Tech News
Securing the Digital Frontier: Rubrik’s Vision for Middle East Cybersecurity
Exclusive Interview with Robert Standing, Regional Vice President, Middle East, Africa & Eastern Europe at Rubrik
Q. With AI being a central theme at GITEX 2024, how does Rubrik integrate AI capabilities into its Security Cloud to enhance data protection and threat detection?
At Rubrik, we’ve recognized that AI is not just a buzzword but a powerful tool for enhancing data protection and cyber resilience. Our Rubrik Security Cloud leverages AI to provide advanced threat detection and data recovery solutions. Specifically, our machine learning algorithms analyze backup snapshots for abnormalities, which helps us detect unusual activity and potential threats before they become serious incidents. We recently introduced Ruby, our generative AI companion for Rubrik Security Cloud, which is designed to accelerate cyber detection, recovery, and resilience.
Traditionally, IT or security operations professionals spend countless hours and much back-and-forth with internal teams to complete these investigations. Ruby aims to streamline this process with a guided and conversational workflow, significantly reducing the time needed to resolve issues. Leveraging Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI and our machine learning-based Data Threat Engine, Ruby assists users in detecting, investigating, and remediating cyber incidents more quickly and effectively. This capability is crucial in today’s environment, where AI-powered attack tools such as FraudGPT and WormGPT are emerging within the cybercrime underground, potentially resulting in more advanced ransomware attacks.
By providing comprehensive AI-driven cybersecurity solutions, we enhance organizational resilience while simultaneously contributing to the broader AI economy.

Q. With the rapid adoption of cloud solutions in the Middle East, how does Rubrik ensure seamless data protection across hybrid and multi-cloud environments?
The adoption of cloud solutions in the Middle East is on the rise, and it’s important for organizations to have strong protection across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Rubrik has been leading the way in providing seamless data protection, no matter the infrastructure. Our platform is designed with flexibility in mind, supporting SaaS, cloud-native, and on-premise deployments, making cloud a top priority.
At Rubrik, we’re committed to enhancing the protection and recovery of sensitive information through our cloud architecture and AI-powered solutions, especially as cyber threats continue to evolve. Our machine learning algorithms constantly analyze backup snapshots for any unusual activity, helping us spot potential threats before they grow into serious issues. We also utilize AI to enable quick recovery from attacks, so organizations can easily search for specific data points and restore them efficiently.
This integrated approach empowers businesses to safeguard their data across different environments without sacrificing control or security. By ensuring comprehensive data protection, we assist enterprises in staying resilient while they embrace their cloud transformation journeys. This is especially vital in the Middle East, where countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are showing a strong commitment to cloud, AI technology, and digital transformation.
Q. What are Rubrik’s strategic priorities for the MENA region, and how do you see the cybersecurity landscape evolving in the coming years?
In the MENA region, our strategic priority is to enhance data security while empowering enterprises to build resilience against evolving cyber threats. As countries in the region are rapidly embracing digital transformation, we recognize that this growth also brings increased cyber risks. Our focus is on delivering AI-powered cybersecurity tools that effectively combat threats such as ransomware and data breaches. We anticipate that as more organizations in the region adopt cloud technologies, the demand for robust, AI-driven solutions will surge. Our commitment to the region includes investing in local talent and partnerships to tailor our offerings to the unique challenges faced by businesses in this market. We aim to be a long-term partner in their journey toward enhanced security and operational resilience.
Q. What insights can you share about the current cybersecurity landscape based on your observations at GITEX, particularly regarding emerging threats and trends?
GITEX 2024 has highlighted a significant shift in the cybersecurity landscape, particularly with AI’s dual role in facilitating attacks and enhancing defenses. The increase of AI-driven cybercrime tools enables cybercriminals to execute increasingly sophisticated attacks, which presents a major challenge for security teams. At the same time, we’ve observed that organizations are prioritizing resilience alongside traditional security measures. This means not only focusing on preventing attacks but also ensuring they can recover quickly when incidents occur. At Rubrik, our solutions are designed to support this shift by emphasizing rapid detection and recovery capabilities, allowing businesses to minimize downtime and maintain continuity even amid cyber threats.
Q. GITEX emphasizes smart cities and digital infrastructure. How is Rubrik aligning its solutions to meet the secure and scalable data demands of these initiatives?
As smart cities continue to grow, especially in the Middle East, they’re generating a massive amount of data that needs to be both secure and easily accessible. There is great opportunity in how our solutions can support these initiatives.
