ello and welcome to

This month’ s cover story, which can be found on page 15, features Mutaz Alshafie, Sr. Manager Sales Team – Arabia and Turkey, Recorded Future. He tells us how CISOs across the Middle East are balancing rapid Digital Transformation with stronger resilience by adopting intelligence-driven automation and Autonomous Threat Operations.

Alshafie explains that expanding cloud workloads and regulatory pressure are widening attack surfaces, forcing security leaders to prioritise threats with greater precision. He outlines how cyberattacks in the region have become more targeted, blending criminal and geopolitical motives, with rising threats to OT and critical infrastructure.

He says automation powered by contextual intelligence is now essential, helping overburdened SOC teams cut noise, consolidate tools and shift to proactive, riskbased defence. He highlights how Recorded

Future’ s Autonomous Threat Operations enable continuous machine-speed detection, correlation and response, making cyberdefence scalable for fast-growing Gulf organisations.

Finally, he notes that the next stage of regional maturity will see enterprise-wide autonomous response and cross-domain integration, giving CISOs the speed and confidence needed to stay ahead of evolving adversaries.

Elsewhere, we learn how CISOs are being forced to rethink cybersecurity strategy as tightening budgets collide with rising threats.

Kevin Gallagher, President, Invicti, explains that security leaders who once operated with expanding mandates must now manage wider attack surfaces, stricter regulations and mounting alert volumes with fewer resources.

The article highlights how underfunding is driving burnout, eroding trust and widening the gap between responsibility and capability. It outlines the growing risk surface created by rapid development, APIs and modern frameworks, arguing that traditional tools and reactive postures are no longer enough.

It emphasises the importance of shifting smart rather than simply shifting left, with DAST and risk-focused platforms providing clearer visibility.

Finally, it concludes that CISOs must pair technical insight with financial clarity, aligning every pound spent to real-world risk reduction to secure continued investment.

You can read more starting on page 24.

Don’ t forget, you can stay informed with daily news updates on our website, where we bring you the latest cybersecurity insights and developments. I’ d like to wish you a productive and successful month ahead. Please enjoy this issue and take your time to explore the articles we have prepared for you. See you next time.

Mark Bowen Editorial Director

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