The 3rd edition of Security Conclave 2023 concluded on a triumphant note at the prestigious Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai. This cybersecurity event, held on September 13, brought together over 250 regional security leaders from both the public and private sectors to discuss pressing cybersecurity challenges and innovative solutions.
Security Conclave 2023, organised in association with the Cyber Security Council, UAE, garnered significant acclaim and support from key partners and sponsors. The event's success was made possible by the invaluable contributions of event partner Cyber Security Council, UAE, The official Supporting Partner Dubai Electronic Security Center, Strategic partner UAE Banks Federation, and the unwavering support of The Private Office of Sheikh Saeed Bin Ahmed Al Maktoum.
The event was further elevated by the generous sponsorship of leading companies in the cybersecurity sector. Huawei, as the Platinum sponsor, played a pivotal role in defining the course of the event. Gold sponsors included Ejabi Infosec and Cybergate Defense, while Lenovo Thinkshield was a Silver sponsor, and D-Link, Cyberhub, powered by Finesse, and Sysdig, supported the event as Bronze sponsors. Identity and Access Partners IDM Technologies and Women in Cybersecurity Middle East, as Associate Partners, enriched the content shared at the event.
The 3rd Security Conclave 2023 centered on the challenges faced by Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape. With cyber threats escalating in the region, the event aimed to provide insights and strategies to safeguard enterprises against these malicious attacks.
The opening act of the event featured Raed Ahsan, the youngest ethical hacker in the region, who demonstrated live ethical hacking of a mobile phone, captivating the entire audience with his skills and expertise.
Dr. Aloysius Cheang, Chief Security Officer, Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, delivered the first keynote, sharing Huawei's vision of building resilience through zero-trust and transparency. Chief guest H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security Council, UAE, emphasized the UAE's leadership in cybersecurity initiatives and its commitment to a safe cyberspace.
Mr. Jamal Saleh, Director General of the UAE Banks Federation, delivered an enlightening keynote, shedding light on cybersecurity initiatives driven by the federation. Sultan Omran Al-Owais, Director of Smart Services at the Prime Minister's Office, UAE, provided valuable insights into the Economics of Cybersecurity.
The event also featured expert speakers addressing critical cybersecurity topics. Mohamed Shaaban, Solution Architect at Sysdig, discussed navigating the evolving security landscape of cloud-native applications, while Muhammed Othman Al Akkad, VP of Technology at Ejabi InfoSec, focused on securing data across various platforms.
Olivier Busolini, Executive Vice President and Head of Information Security at Mashreq Bank, provided the final keynote, sharing notes from a cloud security journey.
Additionally, the 3rd Security Conclave 2023 hosted three engaging panel discussions.
The first panel, titled 'The Cyber Security Landscape in 2023 and Beyond,' was moderated by Dr. Hamad Khalifa of Abu Dhabi Police Headquarters. The panelists included Vipin Kumar Bhaskaran, Head of Information Security & Governance, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Dr. Hossam El Shenraki, Associate Professor in Criminal Investigation, Dubai Police Academy, Amrut Sugandh, VP CyberSecurity, GISO, Leading Bank in the UAE, David Brown, Security Operations Director, CyberGate Defense, and Dr. Aloysius Cheang, Chief Security Officer, Huawei Middle East & Central Asia, all prominent figures in the cybersecurity domain.
The second panel, 'Women in Cyber Security: The Female Powerhouse of the UAE,' moderated by Irene Corpuz, Founding Partner and Board Member, Women in Cyber Security Middle East, highlighted the pivotal role of women in cybersecurity and digital transformation. Panelists included Hessa Al Nahdi, CISO. Government Entity. UAE, and Hessa Almatrooshi, Assistant Director of Information Security. Ajman Free Zone, Vineesha HK Regional Thought Leader and Expert, and Dr. Heba Ahmad Sr. Researcher, Dubai Electronic Security Center.
The third panel, 'Cloud Vulnerabilities and Cyber Resilience,' moderated by Dr. Mohammed Khaled Safe, Cognitive and Transformation Thought Leader., featured experts Somnath Sarkar, Regional Security Thought Leader, and Ahmed Nabil Head of Cyber Defense Security Operations. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Imran Shaikh, CTO. Virgin Mobile ME, Arun Menon, Head of Cyber Security, Airtel Africa, and Sunil Paul, Co-Founder and MD, Finesse, who discussed the challenges and opportunities in cloud security.
Ankit Shukla, Managing Director of QNA Media Group, expressed his gratitude for the event's success, stating, “The 3rd edition of Security Conclave & Awards 2023 concentrated on the most significant challenges confronting the Middle East cybersecurity industry currently. It was an honor for us to host H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE's Cyber Security Council, as our chief guest. This year's Security Conclave was enriched with a lot more expertise and experience.” Mr. Shukla further added, “Our speakers shared their expertise and experience with attendees as they revealed new insights on emerging threats and best practices for mitigating risk.
These sessions were also designed to inform cybersecurity professionals on industry best practices and help them improve their careers. The Security Conclave is proud to host world-class cybersecurity speakers from the region. Join us again for the 4th edition of Security Conclave & Awards 2024 for an incomparable experience and a chance to meet and interact with visionaries worldwide.”
The 3rd Security Conclave 2023 also recognized and honored the top 40+ CISOs and 20+ companies from the region for their outstanding innovations and implementations in the field of cybersecurity.
Best Cloud Security Awards: Huawei Cloud : Huawei
Best GRC Service Provider: Ejabi Infosec
Pioneering Advanced Managed Services in Cybersecurity: CyberGate Defense
Best Identity & Access Service Provider: IDM Technologies
Best Firewall Security Vendor: D-Link
Best Container Security Solution: Sysdig
Best Cyber Resilience Innovator: Opentext
Best Zero Trust Cybersecurity Innovator: Paramount Computers
Outstanding Contribution To Banking Eco-System: UAE Bank Federation
Outstanding Contribution to Diversity: Women in Cyber Security Middle East
Best Cloud Security Innovator Project: Aster Hospitals UAE
Best Information Security in BIS: Middlesex University
Best Managed Security Solution: Dubai Customs
Best IOT Device Security Solution: Dubai Taxi Corporation
Best Data Security Initiative: Burjeel Medical
Best Risk Management Innovation: Deem Finance
Best Customer Data Protection: Virgin Mobile UAE
Best Cybersecurity in Port Operations: Gulftainer Company Limited
Best Security Initiative for Hospitality: Radisson Hotel Group
Best Data Privacy & Data Classification Project: Union Coop
