03 Nov Data protection key security priority for UAE
Data protection is being prioritised in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – according to the Enterprise Security Trends in the UAE survey, from IDC and Microsoft. Nine out of 10 organisations in the UAE have said that data protection is the most important priority in their security strategies.
Over 2020, the UAE saw a 250% jump in cyberattacks, and the increased processing of data in the cloud is part of the issue. The IDC found that over 70% of companies were accelerating their plans for digital transformation, with the cloud being a key driver of this. Post-Covid, companies are scrambling to implement robust security strategies to keep data safe and secure.
Mohammed Arif, Business Group Director, Modern Work and Security, Microsoft UAE, said: “There’s no doubt the risk landscape has become more complex, and while cybersecurity solutions have matured a great deal, threat actors are not idling. As organisations continue to pursue their digital transformation journey, security has to be considered every step of the way to ensure a safer digital environment for all.”
The research revealed that one of the top challenges for UAE businesses when it came to security is ransomware and malware attacks. Accordingly, endpoint protection – such as anti-malware and anti-ransomware – were identified as the primary security solutions in place in IT departments.
The final factor for placing customer data protection at the top of the security agenda, has come from the adoption of security governance, risk and compliance (GRC) services to ensure compliance in today’s digital economy.