Tech News

Proofpoint’s 2024 Voice of the CISO Report: More Than Two-Thirds of CISOs in the UAE Feel Prepared for Targeted Cyber Attacks

Published

2 years ago

May 22, 2024

89% of UAE CISOs are turning to AI-powered technology to protect against human error and block advanced human-centric cyber threats

Proofpoint, a leading cybersecurity and compliance company today released its annual Voice of the CISO report, which explores key challenges, expectations and priorities of chief information security officers (CISOs) worldwide.

The 2024 report draws attention to a notable trend: while fears of cyber attacks remain high, CISOs in the UAE demonstrate increasing confidence in their ability to defend against these threats, reflecting a significant shift in the cybersecurity landscape. Over two-thirds (70%) of surveyed CISOs in the UAE feel at risk of a material cyber attack over the next 12 months, compared to 75% the year before, and 44% in 2022. CISOs today clearly remain on high alert, but confidence among them is growing: just 34% feel unprepared to cope with a targeted cyber attack, showing a marked decrease over last year’s 57% and 47% in 2022.

Human error continues to be perceived as the Achilles’ heel of cybersecurity, with more than three-quarters (76%) of CISOs in the UAE identifying it as the most significant vulnerability. In a year of growing insider threats and people-driven data loss, more CISOs in the UAE than ever (83%) see human risk, in particular negligent employees as a key cybersecurity concern over the next two years. However, there’s growing optimism in the role of AI-powered solutions to mitigate human-centric risks, reflecting a strategic pivot towards technology-driven defenses.

The 2024 Voice of the CISO report examines global third-party survey responses from 1,600 CISOs from organizations of 1,000 employees or more across different industries. Throughout the course of Q1 2024, 100 CISOs were interviewed in each market across 16 countries: the U.S., Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, UAE, KSA, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Brazil.

The report offers a vital perspective on the state of cybersecurity from those at the forefront of protecting people and defending data. The report also stresses the importance of maintaining robust cybersecurity measures in the face of economic pressures and the critical role of human factors in organizational cyber readiness. The survey also measures the changes in alignment between security leaders and their boards of directors, exploring how their relationship impacts security priorities.

“As we navigate through the complexities of today’s cyber threat environment, it’s encouraging to see CISOs in the UAE gaining confidence in their strategies and tools,” commented Emile Abou Saleh, Senior Regional Director, Middle East, Turkey, and Africa at Proofpoint. “However, the ongoing challenges of employee turnover, pressure on resources, and the need for continuous board engagement remind us that vigilance and adaptation are key to our collective cyber resilience.”

Key global findings from Proofpoint’s 2024 Voice of the CISO report for the UAE include:

Human error still tops cyber vulnerability threats but CISOs in the UAE turn to AI solutions to help. This year, we are seeing an uptick in the number of CISOs in the UAE who view human error as their organization’s biggest cyber vulnerability—76% in this year’s survey vs. 59% in 2023. However, 87% of CISOs believe that employees understand their role in protecting the organization. This confidence is higher than in previous years—56% in 2023 and 51% in 2022. This may be attributed to the 89% of UAE CISOs surveyed looking to deploy AI-powered capabilities to help protect against human error and advanced human-centered cyber threats.

CISOs in the UAE continue to fear cyber-attacks but fewer feel unprepared, showing growing confidence in their security measures. In 2024, 70% of CISOs surveyed in the UAE feel at risk of experiencing a material cyber-attack in the next 12 months, compared to 75% in 2023 and 44% in 2022. However, just 34% feel their organization is unprepared to cope with a targeted cyber-attack, compared to 57% in 2023 and 47% in 2022.

Generative AI tops CISOs security concerns in the UAE. In 2024, 49% of CISOs surveyed in the UAE believe that generative AI poses a security risk to their organization. The top three systems CISOs view as introducing risk to their organizations are: Microsoft 365 (50%), Perimeter network device (45%), Slack/Teams/Zoom/other collaboration tools (43%) and ChatGPT/other genAI (40%).

Employee turnover is still a concern, yet CISOs in the UAE trust their defenses. In 2024, 45% of security leaders reported having to deal with a material loss of sensitive data in the past 12 months, and of those, 64% agreed that employees leaving the organization contributed to the loss. Despite those losses, 83% of CISOs believe they have adequate controls to protect their data.

The majority of CISOs in the UAE have adopted DLP technology and invested more in security education. 51% of CISOs surveyed in the UAE, in 2024 have data loss prevention technology (DLP) in place compared to just 45% in 2023. More than half (55%) of CISOs surveyed invested in educating employees on data security best practices which is higher in 2024 compared to 2023 (41%).

