emt Strengthening Cybersecurity Awareness and its Expansion in the Region
Mo Mobasseri, CEO of emt Dubai, participated in GISEC, the region's leading cybersecurity event, reaffirming the company's long-standing commitment to the conference. Since its inception, emt had viewed GISEC as a vital platform for engaging with partners, vendors, and cybersecurity professionals across the Middle East and Africa.
At this year's event, emt spearheaded two key initiatives. In collaboration with the UAE Cybersecurity Council and GISEC Global, the company hosted the Cyber Escape Room for the second time, fostering interactive cybersecurity awareness. Additionally, emt partnered with the GISEC, UAE Cybersecurity Council and DESC to launch a Cybersecurity Awareness Van, which traveled across the country, educating universities and organizations on cybersecurity best practices.
Mobasseri highlighted emt's strategic partnerships with vendors such as Progress Software, SecureG, Heimdal Security, Resecurity, and Matrix 42, all of whom were featured at the emt stand. With AI reshaping cybersecurity, Mobasseri acknowledged both the challenges and opportunities it presented. To address this, emt hosted a workshop on generative AI and its impact on cybersecurity.
Experiencing double-digit annual growth, emt expanded its presence in Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, and Nigeria. Mobasseri emphasized the necessity of upskilling cybersecurity professionals and the general public. The company remained committed to offering training programs and innovative solutions to protect organizations from cyber threats.
Recognizing the complexities of channel partnerships, emt strengthened its professional services and engineering team to provide white-label support. By focusing on niche technologies, emt ensured profitability for its partners.
Looking ahead, Mobasseri expressed optimism about the region's cybersecurity growth, particularly given the UAE government's strategic initiatives driving investment and technological adoption. 0 0
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Channel Post MEA
3 hours ago
- Channel Post MEA
Cohesity: UAE Workforce Ahead Of Its EMEA Peers In Cyber Confidence And Readiness
Cohesity has released the findings of a new study examining employee preparedness in the face of cyber threats. The research shows that the UAE workforce is ahead of its EMEA peers across several indicators of cyber-readiness, underscoring the country's progress toward its national vision for digital resilience and AI-enabled defence. Conducted among full-time office workers in the UAE, United Kingdom, France, and Germany, the study assessed how confident employees feel in identifying and responding to cyberattacks. Among the standout results, 86 percent of UAE employees expressed confidence in recognising a cyber threat—compared to 81 percent in the UK, 80 percent in Germany, and just 62 percent in France. Nearly nine in ten (89%) UAE respondents also said they trust their organisation's ability to prevent and recover from attacks. Beyond awareness, the study reveals encouraging signs of action-oriented behaviour. Two-thirds of UAE employees say they would report suspicious activity to their cybersecurity team, showing an apt response, in comparison to respondents from the UK (61%), Germany (53%), and France (48%). Amongst other UAE employees, over half would notify their IT department. This instinct to act is supported by ongoing education: 66 percent have received some form of cybersecurity training in the past year. However, the research also highlights areas where further progress is needed. A small but notable group of employees say they would either attempt to resolve a threat on their own (15%) or turn to personal contacts first (19%), indicating a gap in internal reporting clarity, and a potentially risk to the entire organisation that mis-understanding of how important it is that reporting through the correct processes is critical to the quickest resolution of any potential risk of cyber attack . Among those hesitant to report incidents correctly, the leading reasons include fear of blame or confusion (46%), a belief that it isn't their responsibility (27%), and worry about overreacting (14%). Johnny Karam, Managing Director and Vice President, International Emerging Region at Cohesity, commented: 'The findings reflect the UAE's clear leadership in cybersecurity readiness across the EMEA region. With initiatives driven by the UAE Cybersecurity Council and a strong national focus on AI and digital transformation, it's no surprise that employee awareness is rising in step with enterprise investment.' 