Nicolai Solling, CTO of Help AG, highlights the company’s deep cybersecurity specialization, driven by innovation and a customer-centric approach. Help AG excels through risk-based solutions, industry partnerships, and services like CTEM, addressing future challenges including AI security, quantum threats, and ransomware defense.
How does Help AG differentiate itself from other cybersecurity firms in the region?
Help AG differentiates itself as a specialist in the cybersecurity domain, both regionally and globally, by embodying a deep, unwavering commitment to cybersecurity. Unlike many firms where cybersecurity is just one of many services, it is the core of Help AG’s operations—it is what we have done exclusively for over 25 years, and this singular focus gives us unparalleled expertise and experience.
Our innovation-first approach is central to our identity. We continuously push the boundaries of what cybersecurity can achieve, ensuring that we stay ahead of emerging threats and industry trends. This commitment to innovation is reflected in our recent establishment of a dedicated innovation business function, underscoring our dedication to pioneering advanced solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients.
Customer-centricity drives everything we do. We partner closely with our clients, offering a holistic, risk-focused approach that aligns cybersecurity initiatives with their business transformation goals. Our services are outcome-based, meaning we don’t just address specific issues but provide comprehensive, end-to-end solutions tailored to the unique security posture and strategic objectives of each organization. Whether it’s consulting to assess and enhance security maturity, implementing cutting-edge solutions, or delivering ongoing managed security services, Help AG provides a seamless, integrated experience.
Our portfolio is among the most comprehensive in the industry, covering all aspects of cybersecurity—from detection and defense to response and recovery. We are a multi-managed service provider, supported by strong partnerships with leading global cybersecurity technology firms. This enables us to offer a service-agnostic approach, where the focus is not on pushing specific technologies but on delivering the best overall solutions and outcomes for our customers.
Help AG’s service-centric evolution is driven by our commitment to customer excellence. We prioritize value creation, ensuring that our clients receive not just services, but solutions that truly enhance their security posture.
Being part of the e& Group, one of the largest technology and investment groups, provides us with an economy of scale that is unmatched by most competitors in the region. This affiliation enhances our ability to deliver 360-degree cybersecurity offerings that combine organizational and technical expertise, fully compliant with both local and international regulations.
What are the key cybersecurity trends and threats you foresee in the next five years?
Securing artificial intelligence (AI) will become increasingly critical, as more organizations continue to integrate AI models into decision-making processes, management of sensitive data, and automation. As AI systems handle more sensitive data, the potential for exploitation and attacks on these systems will rise, necessitating robust security measures specifically tailored to AI technologies.
Advancements in Quantum computing will also present a significant technical challenge, as it has the potential to break many of the cryptographic capabilities currently used to secure data. In the near future, organizations will need to update their systems to incorporate quantum-safe encryption methods to protect against the threats posed by the mathematical capabilities introduced by quantum computers.
The third future trend is the growing importance of sustainability in security. This will involve developing and implementing security measures that are not only effective but also environmentally responsible and economically viable. As organizations strive to reduce their carbon footprint, the integration of sustainable practices in cybersecurity will be vital for building long-term resilience. This means creating efficient security protocols that minimize environmental impact while still protecting critical data and systems.
These trends underscore the necessity for continuous innovation and the adoption of forward-thinking strategies to address the rapidly evolving landscape of cybersecurity. Organizations must be proactive in adapting to these changes, ensuring they remain secure and resilient in the face of emerging threats.
How is Help AG addressing the growing challenge of ransomware attacks?
In 2023, ransomware payouts exceeded 1.1 billion USD, according to one report, underscoring the urgent need to address this escalating threat. At Help AG, we recognize that while ransomware is fundamentally a technological problem, it is significantly exacerbated by human behavior and social engineering tactics. To combat this, we employ a multi-layered strategy designed to mitigate and neutralize the threat effectively.
