Security MEA in conversation with Haider Pasha, Chief Security Officer at Palo Alto Networks, Middle East and Africa highlights that the company will offer live demos of their best-in-class cybersecurity platforms – Strata, Cortex, Prisma Cloud, and their professional services.
What are the plans for you to be part of GITEX GLOBAL this year and why is it important for you to be part of the week-long show?
GITEX is the Middle East’s leading technology event, and we will be showcasing innovations which help organisations understand the importance of cybersecurity and learn about the new solutions. We look forward to exchanging best practices with industry thought leaders and creating solutions for the future.
Please highlight the products and solutions that you will be showcasing at the GITEX?
Customers visiting GITEX will be able to see live demos of our best-in-class cybersecurity platforms representing our 3 main security pillars plus our services: Strata (The Networks Security with NGFW and SASE), Cortex (Endpoint security and SoC Automation, Unit42 Incident Response), Prisma Cloud (Cloud Security) and Professional Services.
Which are the major cybersecurity trends influencing the Middle East?
With the hybrid way of working, CIOs will need to focus on increasing productivity for employees while CISOs will need to focus on securing new and integrated security service edge solutions, also known as Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). Companies will need to invest in solutions that offer connectivity for anything to everywhere and do this securely in a Zero Trust Network Architecture.
Cloud usage has increased and as such, cybersecurity is a top-of-mind challenge for businesses. As regulations for data privacy continue to take center-stage, companies will require advanced cloud security tools that enable them to increase visibility, control and compliance within a single pane of management. Investment for solutions within the cloud will differ based on local regulations, but even those that are cloud averse will require cyber security focus for DevOps and Container solutions.
With new attack vectors increasing in a more digital organization, zero trust will be top-of-mind but hard to implement for companies so they will seek trusted cybersecurity partners who have experience and exposure to deploying this strategy for them. The investments for Zero trust will be made not only around tools and processes, but in changing mindsets and cultural thinking within the organization’s people.
As OT digitizes and requires further connection to the network, the primary challenge for Utilities and energy companies will be cybersecurity. Coupled with the threat of Nation State activity, both public and private organizations will be focused on securing OT environments using tools and new procedures, some using supply chain risk management best practices from NIST and other standard bodies to support them.
How do your offerings enable organisations to enhance their cybersecurity preparedness in the new normal?
In a time where businesses have changed the ways they operate from continued hybrid work and the accelerating shift to the cloud, Palo Alto Networks aims to create solutions to support and deliver a seamless experience for its customers.
Signature-based cybersecurity tools have become ineffective to guarantee security. In the future, Palo Alto Networks foresees both AI and ML technologies to be a must for enterprises. As many organisations face a sheer volume of attacks, this will help with faster detection and response, helping security teams focus on other pressing tasks.
What message would you like to give to the customers visiting the show and why should they meet you?
Amid a time of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, the pandemic, continued hybrid work and the accelerating shift to the cloud, attackers have not stood still. Customers have never needed a strong cybersecurity partner more. Palo Alto Networks delivers what’s next in security to help organizations get ahead of the threat landscape, with broad industry recognition of our best-of-breed platforms: network security, cloud security, and security operations. We are committed to our customers in the region to deliver a seamless experience that puts them on a fast path to value.
What are your expectations from this year’s GITEX?
GITEX has always been a great platform to showcase our new and innovative cybersecurity products and services. It’s a great opportunity to meet new and existing customers, partners and other leading technology experts to discuss recent updates and trends in cyber security and get their feedback so we can continue our conversation developing our relationship as their security partner of choice.
Where can we find you at GITEX? (booth no and hall no)
You can find Palo Alto Networks in Hall 7 at Booth H7-E40.