Haider Pasha, Chief Security Officer, EMEA at Palo Alto Networks, says the company will use GITEX 2025 to showcase its AI-powered, platform-driven cybersecurity strategy—helping Middle Eastern organizations reduce complexity, automate response, and stay resilient amid today’s evolving digital threats.
What are Palo Alto Networks’ strategic goals for participating in GITEX this year, and how does the event support your mission to strengthen cybersecurity across the Middle East?
GITEX has always played an integral role for Palo Alto Networks and we look forward to being a part of it again this year. We’ll focus on showing how we can help organizations across the Middle East navigate today’s complex cyber challenges – especially those driven by AI and cloud. We’ll be highlighting the ‘Platformization’ approach, which simplifies security operations, strengthens protection and delivers better security outcomes. The event is also a great opportunity for us to connect with local partners, customers, and leaders, plus to share insights through our ‘Voices of Cybersecurity’ podcast series.
The region is witnessing a surge in cyber threats—how is Palo Alto Networks helping governments and enterprises in the Middle East build resilient, AI-powered security infrastructures?
Organisations in the Middle East are busy with digital transformation, including AI and cloud projects, and cyber threats are evolving at a faster pace than ever. Palo Alto Networks helps organizations stay ahead by building smarter and resilient security frameworks. Our platforms for network security, cloud security, security operations and AI are designed to protect against modern threats offering real-time detection, automated response, and comprehensive visibility. This helps both governments and businesses to reduce complexity and strengthen their security.
AI is reshaping cybersecurity globally. How is Palo Alto Networks leveraging AI to enhance threat detection, automate response, and simplify security operations for regional clients?
AI is a game-changer in cybersecurity, and we’re looking to fight AI with AI. We’ve embedded AI across all our core platforms— including Strata for security networks, Prisma for cloud security, and Cortex for security operations—to detect threats earlier, automate responses, and simplify regular security tasks, freeing up employees to focus on more complex tasks. By integrating AI into the core of our tools, we’re helping teams detect and respond to attacks more quickly and operate more efficiently. It’s all about having smarter cybersecurity that keeps up with ever evolving threats and technology.
Can you elaborate on the concept of “platformization” and how your unified security platforms are helping Middle Eastern organizations reduce complexity and improve outcomes?
Platformization helps bring your tools, data, and response into one seamless experience, rather than switching between multiple products. Palo Alto Networks’ unified platforms – including Strata for network security, Prisma for cloud, Cortex for security operations, and Unit 42 for threat intelligence – help teams manage everything from a single location. It’s a simpler and more effective way to handle complex security environments, especially as AI and cloud adoption grows. At GITEX 2025, we’ll show how this approach helps organizations in the Middle East to keep innovating while reducing risk, improving efficiency, and staying ahead of evolving threats.
With critical sectors like energy, finance, and healthcare facing heightened risks, how does Palo Alto Networks tailor its solutions to meet the unique regulatory and operational needs of the Middle East?
At Palo Alto Networks, we’re focused on tailoring our solutions to meet the exact needs of specific industries or regions – whether it’s aligning with local cybersecurity regulations or supporting secure cloud adoption. We understand the operational realities of these industries, and our tools provide the AI-powered protection they need. At GITEX, we’re reinforcing our commitment to the region, showing how we’re helping key sectors protect what matters most while enabling secure growth and innovation.
What key innovations or product advancements is Palo Alto Networks showcasing at GITEX, and how do they reflect your vision for the future of cybersecurity in the AI era?
We’re excited to showcase some of our most powerful innovations at GITEX this year. For example, Prisma AIRS is designed to secure the entire AI ecosystem. At the same time, Cortex Cloud delivers real-time cloud threat detection, investigation, and response capabilities, helping modern SOCs stay ahead of increasingly complex threats. Both platforms use automation and AI to make security smarter and faster. Our new solutions reflect our vision for the future with security that’s more integrated, more intelligent, and easier to manage. Through live demos and podcast sessions, we’re giving people a firsthand look at how we’re helping organizations stay secure in the AI-driven world.