Latest news with #FutureSec2025
Khaleej Times
25-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Everything is manipulated; AI social engineering is a real threat, experts warn
Cybersecurity professionals should focus on behavioural patterns, as AI-driven social engineering is becoming a real threat, industry executives said at a cybersecurity conference organised by Khaleej Times on Wednesday. "AI social engineering is real. Anyone who has any form of social media, be it Facebook, TikTok, or even LinkedIn, I'm sure we've all seen a video that looks very real. Something wasn't quite right about. We dig a bit deeper and look into the comments, and we see it's deepfake video content, deepfake audio, impersonating something that's deemed to be real. That is tremendously scary," Raj Sandhu, Regional Lead MEA- Principal Solutions Architect, SecurityHQ, said at the FutureSec 2025 conference. "I speak to government entities, enterprise customers, almost every single day, and the one thing CISOs tell me is they're getting pressure from their board to deal with and counter AI social engineering. Now, traditional email content filtering is not going to cut it these days. We need to focus on behaviour — something that my team and I are focusing on. "It is thinking about behaviours – how are users interacting with devices, and how are entities interacting with devices? What is the attack pattern? Because everything is being manipulated, it's hard to see what is real and what is just strange behaviour. So it's important to have that declassification," he said during the conference. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Involving cybersecurity teams early on A large number of public and private sector professionals and officials attended the one-day conference in Dubai. Dr Tim Nedyalkov, Global Cybersecurity and AI Security Expert called for the early involvement of cybersecurity members during automation or when incorporating new artificial intelligence (AI) technology to make the processes faster and better. "When I'm engaged with executive teams, one of my first questions is, how often do you talk to your cybersecurity teams? And then, normally they say, they invite them to board meetings, maybe once every quarter. On average, they spend between four to six hours per year in direct contact with their cybersecurity teams. Why don't you just double or triple the time that you spend with your security teams?" said Nedyalkov, Global Cybersecurity and AI Security Expert. "Cybersecurity is often on the tail end of the equation, which is not ideal. There are many situations where cybersecurity can be involved much earlier in the journey, whether it is in work, automation, or when incorporating the latest and greatest piece of AI technology. When cybersecurity is involved early in the journey, things will always move a lot faster and better," he said during the FutureSec 2025 conference. Dr Nedyalkov said that every single organisation wants to do more and faster with AI, but one of the biggest challenges is the lack of governance or the actual foundations for doing things safely and securely with AI. "I've seen organisations deploying models, for example, with hiring. In some situations, the models cannot explain their decisions. I've seen software engineers deploying models with trained on data that cannot be traced back, and it makes a big difference," he added.
Khaleej Times
25-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Dubai is shaping a cyber resilient society, says top official
Dubai is not just building a secure digital environment, but shaping cyber resilience society on the anticipated threats with agility that recover with speed, said Abdullah Al Suwaidi, director of Cybersecurity Planning and Performance Department, Dubai Electronic Security Centre. Speaking during the opening keynote at the FutureSec 2025 conference organised by Khaleej Times, he said the emirate looks to 'transform every challenge into an opportunity". He added that challenges have never prevented Dubai from pursuing its ambitions, and they will never. 'Let us continue to innovate, collaborate and fortify so that Dubai remains a global leader in cyber security and a beacon of safety and progress in this connected world,' Al Suwaidi said during the conference, which was attended by hundreds of cybersecurity professionals from the public and private sector. He added that the goal is to keep the city's digital infrastructure resilient, forward-thinking and secure. 'But resilience isn't built on technology and regulation alone. It depends on people — skilled, prepared and empowered individuals. That's why our Cyber Security Centre and the Dubai Cyber Innovation Park are at the heart of our strategy. 'We work side-by-side with government entities to grow national talents, equipping teams with the expertise they need to defend against today's threats,' said the director of the Cybersecurity Planning and Performance Department at Dubai Electronic Security Centre. Founded in 2014, the centre was established to ensure that Dubai becomes a leader in cyber security and the protection of information from external cyber threats. The centre reinforces the technological progress and smart transformation that has been adopted and engrained in the foundations of the emirate, by establishing Dubai as a global leader in innovation, safety and security. Abdullah Al Suwaidi added that the centre took another bold step forward by releasing its Post-Quantum Cryptography Guidelines, ensuring that the city is not just ready for the current threats, but also for those that will emerge in the quantum era. 'We also conduct regular audits every government entity and it is assessed against ISR (Information Security Regulation) standards to make sure that that multi-layer defences are not just in place, but are working as intended,' he said at the one-day conference. Earlier, Ted Kemp, chief content officer of Khaleej Times, delivered the welcome address, where he urged the cybersecurity industry and media to work together. He added that the lines between human and machine adversary are blurring, and the consequences for organisations alike are profound. 'The profile of the typical cyber assailant has shifted far beyond the basement-bound teenage prodigy that many out there still imagine. In fact, it's even gone beyond that of the determined, geographically remote criminal syndicate. We now face an era of AI versus AI, where your own best efforts will have to evolve with the same speed as new intelligence-driven angles of attack,' he said. He urged media and security professionals to keep working together. 'Our shared mission is to inform, protect and empower so let's make today's FutureSec summit a platform for cooperation, innovation and renewed commitment to securing that future that belongs to all of us,' he added
Khaleej Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Zero trust, AI, and identity top agenda at FutureSec Summit 2025
The countdown is on for one of the most anticipated cybersecurity events in the region: FutureSec Summit 2025, taking place in Dubai on June 25. Hosted by Khaleej Times, the summit will convene top minds from cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital infrastructure under the theme 'Innovation, Resilience and Ethical Vigilance'. As the UAE and wider Middle East face a rapidly evolving threat landscape, FutureSec 2025 is set to explore cutting-edge solutions aimed at fortifying cyber defenses. At the heart of the conversation is 'identity'. In an age where cloud computing, remote work, and AI are accelerating digital transformation, identity is increasingly recognised as the most vulnerable entry point for cyberattacks. 'Cyber attackers are shifting focus, and identity is now their fastest path in. At FutureSec, we're engaging with leaders across industries to explore how securing privileged identities helps organisations not just adopt but truly operationalise Zero Trust,' said Laura Garcia, Marketing Director EMEA at Delinea. The emphasis on identity-centric security underscores a broader shift in how organisations are approaching Zero Trust architecture, not just as a concept, but as a practical framework for cyber resilience. Adding to the discussion, Aaron Hambleton, Senior Vice President, Middle East & Africa at SecurityHQ, said: 'As a leading global MSSP, SecurityHQ's presence at FutureSec reinforces our commitment to cybersecurity excellence across the region. By sharing intelligence-led detection and response expertise, we aim to empower regional enterprises to anticipate, manage, and mitigate advanced threats, while continuing to drive innovation in managed security services.' The summit will feature a rich mix of high-level strategy sessions, hands-on cyber labs, real-time threat simulations, and exclusive Capture the Flag (CTF) challenges. Designed to be immersive and forward-thinking, the event will offer both practical insights and strategic foresight for CISOs, technology leaders, and government officials navigating today's complex cyber environment. In a regional first, FutureSec 2025 will also unveil the UAE's Most Influential Cybersecurity Leaders — an editorial-led list of the visionaries, practitioners, and advocates making meaningful contributions to the field. The awards will celebrate leadership, innovation, community impact, and thought leadership across the UAE. With identity at its core, FutureSec Summit 2025 is more than a gathering; it's a rallying call for cybersecurity leadership. From Zero Trust and AI governance to resilience and ethical vigilance, the summit is designed to equip attendees with the tools and insights to secure the digital future.