Cloud account compromise and ransomware top CISO concerns in the UAE. The biggest cybersecurity threats perceived by CISOs in 2024 are cloud account compromise (Microsoft 365 or G Suite or other) (44%), ransomware attacks (42%) and malware (42%). These top threats are different from last year in which CISOs perceived distributed email fraud, cloud account compromise (Microsoft 365, G Suite or other), malware and smishing/vishing as the biggest threats.

Steady stance on ransom payments with increased reliance on cyber insurance in the UAE. In 2024, 64% (59% in 2023) of CISOs in the UAE believe their organization would pay to restore systems and prevent data release if attacked by ransomware in the next 12 months. 76% of CISOs said they would rely on cyber insurance claims to recover potential losses incurred, compared to 56% in 2023.

The Board-CISO relationship has improved significantly in the UAE. In 2024, 80% of CISOs agree their board members see eye-to-eye with them on cybersecurity issues. This is a significant jump from 63% in 2023, and 47% in 2022.

Pressures on CISOs in the UAE are unrelenting. In 2024, 69% of CISOs in the UAE admitted to burnout compared to 59% last year, while 87% feel they face excessive expectations, a steady increase from 59% last year and 38% in 2022. The sustainability of the ongoing expectations on CISOs continues to be tested—69% are concerned about personal liability (60% in 2023) and 74% (56% in 2023) would not join an organization that does not offer Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance coverage. In addition, 63% of CISOs agreed that the current economic downturn has hampered their ability to make business-critical investments, with 49% of them being asked to cut staff or delay backfills as well as reduce security budgets.

“While the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve with increasing human-centric threats, the 2024 Voice of the CISO report highlights what appears to be a pivotal shift towards greater resilience, preparedness and confidence among global CISOs,” said Patrick Joyce, global resident CISO at Proofpoint. “This year’s findings underscore a collective move towards strategic defenses, including enhanced education, technological adoption, and an adaptive approach to emerging threats like generative AI.”

Tech News

CHARLI XCX JOINS NOTHING AS FIRST GLOBAL BRAND AMBASSADOR AND SHAREHOLDER

Published

13 hours ago

May 15, 2026

Integrator Web-Admin

Nothing and Charli xcx are announcing a partnership that pairs one of the most distinct artists of her generation with a tech brand built on the same principle. As Nothing’s latest Shareholder and first Global Brand Ambassador, Charli xcx marks a new creative chapter for the brand.

As a Shareholder, Charli joins a global roster of cultural leaders, including The Weeknd, Casey Neistat, and Swedish House Mafia, who back Nothing not just as a maker of award-winning technology, but as a platform for creative expression.

Charli xcx said: “When I’m creating, I’m always thinking about how my work will be experienced out in the world and I love how Nothing headphones sound and are designed. Its ethos of prioritising creatives is really something I look for when working with a partner.”

Carl Pei, Co-Founder and CEO of Nothing, said: “I’ve been a fan of Charli’s work for years, and what struck me when we started talking was how much we agreed on. The tech industry has spent a decade making everything quieter, more minimal, more monotonous. Charli has spent her career going the other way in pop. We want Nothing to feel more like that. She’s joining as a shareholder and partner, and the campaign launching today is just the start of what we’re working on together.”

A global campaign with Charli xcx – shot by Aidan Zamiri, her long-time collaborator, in London – launches today under the name ‘NOTHING (CHARLI XCX)’. In the campaign Charli wears Nothing headphone (a) for five days straight, highlighting its industry-leading 135 hours of playtime.

Nothing recently raised US$200M in a Series C round at a USD $1.3B valuation. The partnership with Charli xcx signals what that scale is now being directed toward: a new kind of company at the intersection of technology and culture, built in partnership with the creative community.

Tech News

HONOR AND OWN ESIM PARTNER TO DELIVER SEAMLESS GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY ACROSS THE GCC

Published

17 hours ago

May 15, 2026

Integrator Web-Admin

HONOR, a global AI device ecosystem company, has announced a strategic collaboration with OWN eSIM to bring seamless digital connectivity solutions to smartphone users across the GCC. Through this partnership, the OWN eSIM application will be preinstalled on selected HONOR smartphone models using Google PAI, enabling customers to access and activate global connectivity services directly from their devices with greater ease and flexibility.

By integrating OWN eSIM’s digital connectivity platform within HONOR devices, users will be able to activate international data services instantly, eliminating the need for physical SIM cards and enabling a smoother travel and connectivity experience.

Enabling a Smarter and More Connected Mobile Experience

With digital lifestyles evolving, consumers increasingly expect their devices to offer seamless access to services that enhance everyday convenience. The partnership between HONOR and OWN eSIM responds to this demand by embedding advanced connectivity capabilities directly into the smartphone ecosystem. This integration allows HONOR users across the GCC to manage connectivity more easily, particularly when travelling or using multiple networks.