Our approach includes deploying managed security services for continuous monitoring and detection, identifying emerging attack patterns, and rapidly developing and distributing detection content to our customers. We operate under the assumption that ransomware attacks are inevitable, which drives us to proactively implement robust safeguards aimed at minimizing the impact on our clients and ensuring quick response and recovery in the event of a successful attack.
This focus on ransomware is also reflected in our solution portfolio, where we have introduced a range of innovative technologies designed to both prevent attacks and minimize their impact, drastically reducing recovery efforts and ensuring our clients can quickly resume normal operations.
What strategies does Help AG use to attract and retain top talent in the cybersecurity field?
Help AG places a strong emphasis on recruiting and developing talent, recognizing that the right attitude and potential for growth are often more valuable than existing technical knowledge. We believe that the successful retention of experienced professionals should be complemented by the efficient identification of individuals who have the aptitude and capability to grow into the cybersecurity experts of the future.
In a strategic move to bridge the global and regional cybersecurity skills gap, Help AG launched its Managed Security Services Graduate Program, designed to provide intensive, hands-on training to fresh graduates. This equips participants with the practical skills and knowledge required to excel in cybersecurity. The first edition of this program resulted in the training of six students, all of whom were offered full-time positions at Help AG upon completing the program. Through this program, young talents from top universities are transformed into the cybersecurity experts of tomorrow.
Additionally, Help AG consistently engages in strategic collaborations with leading universities to enhance curricula and provide practical exposure to students. We focus on developing future-ready cybersecurity professionals through internships and research projects, ensuring that our talent pipeline is always aligned with industry needs.
We also prioritize regular skills development for our employees through various tools and training programs, including self-paced training funded by the company. Our career-specific training is tailored to individual career paths and roles, enabling our employees to continuously advance in their careers.
Moreover, Help AG emphasizes internal promotions, encouraging both upward and lateral movement within the company. This approach not only fosters career progression but also allows for role diversification, ensuring that our team remains dynamic and adaptable.
Access to cutting-edge tools and technologies is another cornerstone of our talent strategy. Leveraging our economy of scale, we provide exposure to the latest innovations, enabling our team to work with varied and advanced content. By integrating AI and intelligent automation, we free up time for our employees to focus on more creative and strategic tasks, enhancing job satisfaction and retention.
What new things has the company added to its portfolio, and how will that address the challenges a CIO faces?
Thanks to our scale and strength, with a team of over 500 experts, Help AG is constantly introducing a wide range of new solutions and services. We have the capacity to deliver large-scale projects, onboard new vendors quickly, upscale our teams to meet specific customer requirements, and search for innovations globally, bringing them to the Middle East.
Recently, we’ve added several significant offerings and partnerships to our portfolio. To highlight a few key examples:
One of our major initiatives is the launch of our Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) service. CTEM provides organizations with an ongoing, holistic view of their cybersecurity posture by continuously identifying, assessing, and mitigating threats. A key component of CTEM is our new digital risk rating service, which focuses particularly on third-party suppliers. Given the critical role suppliers play within the broader ecosystem and their potential vulnerabilities, this service allows organizations to continuously monitor and manage security risks associated with each supplier, helping to prevent supply chain attacks before they occur. Another critical addition to CTEM is our security control validation service, which ensures that existing security measures are functioning as intended and effectively protecting against evolving threats. CTEM is offered in a modular format, allowing customers to tailor the solution to meet their specific needs, whether they require digital risk rating, security control validation, or other components like vulnerability management, digital risk protection, and workforce readiness.
We have also introduced Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) assessment services which proactively test customers’ environments for vulnerabilities that could be exploited in DDoS attacks. This service is crucial for helping organizations identify and address potential weaknesses before they can be leveraged by attackers.
In recognition of the emerging challenges posed by quantum computing, Help AG has forged strategic partnerships in the area of quantum security. These partnerships are focused on providing comprehensive solutions, including encryption inventory services, which give CIOs critical visibility into their preparedness for a quantum-enabled world.