We focus on zero trust principles to secure all types of data—whether it’s from enterprise systems, cloud applications, or SaaS platforms. This means we can help government agencies and smart city developers ensure that their data remains protected from cyber threats.
One of the key benefits we offer is our ability to safeguard sensitive government data. We provide air-gapped, immutable backups which helps ensure recovery from ransomware and other malicious attacks. This way, cities can maintain their operations even in the face of cyber challenges. We also understand that speed is critical when it comes to recovery. Our platform continuously monitors for emerging threats, allowing us to quickly identify and address potential issues before they escalate. If something does happen, our solutions enable rapid restoration of affected applications or files, helping cities get back on track without missing a beat.
For example, the City of Las Vegas uses our technology to protect their smart city data while automating their IT operations. This not only enhances their efficiency but also improves the services they provide to citizens.
Overall, we’re committed to supporting the growth of smart cities by providing secure, scalable solutions that meet the highest standards of data protection. It’s all about ensuring these initiatives can thrive while keeping their data safe and accessible.
Tech News
ATERMES and IEC secure Landmark Contract to Deploy AI-Powered Bird Repelling System at Lahore Airport
ATERMES, a French leader in advanced surveillance and security solutions, announces in partnership with The Imperial Electric Company (IEC), the award of a major contract by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) for the deployment of a state-of-the-art Bird Repelling System (BRS) at Lahore International Airport.
This milestone project represents a first-of-its-kind integrated solution combining SURICATE, ATERMES’ advanced AI-enabled multi-sensor surveillance system, with acoustic and laser deterrence technologies. The system delivers a fully automated, intelligent, and environmentally friendly approach to mitigating bird-strike risks; one of aviation’s most persistent safety challenges.
The SURICATE system, developed by ATERMES in France, brings together cutting-edge optronics, embedded AI, and edge computing to continuously monitor airfields, identify potential avian threats in real time, and automatically activate deterrence mechanisms.
Once a bird threat is detected by the system’s deep-learning algorithms, SURICATE autonomously triggers the surrounding acoustic and laser repellers, driving the birds away from critical flight zones such as runways and taxiways.
This unique synergy between AI-based detection and automated multi-modal deterrence marks a turning point in airport security and environmental protection. Unlike traditional manual or time-based repelling systems, the BRS for Lahore Airport operates only when necessary, optimizing energy use and minimizing disturbance to the surrounding ecosystem.
Lionel Thomas, Chairman of ATERMES, stated: “This project is not just about technology; it’s about redefining how airports ensure safety through intelligence. By merging AI, optics, and deterrence, we’re transforming bird control into a predictive, autonomous, and eco-responsible process.”
Sajid Jamal, Executive Director of The Imperial Electric Company, added: “Our partnership with ATERMES reflects Pakistan’s growing commitment to embracing advanced, AI-driven safety systems. Lahore will become the first airport in the region equipped with such an integrated and intelligent Bird Repelling System.”
The project underscores a strong collaboration between France and Pakistan in technological innovation. ATERMES will provide the detection and control systems, while IEC, a key player in Pakistan’s engineering and infrastructure sectors, will oversee integration, installation, and local support. Together, they will ensure the delivery of a robust, scalable, and sustainable system that sets a benchmark for other international airports in the region.
Tech News
Ramco Systems Celebrates 20 Years in the Middle East, Unveils Vision for the Future at Milestone Event
Doubles down on AI-native applications and localized innovation to shape enterprise technology in the region
Ramco Systems, aglobal enterprise software company offering next-generation SaaS-enabled platforms and products, celebrated two decades of powering enterprise transformation in the Middle East. To mark this milestone, Ramco hosted Ramco@20 – Experience That Matters, a full-day event in Dubai designed to showcase its regional journey, highlight cutting-edge innovations, and bring customers and industry leaders together for forward-looking discussions.
The first half of Ramco@20 convened senior HR and payroll leaders from across the region for a thought leadership forum on the future of employee experience. Industry leaders discussed how enterprises in the Middle East are moving beyond traditional HR process optimization toward more intelligent, intuitive, and employee-centric models of workforce management. Conversations explored balancing automation with empathy, using AI thoughtfully, and elevating payroll as a trust-building touchpoint.
The second half welcomed a large gathering of customers across business units – Global Payroll, Aviation MRO, ERP, Services Resource Planning and Logistics – along with partners, and industry influencers, for a celebration honouring the relationships that have defined Ramco’s two-decade journey. Ramco’s leadership unveiled its technology vision: shifting from Systems of Record to Systems of Intelligence through AI-native applications, agentic workflows, and conversational UX. The leadership’s address also emphasized its investments in platform modernization and localized initiatives, while outlining a roadmap to further strengthen Ramco’s focus for the next 20 years.
