Organizations in the Middle East Targeted: Time to Level Up the Cyber Resilience Quotient

The dark clouds of cyber-attacks not only prevail in western countries like #USA and #UK but also widespread amidst the wealthy #MiddleEast regions. The targeted cyber-attacks experienced by #MEA organizations have disrupted the IT base, affecting digital services in many industries. Increased adoption of #IOT elements have also expanded sources for #cybercriminals to create more malicious damage. Mass adoption of digital technologies to facilitate business operations have increased the dependency on IT.

Reportedly, a new age virus caused a breach of security infecting 75% of systems in MEA region’s major oil and gas company. It is time for organizations in the middle east to take a strategic approach and collaborative measures to deploy robust cyber security solutions and achieve a centralized cyber resilient structure. It is critical to time and again upgrade information infrastructure protection polices, cyber-security plans and improve cyber security capabilities to safeguard the digital assets in an unpredictable threat landscape.

Here are some result-oriented measures that organizations in the middle east region should adapt to make the environment cyber resilient at work:

• Activate all the aspects in the cyber-security ecosystem – threat monitoring, detection, identification, management, response in a timely manner. Any delay caused can be a financial burden for organizations to pay for repairs, recovery and remediation

• Regular testing of cyber security capabilities to identify weaknesses and gaps, if any hampering the mitigation plan

• Understanding the worst-case scenarios and preparing for optimal reaction with practical cyber security solutions to bring the situation under control

• Cyber security research and innovation should be encouraged to enhance defensive capabilities and strengthen cyber security solutions

• Going ahead with the cyber risk assessment approach to future-proof businesses against constantly rising new threats. A cyber risk assessment can assist teams to identify, prioritize and build a roadmap around the highest identified threat vulnerabilities

Cyber security initiatives by organizations in the middle east should support their digital transformation goals and be alert to deal effectively with cyber-attackers. Existing businesses, start-ups and new businesses are more prone to cyber-attacks. Hence, do not act vulnerable when it is collectively required to face the threats.