PHOTO
- 72 percent of companies accelerated their digital transformation plans by at least a year
- Ransomware and malware tops the list of security challenges for CIOs and CISOs
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Nine out of 10 organisations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have said data protection is the most important priority in their security strategy as they look to navigate an increasingly complex threat and regulatory landscape. This is according to the Enterprise Security Trends in the UAE survey, conducted by the IDC and commissioned by Microsoft, which highlights the latest cloud security developments across all industries in the UAE.
The research reveals that enterprise-wide cloud adoption is increasing as business leaders look to ensure flexibility, agility and business continuity throughout their daily operations. The IDC found that over 70 percent of companies had accelerated their digital transformation plans by at least a year, and cloud is a major driver of this. Confidence in cloud solutions continues to grow as organizations prepare to navigate a post COVID-19 world.
An ever-changing threat landscape
The increased processing of data in the cloud has caught the attention of bad actors and there’s been a noticeable increase in cyberattacks. In fact, the UAE saw a 250 percent jump in cyberattacks during the course of 2020. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic forced more people to learn, work, shop, bank and connect online than ever before. More devices, networks and connection points have resulted in the expansion of the threat surface, bringing the need for a robust security strategy to the fore.
The top security challenge for UAE businesses in the last year has been ransomware and malware attacks, and as a result, endpoint protection, which included anti-malware and anti-ransomware, came out as the primary security solution being used by IT departments.
At the same time, organizations are feeling the pressure from government regulators to ensure company, employee and customer data remains protected. The adoption of security governance, risk and compliance (GRC) services has helped to drive compliance in today’s digital economy, and as a result, 95 percent of organizations have put customer data protection at the top of their security strategy agenda.
“There’s no doubt the risk landscape has become more complex, and while cybersecurity solutions have matured a great deal, threat actors are not idling. As organizations continue to pursue their digital transformation journey, security has to be considered every step of the way to ensure a safer digital environment for all,” says Mohammed Arif, Business Group Director, Modern Work and Security, Microsoft UAE.
-Ends-
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Microsoft opened its Dubai-based headquarters in 1991, which, today, oversees operations across the region.
For more information (Press only):
Magdalena Stepien, Microsoft UAE
E : mastepie@microsoft.com
M: +971 56 114 2948
Husain Gandhi, ProGlobal Media
E: h.gandhi@proglobal.ae
T: +971 56 534 8764
© Press Release 2021
Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.
The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.
