GISEC 2024 debrief

I’m back in Muscat after the 3-days jam packed cyber security regional event in Dubai, the GISEC 2024. The event was hosted by the UAE Cyber Security Council and officially supported by the Dubai Electronic Security Center, Ministry of Interior (UAE), Telecommunications and Digital Regulatory Authority (TDRA), and Dubai Police. Over 20k people attended from about 130 countries, out of which over 1000 of them were cyber security professionals.

There were about 350 speakers who led sessions comprising of presentations, workshops and training via conference, speaking booths and private exhibition rooms. 750 international brands from around the world showcased their cyber security solutions in the form of product and services. Top cybersecurity enterprises, influential CISOs, government dignitaries, and global experts were part of the event. I was honored to be invited by the organizers to experience the event, and my article this week is a debrief on GISEC 2024 in a nutshell.

Cyber Security solutions (in the form of product and services), tools, trends and capabilities were the showcase of the event. Global state of scams, smart cities and artificial intelligence was at the heart of the conversations during the event. The event primarily focused on key trends such as AI, cloud, and operational technology, as well as bridging the skills gap.

Activities (or features per se) in the form of programs at the event included the CyberDrill, Escape Room, Excellence Awards, Armory, Startup Pitch Competition, Women in Security, CISO Circle and Executive Board Rooms.

Starting with the CyberDrill, it was an initiative launched at the event by The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UAE’s government CSC. The aim of the initiative is to bring together National Cyber Security Authorities, National Cyber Security agencies, as well as National CERTs/CIRTs/CSIRT from around the world to foster global cooperation and partnership in mitigating cyber threats.

The Cyber Security Excellence awards on the other hand was created to highlight the brightest stars in cybersecurity and the aim is to bring attention to the exceptional talent in the Middle East. It is designed to inspire, encourage, and highlight the hard work that cybersecurity professionals are doing every day to keep us safe and secure in our digital landscape.

A Cyber Security Escape Room was also one of the interesting yet also immersive and interactive game designed to simulate real-world cybersecurity threat scenarios, where the participants found themselves locked in a room filled with puzzles, clues, and cryptic codes, all centered around cybersecurity challenges.

Another interesting feature at the event was the GISEC Armory where this exclusive area showcased open-source cybersecurity projects, tools, and solutions, allowing developers, security experts, and enthusiasts to display their projects, gain recognition, and foster collaboration within the global cybersecurity community. Startup Pitch Competition was also another interesting activity where entrepreneurs were given a platform to showcase their ideas in a pitching style for getting necessary support in the form of funding. Senior Cyber Security leaders had a special room (aka GISEC circle) to discuss innovation and lastly women too had a special event that celebrated their contribution and impact in cyber security world.

Companies that participated include but is not limited to conglomerates such as Microsoft, Google, Cisco, Huawei, Nokia, Commvault, OPSWAT, TrendMicro, ManageEngine, Tenable, Cloudfare, Amazon, HoneyWell, Kasperski, CheckPoint, to name a few. Huawei showcased its full-stack, cloud-native security system, empowered by AI and built upon the collaboration between a security operations center (SOC).

Microsoft showcased its Copilot for Security, its first generative AI solution designed to help security and IT professionals protect their organizations at the speed and scale of AI while remaining compliant to responsible AI principles. Trend Micro showcased its state-of-the-art security offerings, including the groundbreaking Trend Vision One, a unified platform that goes beyond conventional cybersecurity measures, reinforcing cyber resilience with Advanced XDR and AI Capabilities.

Google was also present to showcase its cloud platform and data security and storage offerings for organizations. Most of the companies primarily focused on showcasing technologies like AI, networks, and cloud (on cyber security as a theme). How these technologies help business design, boost productivity, and redefine their business models were the objective of the same.

In conclusion, undeniably, GISEC remains one of the largest cybersecurity expo and conference, featuring top cyber brands and gathers many information security professionals under one roof. Regional events like this significantly help to raise the necessary awareness on the progress, status and development of transformation in the cyber security industry so as the positive and negative impact of the Artificial Intelligence as a whole.

Artificial Intelligence continues to transform industries across the globe but it also remains a double-edged sword in cybersecurity. Stay tuned as I dive into all that you need to know about AI next week. Remain positive meanwhile.