Abinav Raja, Managing Director, Ramco Systems, said, “The Middle East has been a cornerstone of Ramco’s growth story for two decades and has shaped our thinking in profound ways. The region’s appetite for transformation has inspired us to design solutions that combine global best practices with local relevance. This milestone is built on the trust and partnership of our customers, and our commitment is clear: double down on AI-native, API-first applications that incorporate special features aligned with the region, platform modernization, and customer-centricity. We are shaping the future of enterprise technology with solutions enabling businesses to focus on what truly matters: growth and people.”
Sandesh Bilagi, Chief Operating Officer, Ramco Systems, said, “Our presence in the Middle East has been built on strong partnerships and a commitment to delivering outcomes. This region is not merely a market for us, but also a proving ground for ideas that redefine global enterprise technology. The presence of all our business units in this region makes the Middle East a key pillar and reflects the confidence our customers have placed in us for twenty years.“
“Our investments in agentic AI, conversational UX, and platform innovation are designed to deliver enterprise applications that are intuitive, secure, scalable and integrate regional nuances,” Bilagi added. “We also focus on customer-focused initiatives like local deployment and training because every digital journey is, at its core, a human journey. The region is setting global benchmarks, and we are proud partners of the next era of enterprise innovation.”
Over the past two decades, Ramco has partnered with leading enterprises across the region, enabling digital transformation through innovative solutions. Its work in the Middle East has been shaped by sectors and functions that demand precision at scale – payroll, aviation, manufacturing, conglomerates, trading, infrastructure, professional services and logistics – giving Ramco an execution depth that continues to define its competitiveness in the region.
Tech News
Vertiv and Caterpillar announce Energy Optimization Collaboration to Expand End-to-End Power and Cooling Offerings for AI Data Centers
Vertiv, a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, and Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT), a global leader in power systems, today announced the signing of a strategic undertaking to collaborate on advanced energy optimization solutions for data centers. This initiative will integrate Vertiv’s power distribution and cooling portfolio with Caterpillar’s, and its subsidiary Solar Turbines’, product and expertise in power generation and CCHP (Combined Cooling, Heat and Power) to deliver pre-designed architectures that simplify deployment, accelerate time-to-power and optimize performance for data center operations.
A Powerful Collaboration:
This collaboration directly addresses the growing demand for on-site energy solutions that deliver reliable power and cooling. Together, the companies are able to offer a fully integrated solution with validated interfaces and performance, enabling customers to accelerate design, installation and deployment.
- Caterpillar and Solar Turbines will supply power generation solutions, such as natural gas turbines and reciprocating engines, to deliver dependable, scalable electric power and thermal energy for CCHP.
- Vertiv will provide a complete portfolio of power and cooling solutions and services, packaged as modular, pre-designed blocks, to shorten design cycles and standardize deployment.
The Customer Advantages:
- Accelerates Time-to-Power – by utilizing predesigned, modular reference architectures to speed up deployment time.
- Lowers PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) – enables improved energy efficiency and carbon footprint because the system is optimized end-to-end: power, cooling, distribution and dynamic load management, compared to traditional design.
- Global lifecycle support – the offering is backed by the trusted, global service and support networks of both Vertiv and Caterpillar.
“This collaboration with Caterpillar and Solar Turbines is a cornerstone of our Bring Your Own Power & Cooling (BYOP&C) strategy and aligns seamlessly with our grid-to-chip framework by offering resilient, on-site power generation solutions. This is optimal for customers looking to reduce or eliminate grid dependence,” said Gio Albertazzi, CEO, at Vertiv. “By combining our complementary technologies, portfolios and expertise, we are enabling coordinated integration. Our pre-engineered, interoperability-tested building blocks let customers execute design, build and deploy concurrently, with predictable system performance.”
“As AI-driven workloads continue to accelerate, the demand for robust and scalable power infrastructure and cooling is becoming increasingly critical,” said Jason Kaiser, group president of Caterpillar Power & Energy. “Our collaboration with Vertiv will enable us to deliver integrated, on-site energy solutions that lower PUE and meet customers’ evolving needs.”
This initiative directly addresses the growing demand for on-site energy solutions and offers a coordinated, customer-first approach to solution design and implementation. The Vertiv and Caterpillar Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) represents a pivotal step in further refining this ecosystem, enabling customers to overcome energy constraints and deploy optimized AI centers.
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