'What stands out is not just awareness, but the willingness to act. The next step is closing the gap—equipping employees with the tools, clarity, and – perhaps most importantly – confidence to respond without hesitation. If we educate all employees of the serious risks to the organisation of not correctly reporting any potential cyber risks they see, encouraging a mentality that they will not get in trouble for doing so, and highlighting their individual capability to maximise the speed of response all UAE organisations can be more resilient. At Cohesity, we believe true cyber resilience is built on both technology and a culture of empowered people,' Johnny continued. Workforce Preparedness in Step with UAE's Cyber Vision The UAE's continued investment in cybersecurity infrastructure, most recently through advanced threat detection systems activated under the direction of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, demonstrates a firm national commitment to securing the digital landscape. The study shows that employees are already aligning with this vision: Two-thirds of the respondents have undergone cybersecurity training, with 39 percent participating in multiple sessions in the past year. Over half (51%) would report a suspicious incident to IT, while 67% would notify a cybersecurity team, demonstrating a willingness to escalate issues through formal channels. 77 percent are familiar with the term 'ransomware', showing widespread awareness of key threat types. Awareness of cyber threats is on the rise in the UAE, with 77% of employees familiar with the term 'ransomware'. This strong baseline offers an ideal foundation to build upon. By expanding education beyond surface-level awareness to include real-world examples and practical training, companies can empower their teams with the confidence and clarity needed to respond effectively. Bridging the Gap Between Awareness and Action While confidence in reporting and escalating potential ransomware threats within the organisation is high, the study reveals opportunities to further strengthen internal reporting behaviour. Around 15% say they would attempt to resolve a threat themselves, and 19% would first alert their personal contacts, These responses highlight a proactive mindset, which organisations can harness by further strengthening internal reporting protocols and promoting awareness of the appropriate escalation paths. Among the smaller group of employees who expressed hesitation in reporting a potential incident, the most common reasons included: UAE employees showed a strong sense of fear of blame or not understanding the issue (46%), while EMEA employees had a more neutral perspective (UK – 26%, Germany – 20%, and France – 15%). 27 percent of the UAE respondents believed it wasn't their responsibility, showing a much bigger gap to appreciating their role in their organisations cyber safety as compared to their EMEA counterparts (UK -10%, Germany – 12%, and France 19%). 14 percent UAE employees feared overreacting, in-tune with 18 percent of German respondents 15 percent from the UK and 11 percent of French respondents showing similar sentiment. These insights present a valuable opportunity to reinforce a culture of psychological safety, where reporting is easy, supported, and encouraged. By removing the fear of repercussions and clearly defining roles, organisations can build employee confidence and ensure every individual knows how to respond swiftly and correctly. The UAE Advantage: A Workforce Ready to Respond With the UAE government actively advancing national cybersecurity capabilities and frameworks, the country is uniquely positioned to lead by example. Employees are ready and willing: confidence is high, training is widespread, and the instinct to act is evident. To fully unlock this potential, organisations must ensure that every employee, from the frontline to the C-suite, knows their role in safeguarding the business. Mark Molyneux, CTO, EMEA at Cohesity, added: 'These findings confirm what we're seeing across the region: employees are increasingly aware of cyber risks and are willing to step up, which is largely due to the UAE Cyber Security Council's approach to increasing security awareness across the Emirates. But this awareness must be matched with action. The future of cybersecurity will be defined by how quickly organisations can enable secure, informed decisions at every level. That means embedding cyber resilience into daily operations, investing in smart automation, closing the gap between detection and response, and instilling a culture that supports employees in raising concerns early in a safe space. In fast-moving threat environments, AI-powered data security is not a luxury, it's an operational necessity.' Methodology The research was carried out by OnePoll between 28 May – 2 June 2025. The survey captured responses from 500 full-time office workers in the UAE to understand employee beliefs, behaviours, and preparedness about ransomware and other cyber threats. OnePoll is a certified member of the Market Research Society (MRS), adheres to its Code of Conduct, and complies with ESOMAR 37 guidelines for online research. The organisation is also a member of the British Polling Council and Cyber Essentials Plus certified for meeting rigorous cybersecurity standards.