The initiative strengthens HONOR’s commitment to delivering innovation beyond hardware, positioning its devices as intelligent platforms for modern digital lifestyles. Through the integration of ready-to-use connectivity solutions. The preinstallation of the OWN eSIM application on HONOR devices will significantly enhance accessibility, adoption and visibility for the platform, allowing OWN eSIM to reach a wider audience of smartphone users across the GCC.

Debo Zhang, General Manager – HONOR GCC said, “Connectivity today must be as dynamic as the lives we lead. Our collaboration with OWN eSIM reflects HONOR’s commitment to delivering smarter, more integrated digital experiences for our users. Smartphones today are central to how people work, create, and stay entertained. By bringing eSIM functionality directly into our devices, we are enabling customers to stay connected more easily and confidently wherever their journeys take them.”

Expanding the Future of Digital Connectivity in the GCC

For OWN eSIM, this collaboration marks a significant milestone in expanding its presence across the GCC and strengthening its position within the rapidly growing eSIM ecosystem. With its application integrated directly into HONOR devices, OWN eSIM will be able to reach a broader base of consumers.

Martijn Van Der Ven, Founder and CEO of OWN eSIM, said, “We are pleased to partner with HONOR to bring our connectivity platform closer to users across the GCC. This collaboration represents a shared ambition to remove friction from the way people connect when they travel or move across borders. By embedding OWN eSIM directly into HONOR smartphones, we are delivering a seamless, future-ready connectivity experience designed for today’s digital-first consumers.”

Beyond the technical integration, the partnership will be supported by coordinated marketing and communication initiatives aimed at raising awareness and encouraging adoption across the region. Both companies will work together on campaigns that highlight the benefits of integrated eSIM technology.

Driving the Next Generation of Digital Connectivity

As mobile connectivity shifts toward more flexible, digital-first solutions, the collaboration between HONOR and OWN eSIM reflects a broader industry move toward embedded connectivity services that simplify the user experience. Combining HONOR’s device innovation with OWN eSIM’s connectivity expertise, the partnership aims to give users greater freedom and convenience to stay connected wherever they are.

Through this collaboration, HONOR and OWN eSIM are enhancing the smartphone experience while contributing to smarter connectivity across the GCC.

Tech News

ASUS SHOWCASES AI-ENABLED COMMERCIAL DEVICES AT FIRST-EVER GITEX KENYA 2026

Published

2 days ago

May 14, 2026

Integrator Web-Admin

ASUS today announced its participation at the first edition of GITEX Kenya, taking place in Nairobi from May 19-21, 2026. With its theme ‘In Search of Incredible,” ASUS will showcase its critically acclaimed portfolio of AI PCs designed to support the country’s national digital economy agenda.

“We’re excited to be a part of the inaugural edition of GITEX Kenya. The country plays an important role in ASUS’s commercial long-term vision for the African market,” said Tolga Özdil, Regional Commercial Director, Middle East, Turkey & Africa (META) at ASUS. “As the region undergoes a significant shift with industry trends like AI, cloud and sustainability, GITEX Kenya gives us the platform to show our latest innovations to customers in the enterprise, SMB and government sectors.”

“ASUS’s line of PCs integrates AI support at the hardware level, allowing professionals to take advantage of AI tools without the need to connect online. In addition to that, our devices demonstrate the highest level of security fit for organizations where data protection is a must.”

ASUS will showcase its strong lineup of commercial devices that includes the ExpertBook series and workstation PCs at the exhibition. Visitors will get a chance to try out the recently released ExpertBook Ultra (B9406), the company’s flagship device that weighs less than a kilogram and measures 10.9 mm thin. Designed for next-generation professionals, the B9406 features up to 50 TOPS NPU, which enables it to perform AI tasks on-device without affecting the performance or battery life. All of this is packed in a lightweight device that also features robust durability and enterprise-grade security. Other devices in the ExpertBook series, the B5405, P5405, as well as the P440 All-in-One and the P500 Expert Centre Mini Tower, will be on the stand.

ASUS will also highlight its AI-driven solutions that enhance productivity, such as AI ExpertMeet, a powerful AI-powered collaboration tool that helps simplify meetings with real-time transcriptions and summaries.

Building on national initiatives such as the Kenya AI Strategy 2025-2030, which positions the region as a hub for AI research, ASUS will support its ambitions with innovative AI-ready solutions. The company has designed its entire commercial portfolio focusing on key factors that help drive digital transformation priorities, such as AI-first design, cloud-ready devices and sustainability. Attendees can visit ASUS’s booth at Hall 2, Stand B45, to experience their latest products.