Robust cybersecurity measures are critical in defending against risks, says Dr Al Kuwaiti

For Emad Haffar, Head of Security Consultants for Middle East, Turkiye and Africa at Kaspersky, the conversation begins with people. “We often focus heavily on solutions and technologies, but we sometimes forget the human factor,” he notes. Despite advances in automation and AI-driven defence systems, he argues that “almost every cybersecurity issue is connected to people in one way or another.” As systems become more intelligent, the challenge is shifting from tool deployment to human adaptation. “We need to rethink how we educate and train professionals so they can use these technologies effectively.”

The tension between disruption and preparedness is echoed in the boardroom. Jorge Fernandes, CEO of iBlades, describes a decisive shift in executive thinking. “The good news is cybersecurity has firmly reached the boardroom. Today, cyber risk is increasingly viewed as a strategic business issue rather than simply a technical concern,” he says. In a world shaped by AI and looming quantum transitions, he argues that organisations are now asking less whether transformation will happen and more when they must adapt.

For telecom operators, the stakes are even more immediate. Saood Karmostaje, Vice President/Government Sales at e&, describes them as “critical targets because they underpin national connectivity, digital solutions and economic activity.” With the expansion of cloud, AI, 5G and IoT, he says “the attack surface has expanded significantly.” The response, he argues, is a shift from prevention alone to readiness, response and recovery: “Cyber resilience is now as important as cybersecurity.” In this environment, trust becomes the defining currency. “Trust means delivering secure, resilient and always-available services” built through transparency, continuous investment and close collaboration across the ecosystem, he says.

As AI systems scale, the volume of data being generated, especially visual data, has become a defining cybersecurity and infrastructure challenge. Mansoor Khan, CTO of Neurovia AI, emphasizes that security and data efficiency are now inseparable. “Cybersecurity is fundamentally a data problem,” he notes, pointing out that protecting modern enterprises means safeguarding massive, continuously flowing datasets across distributed environments. Neurovia AI focuses on reducing this burden through advanced visual data compression of up to 96.3% or more, enabling organizations to minimize data exposure, reduce transmission risk, and lower storage dependency. “When you compress data intelligently, you don’t just save cost, you reduce the attack surface,” Khan explains. In this context, data sovereignty is also strengthened, as efficient compression and controlled data handling help organizations maintain greater visibility, security, and governance over their digital assets.

At a nation’s level, this thinking becomes institutional. Eng. Mohammad Al-Samadi, President of Jordan’s National Cybersecurity Centre, frames cybersecurity as a structural pillar of governance. “Cybersecurity must be treated as a national programme that governments adopt to build resilience at the national level,” he says. His model rests on three pillars: “people, policies and governance, and technology.” But beyond frameworks, he stresses cooperation. “The need to share is fundamental,” he explains, arguing that trust-based agreements between countries are essential for strengthening regional resilience.

If resilience is the present concern, the future is defined by acceleration. Bilal Baig, Vice President of Solution Engineering for AMEA at TrendAI™️, who delivered a keynote at the summit, described the shift toward “agentic security” where systems are capable of making autonomous decisions in real time. “It is about visibility, risk exposure and prioritisation,” he explained, describing how AI maps attack paths and identifies the single vulnerability that could break an entire kill chain. As TrendAI™️ deepens its footprint in the wider region, Baig warned that the scale of the challenge is only expanding. “We are entering a world where vulnerabilities are discovered continuously,” he said, a reality, he argued, that demands security capable of responding at the same speed.

Annbritt Anderson, Chief Revenue Officer of Guardsix, sums it up well. "Cybersecurity is no longer just a technology conversation,” she said. “It’s a conversation about trust, resilience, and the ability to move forward with confidence in an increasingly digital world."

As the UAE continues to position itself as one of the world's most digitally advanced nations, the Summit was a reminder that the infrastructure of trust — built through partnership, investment, and shared commitment — is as vital as any technology it supports.

The 4th Government Cybersecurity Summit is expected to return to Abu Dhabi in 2027.