The gap in cyber defenses

As Dubai is moving towards becoming one of the smartest cities in the world based on IoT and creating a ministerial post for AI, the need for cybersecurity is more pressing than ever. Yet, a newly released study finds that more than 60 percent of  information security professionals in the Middle East are not confident in their company’s preparedness to cope with cybersecurity incidents.

Lack of qualified professionals, low security awareness and inadequate funding for security initiatives were among the main factors cited by Middle East-based respondents to explain why they feel ill-equipped to manage cyber threats. Forty-three percent of the respondents surveyed said their organizations do not provide enough professional training for their information security workforce. The study also identified data exposure, hacking, cyber terrorism and ransomware as top frontline concerns.

This infographic identifies the gap that exists in cyber defenses in the region and the top cybersecurity concerns that exist.