A recent study conducted by Cisco has noted an upsurge in the utilisation of AI technologies within cybersecurity strategies among organisations in the UAE. The findings underscore a proactive response to evolving threats, with 91% of surveyed companies integrating AI into their security defences, primarily focusing on threat detection, response, and recovery.
The 2024 Cisco Cybersecurity Readiness Index, conducted in an era defined by hyperconnectivity and a rapidly evolving threat landscape, reflects the ongoing efforts of companies to fortify their defence mechanisms against a range of cyber threats, including phishing, ransomware, supply chain attacks, and social engineering tactics.
Despite facing a multitude of cyber threats, companies remain moderately to very confident in their ability to defend against cyberattacks, with 87% expressing confidence in their current infrastructure. However, the complexity of security postures, characterised by the dominance of multiple point solutions, presents challenges in effectively thwarting these threats.
The challenges are further compounded in today’s distributed working environments, where data spans across numerous services, devices, applications, and users. Nevertheless, the optimism displayed by 87% of companies underscores their proactive stance in addressing emerging challenges.
The Index evaluates the readiness of companies across five key pillars: Identity Intelligence, Network Resilience, Machine Trustworthiness, Cloud Reinforcement, and AI Fortification, encompassing 31 corresponding solutions and capabilities. Based on a double-blind survey of over 8,000 private sector security and business leaders across 30 global markets, the study highlights the deployment stage of these solutions and capabilities.
“Fady Younes, Managing Director for Cybersecurity at Cisco in the Middle East and Africa, emphasized the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures in navigating the rapidly evolving digital landscape. He stressed the need for organisations to prioritise cybersecurity investments and embrace innovative solutions to mitigate risks effectively.”
Further insights from the study reveal that 85% of UAE respondents anticipate a cybersecurity incident disrupting their business within the next 12 to 24 months. The financial impact of such incidents can be substantial, with 65% of respondents experiencing a cybersecurity incident in the last year, costing at least US$300,000 for 52% of those affected.
The traditional approach of adopting multiple cybersecurity point solutions has proven ineffective, as 82% of UAE respondents noted that it slowed down their team’s ability to detect, respond, and recover from incidents. Moreover, 78% of organisations reported deploying ten or more point solutions in their security stacks, with 26% deploying 30 or more.
Addressing the persistent cyber talent gap, 90% of UAE companies highlighted talent shortage as a significant issue, with 51% reporting more than ten unfilled cybersecurity roles. To bridge this gap, 95% of companies plan to integrate AI technologies into their cybersecurity frameworks, aiming to fill more than 10% of unfilled cybersecurity roles.
Looking ahead, companies are ramping up their cybersecurity investments, with 68% planning significant upgrades to their IT infrastructure in the next 12 to 24 months. Notably, investments will focus on upgrading existing solutions, deploying new ones, and leveraging AI-driven technologies. Additionally, almost all companies (99%) plan to increase their cybersecurity budgets in the next 12 months, with 91% expecting substantial growth of 10% or more.