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.