79% of Mideast firms turn to digital transformation

Doha: In the era of the coronavirus pandemic, digital transformation, and cloud security (79 percent) are the chart-topping topics enterprises want to know more about. They are followed by threat and vulnerability research (62 percent), and risk and compliance (49 percent), as shown by a pre-event survey of 2,064 business and IT decision-makers across Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA). The survey is a precursor to Trend Micro’s CLOUDSEC 2020 conference, one of the industry’s biggest cybersecurity events, taking place from today to November 26. 

During the event, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy representatives Bashar Al Khatib, Program Director – Cyber Security Unit and Khalid Al Hashemi, Program Officer – Cyber Security Unit, will give presentation on ‘Getting Ready for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022’ today.

“The coronavirus pandemic has put a strain on Middle East organizations – but it’s encouraging that more than three quarters are looking to digital transformation and cybersecurity to enable remote work, and automate security and properly configure the cloud,” said Assad Arabi, Managing Director – Gulf Cluster, Trend Micro. “Attendees to our CLOUDSEC event can learn best practices in cybersecurity from the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, which is organizing one of the world’s largest and most innovative mega-events.”

The survey results are unsurprising to an extent, given how many companies have accelerated their digital transformation projects and migration to the cloud, while the pandemic continues to wield debilitating influence over workplace collaboration, productivity, and the bottom line across many industries. To survive is to innovate and take up new technologies.

The respondents also identify with each other when it comes to the biggest pain points. The survey shows that they most frequently grapple with the inability to detect and respond to advanced threats (32 percent), which have seen a sharp increase since the pandemic started in the first quarter of the year; and the perennial shortage of security skills (32 percent), as cybercrimes become more sophisticated and security operations, more complex.

“2020 is a year of profound challenges for enterprises. But on the bright side, companies are realizing their digital potential,” said Dhanya Thakkar, senior vice president, Trend Micro, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa.

“At this year’s CLOUDSEC, we want to celebrate these companies and their successful effort in digitally transforming themselves. The tech industry is one of the few that have not faltered under the weight of the pandemic. It goes to show the important of technology on business operations.” 

This is the 10th anniversary of the CLOUDSEC conference and it goes completely virtual this year. Across three full days, the event will welcome keynote speakers from industry-defining companies including Amazon Web Services (AWS), DXC Technology, Dyson, IAG, IBM, IDC, Infosys, IKEA, LINE, Lotte, Proficio, Snyk, and a mysterious ethical hacker. 

The three-day cloud security extravaganza will also feature more than 200 breakout tracks; as well as eight hands-on labs, addressing the needs of both the business and technical professionals.