SECURE horizons
By Jess Abell , our Director of Strategic Content
In this column , we ’ ll be discussing key issues for CISOs and their teams – from AI to wellbeing and from Zero Trust to communication . If you ’ d like to get in touch , email jess @ lynchpinmedia . com
The majority of respondents ( 81 %) feel confident or very confident in the strength of their current security measures when implementing new IT projects , with 46 % expressing confidence and 35 % feeling very confident . However , 18 % of participants remain unconfident .
A notable minority still harbouring concerns highlights that while cybersecurity confidence is generally strong among CIOs and the C-suite , there is still a critical need to address the security loopholes to safeguard assets within organisations .
In the coming year , organisations will focus on several key cybersecurity areas . Major priorities include enhancing security culture and staff training ( 11 %), application security ( 10 %), adapting to evolving technology landscapes ( 10 %) and ensuring compliance and regulation ( 10 %). Other significant areas , each voted by 9 % of respondents , are data security , threat hunting , penetration testing and Operational Technology and IIoT .
Cloud , network and email security are relatively lower priorities with 9 %, 8 % and 6 % respectively . The emphasis on security culture and staff training highlights a growing recognition of the need for a well-informed workforce to manage security risks effectively .
On assessing organisational security culture , 100 % of respondents confirm that their organisations have a strong security culture . This unanimous agreement emphasises a high level of cybersecurity within businesses and indicates that security culture is a top priority for CIOs and the wider C-suite .
Organisations prioritising the development and reinforcement of robust security practices is clear indication of a proactive approach to safeguarding digital assets and mitigating risks in their technology strategies .
Though the findings suggest an uptick in the frequency of attacks , it is reassuring that almost 90 % of respondents feel strong in their organisations ability to defend against these .
However , based on these findings , there are some areas for focus moving forward :
• Addressing vulnerabilities when scaling or adopting new technologies
• Establishing a strong organisational cybersecurity culture and staff training
These , of course , are longstanding key considerations for CISOs and in the wake of advanced attacks leveraging AI , it ’ s crucial that security leaders remain vigilant .
GITEX is an ideal opportunity to bolster knowledge , hear from others in the same industry and to unlock new technology that meets an organisation ’ s unique requirements .
If you ’ re at GITEX this year , don ’ t hesitate to get in touch with me as I ’ d love to chat to you over a coffee . In the next edition , I ’ ll be sharing my key takeaways from this year ’ s event , including insights from our first AI in Cybersecurity roundtable and our security winners from the 2024 Intelligent ICT Awards Middle East !
The report shines a light on the frequency of attacks , confidence in security measures and key focus areas for the year ahead .
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