Channel Post MEA
6 days ago
- Channel Post MEA
Fortinet Launches Sovereign SASE At Security Day In Dubai
Fortinet has announced the launch of its Sovereign SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) solution at its annual Security Day in Dubai. Fortinet's Sovereign SASE solution enables businesses to securely connect and protect users, applications, and data, regardless of location. It guarantees that data resides and is processed within specific geographical boundaries, giving organisations complete control over their sensitive data while complying with regional data regulations. Sovereign SASE supports a range of industries and is ideal for organizations operating in highly regulated verticals with sensitive data like government, finance, and healthcare, or any business that handles classified information and critical infrastructure. Shadi Khuffash, Senior Regional Director of South Middle East at Fortinet commented: 'In today's global economy, organisations face a growing array of cybersecurity threats and compliance complexities. At the same time, local data protection regulations create strict requirements around data governance that organisations in the UAE must navigate. Fortinet's launch of Sovereign SASE helps organisations to proactively detect and respond to threats, improve anomaly detection, and enhance user experience. This in turn creates a more agile and transparent industry that can respond to the needs of its citizens in real-time.' Security Day Focuses on AI, Quantum, and Cloud Security As Fortinet's flagship cybersecurity event in the region, the Security Day in Dubai brought together over 400 customers, partners, and industry professionals from across the UAE, including local government. Experts led sessions on topics such as AI, Quantum Computing, and the global threat landscape, giving attendees a first-hand look into the cybersecurity matters that are impacting industries across the Middle East. The Welcome Keynote was delivered by esteemed guest H.E. Dr. Mohammad Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cyber Security Council, followed by an Opening Keynote from Alain Sanchez, Field CISO at Fortinet. A dedicated Tech Expo offered hands-on networking, while a session hosted by Fortinet's Vice President of Global Threat Intelligence, Derek Manky, revealed the latest attack methods in the region as well as the solutions that organizations can leverage to cope with increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals. 'The Security Days are the largest and most comprehensive in-person Fortinet security event in the region. They have proven to be a prime opportunity for all cybersecurity professionals to gain security insights, discover the latest trends and innovations, and connect with like-minded individuals. We will host another Security Day event in Abu Dhabi on June 19th,' concluded Khuffash.
TECHx
6 days ago
- TECHx
Fortinet Unveils Sovereign SASE at Security Day in UAE
Home » Emerging technologies » Cyber Security » Fortinet Unveils Sovereign SASE at Security Day in UAE Fortinet has announced the launch of its Sovereign SASE solution at its annual Security Day in Dubai. Sovereign SASE enables businesses to securely connect and protect users, applications, and data, regardless of their location. It guarantees that data resides and is processed within specific geographical boundaries, allowing organizations to retain complete control over sensitive information while complying with regional data regulations. Sovereign SASE supports a range of industries. It is designed for organizations in highly regulated sectors, including government, finance, and healthcare, or for any business that handles classified information and critical infrastructure. Shadi Khuffash, Senior Regional Director of South Middle East at Fortinet, explained that today's organizations face growing cybersecurity threats alongside compliance complexities stemming from local data protection regulations. According to Khuffash, Sovereign SASE helps organizations proactively detect and respond to attacks, improve anomaly detection, and enhance the user experience, creating a more agile and transparent industry that can respond to the needs of its stakeholders in real time. Security Day in Dubai also focused on Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, and Cloud Security. The event brought together over 400 customers, partners, and industry professionals from across the UAE. Local government representatives were in attendance, reflecting growing policy interest in cybersecurity. Attendees had a chance to connect and discover innovations at a Tech Expo. The Welcome Keynote was delivered by H.E. Dr. Mohammad Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cyber Security Council, followed by an Opening Keynote from Alain Sanchez, Field CISO at Fortinet. Derek Manky, Fortinet's Vice President of Global Threat Intelligence, revealed the latest attack methods in the region and explained how organizations can cope with increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals. 'The Security Days are the largest and most comprehensive in-person cybersecurity event in the region. They have proven to be a prime opportunity for cybersecurity professionals to gain valuable insights, discover the latest trends and innovations, and connect with their peers. We will host another Security Day event in Abu Dhabi on June 19th,' concluded Khuffash.