How is Help AG leveraging emerging technologies like AI and machine learning in its cybersecurity solutions?
Help AG leverages AI and machine learning across our cybersecurity services to enhance threat detection and analysis, automate incident response, reduce decision making time, optimize team workflows, and improve overall service efficiency. Additionally, when it comes to case management and handling, we leverage machine learning to ensure consistency with past decisions and mitigate risks effectively. These AI-powered capabilities not only boost efficiency but also elevate the quality of our services.
Needless to say, AI also presents security challenges that needs to be carefully managed to ensure its secure use. To address this, we assist our customers in navigating these challenges. Most recently, our Cyber Trust Advisory team has commenced coverage of ISO 42001, the international standard for information security frameworks specific to AI models, to help organizations implement and manage AI securely.
With the recent CrowdStrike incident highlighting vulnerabilities in even the most secure systems, how is Help AG enhancing its own security measures to prevent similar breaches?
The recent IT outages highlight the increasing dependence on single technology platforms or providers, and the associated major impact of their disruption on organizations and individuals. These events have prompted end customers, service providers, and technology vendors to reassess their system resilience in light of widespread outages.
As we continue to build our platforms, we are placing a strong emphasis on avoiding such dependencies. Just as with ransomware defense, organizations must be prepared for potential outages by having a robust recovery plan in place. Ensuring that operations can continue smoothly during an outage is the essence of resilience, and this is a key focus in our ongoing efforts to enhance security measures.
In your experience, how best can a CIO defend its organization against such incidents?
It is crucial for a CIO to have a comprehensive understanding of the organization’s dependency on various systems and their operational architecture. A common challenge many organizations face is a lack of visibility into where their products and services are running. Without this understanding, conducting a proper risk assessment becomes difficult.
To enhance resilience, organizations should consider maintaining relationships with multiple service providers. This approach ensures that ifone provider is compromised, the organization can swiftly transition to another, minimizing disruption and allowing business operations to continue as usual.
What are your plans for expanding Help AG’s services and reach in the coming years?
Following our recent regional expansion with the opening of Help AG’s new office in Egypt, we are committed to further bolstering our presence beyond our core markets in the UAE and KSA. Our aim is to reach new customers across the Middle East and North Africa, with a focus on entering strategic markets such as Turkey, Qatar, and others.
As part of our growth strategy, we plan to significantly enhance our capabilities, with a particular emphasis on intelligent automation and the recruitment of top-tier talent. While our services-related business has grown from 15% five years ago to 50% last year, we project this to reach 90% within the next three years. This ambitious growth will be fuelled by bringing together the brightest minds in the industry—those who embody creativity, innovation, and a forward-thinking approach—we are delighted to effectively address future challenges and drive our success forward.
We are also broadening our service offerings to give customers greater flexibility in choosing their preferred technology partners and services. This approach will be underpinned by our commitment to strengthening relationships with leading technology innovators, ensuring that Help AG remains at the forefront of cybersecurity trends.
Through our CyberSphere Nexus initiative, we plan to deepen our expertise in critical areas such as AI security, post-quantum preparedness, and sustainable cybersecurity. These emerging fields will be central to our strategy as we position Help AG as the trusted partner for organizations navigating the complexities of modern cyber threats.
Moreover, we will continue to stay attuned to market needs, developing risk-outcome-based services that align with the specific challenges our customers face. By integrating intelligent automation with human expertise, we aim to enhance operational excellence, setting us apart as the leading Multi-Managed Security Services and Advanced Solutions Provider in the META+ region.
Our ambitions are anchored on several key pillars: leveraging our strong expertise in existing markets and cybersecurity; executing and operating regionally through mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships; accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies to fuel innovation and incubation; and driving a people-centric culture that nurtures talent. Through these efforts, we are committed to delivering world-class customer experiences and maintaining our leadership position in the industry.