UAE edition of Global Security Symposium and CISO Awards highlights cybersecurity innovation

The 8th Global Security Symposium, held on 14th of May, at Taj, Dubai, was a resounding success, drawing cybersecurity experts, thought leaders, and professionals from around the world. Hosted by the GEC Media Group, the symposium provided a platform for insightful discussions, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities aimed at knowledge sharing and enhancing cybersecurity practices globally.

The symposium kicked off with a welcome note from Ronak Samantaray, CEO of GEC Media Group. It was followed by keynote addresses by speakers such as Tarek Kuzbari from Picus Security and Gopan Sivasankaran from Secureworks, who shared valuable insights into emerging threats, including the rise of “Hunter-Killer” malware and new trends in MDR. This was followed by a presentation by James Sherlow from Cequence Security on the new trends in cyber-attacks and how APIs have changed the game for attackers.

Their presentations offered attendees more profound insights into the changing threat landscape and underscored the significance of implementing robust cybersecurity measures.

Adding a new flavor to to the event, Venkatesh Mahadevan, Founding Board Member of CAAS, did a keynote on the evolving technology landscape and how CAAS aims to revolutionize the way IT is delivered.

The symposium featured engaging panel discussions on a range of topics moderated by industry experts:

1. SIEM and Response Management: Moderated by May El Barachi, Director of Computer Science and IT at the University of Wollongong in Dubai, this panel explored strategies for effective Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and response management.  The panel featured Tejeswar Rao Yamarpu , Manager Information Technology – Systems , Security , Infra and Network,NSHAMA; Abhinav Kumar Shrivastava, Associate Vice President – Information Security, NMC Healthcare; Saquib Farooq Malik, Head of Information Security, Al Tamimi and Company. The panelists shed light on the issue of alert fatigue and the evolution of SIEM as a valuable tool in the arsenal of CISOs
2. Busting the Myth of Zero Trust: Led by moderator Sona Saha Das, Head of Data Strategy and Governance at IT, this panel challenged conventional notions of Zero Trust Security, with panelists providing insights into its practical implementation. The panel featured Faisal Khan, Senior Manager of IT Security and Compliance at Dubai World Trade Centre; Osama Salah, Senior Information Technology Security Architect; and Nisha Rani, CISO of Emirates Leisure Retail. The discussion centered around why zero trust is essential for modern cybersecurity strategies, providing a proactive and adaptive approach to protecting critical assets and data in today’s evolving threat landscape.
3. Fraud Detection and Prevention: Moderator Oma Martins, Associate Director and Head of IT GRC at IHS Towers, facilitated a discussion on fraud detection and prevention strategies, featuring industry leaders such as  Tushar Vartak, EVP & Head, Information and Cyber Security, RAKBank, Zaheer Mubarak Shaikh, CISO, Al Maryah Community Bank, Ahmed Nabil Mahmoud, Head of Cyber Defense and Security Engineering, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Rajesh Yadla, Director Head of Information Security, a leading retail bank in the UAE.These thought leaders shared best practices and insights into this very important subject and reiterated the importance of AI and ML in detection, prevention, and investigation.

4.’Everywhere Secure’ for New Age Enterprises: Moderated by Jayakumar Mohanachandran, Group CIO at Buzeki Enterprises, this panel explored strategies for securing enterprises in the digital age, with panelists discussing the importance of comprehensive security measures such as IAM, role-based access control, and PAM. The panel featured Abhilash Radhadevi, Head of Cybersecurity at OQ Trading; Evita Faustina Francis, Head of Business Resilience Middle East and India; Tilak Ratnayake, Group IT Security Manager, GAC Group; and Amit Roy, Head of Cybersecurity-META at Eviden.

Recognition of Excellence

The symposium also celebrated excellence in cybersecurity with the Future Security Awards 2024 and CISO Awards 2024. These awards honored individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to cybersecurity, recognizing their dedication and innovation in the field.

The symposium reaffirmed the importance of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning in addressing the evolving cybersecurity threats facing organizations worldwide. The Global Security Symposium remains committed to fostering a safer digital world through ongoing dialogue and cooperation by equipping attendees with a global platform to unite and share best practices.

Winner of CISO Awards:

Winners of OT CYBERSECURITY LEADERS AWARDS

Winners of FUTURE SECURITY LEADERS AWARD