and react to threats immediately is crucial.
Through the integration of AI into their cybersecurity approaches, businesses in the UAE and the broader region can enhance their defenses against a diverse spectrum of cyber threats. This includes shortened response times and attaining more comprehensive insights into their security readiness. When combined with cybersecurity measures like employee training, and strong policies, such advancements can contribute to a multi-layered security approach.
According to the study, a significant 94 percent of respondents in the UAE are well aware of the potential cyber risks. Additionally, 89 percent believe their organizations are well-prepared to tackle cyber threats. Nevertheless, 52 percent of the organizations surveyed reported a rise in cyberattacks within the last year.
Some of the largest cybersecurity breaches affected prominent UAE companies like Careem. Hackers illicitly obtained customer and driver data including email addresses, phone numbers, and trip history from the computer system. Fortunately, passwords and credit card details remained secure as they were encrypted and not subject to theft.
The breach impacted approximately 14 million users, all of whom received an email providing guidance on necessary steps to take. Importantly, the criminals did not exploit the stolen data.
Read: UAE faces governance challenges amidst AI boom
Protection, a key concern
Out of the CEOs surveyed, 69 percent emphasized that cybersecurity is a matter of concern at a board level in their organizations. A notable 39 percent indicated that they share responsibility with chief information officers (CIOs) for ensuring their organization’s protection against cyberattacks. That is particularly important when threats have the potential to affect the business, customers, and the organization’s reputation.
Moreover, 65 percent of respondents expressed their intention to boost investments in cybersecurity protection. Moreover, a substantial 92 percent confirmed that their companies’ CIOs or Chief Information Security Officers are actively seeking to reduce the number of security solutions deployed to avoid complexity.
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