As the UAE strengthens its position as a global business hub, cyber threats continue to rise exponentially. Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection, has reported a significant 68% increase in year-over-year revenue in response to escalating cybercrime in the region. This surge highlights the growing demand for robust cybersecurity solutions as companies in the UAE face a rise in malware, phishing attacks, and advanced persistent threats (APTs). Acronis’s success underscores the critical role cybersecurity plays in ensuring the safety of businesses as they undergo digital transformation.
In 2024, Acronis’s Threat Research Unit revealed alarming statistics for the UAE’s cybersecurity landscape. The data showed a 65.3% surge in malware detections and a 36.9% rise in URL-based threats, signaling a sharp increase in the frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks in the region. Although ransomware incidents showed a slight decline, the potential risks remain high. Ziad Nasr, General Manager of Acronis Middle East, cautioned that many ransomware cases likely remain unreported, creating a false sense of security for businesses.
Driven by the region’s rapidly increasing demand for comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, Acronis achieved remarkable growth. A key contributor to this surge is its strategic focus on offering AI-powered cybersecurity and data protection solutions, which are becoming essential for companies facing an evolving threat landscape. The company’s partnership with Etisalat (e& enterprise) to establish a state-of-the-art Cyber Cloud Data Center in Abu Dhabi is a pivotal move to enhance data security capabilities for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and enterprise IT departments in the UAE. This center, set to launch in Q2 2024, will leverage advanced AI and machine learning technologies to deliver scalable solutions that improve data protection and regulatory compliance.
“Acronis’s success in the UAE is not just about meeting market demand,” Nasr remarked. “It’s about empowering organizations with faster, more secure solutions tailored to their specific needs. As digital transformation accelerates, the need for cybersecurity that can evolve alongside technological advancements has become crucial.”
This revenue growth also reflects the UAE government’s commitment to digital transformation and cyber resilience. By promoting initiatives like the Abu Dhabi data center, Acronis is actively contributing to the national agenda of bolstering the region’s cybersecurity infrastructure. The company’s extensive partnerships with 160 MSPs in the Middle East have further enhanced its ability to provide cutting-edge solutions to businesses, ensuring that they can mitigate threats effectively.
Looking ahead to 2025, Acronis expects cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, financial institutions, and smart city technologies to increase. As the UAE continues to emerge as a global financial center, sectors such as energy, oil, and gas will face heightened risks from cybercriminals. These criminals will likely adopt more sophisticated methods, including phishing attacks powered by AI and deepfake technologies. Quantum computing, which is on the horizon, also poses significant challenges to traditional encryption methods, potentially leaving organizations more vulnerable than ever before.
According to Nasr, “As cybercriminals evolve, so must our defenses. Companies must adopt a proactive, multi-layered approach to cybersecurity that goes beyond just protecting data—it must secure the entire infrastructure and operational systems.”
10 Key Tips to Mitigate Cyber Threats in the UAE:
- Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Using MFA can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access, even if credentials are compromised.
- Regularly Update Software and Systems: Ensuring all software is up-to-date is vital to protect against newly discovered vulnerabilities.
- Educate Employees: A comprehensive cybersecurity training program is essential to prevent social engineering and phishing attacks.
- Backup Data Frequently: Regular backups can mitigate the impact of ransomware attacks, ensuring that critical data can be restored.
- Adopt AI-Driven Security Solutions: AI can help detect anomalies and stop threats in real-time, providing faster response times.
- Encrypt Sensitive Data: Encryption ensures that even if data is intercepted, it remains unreadable without the correct decryption keys.
- Perform Regular Security Audits: Frequent security assessments can identify and rectify potential vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
- Use Zero Trust Architecture: Assume that all traffic is untrusted and apply strict verification for users, devices, and systems accessing your network.
- Develop an Incident Response Plan: Have a clear action plan for responding to cybersecurity incidents to minimize damage and recovery time.
- Monitor Networks Continuously: Use real-time monitoring tools to detect and respond to abnormal activity within the network.
Conclusion:
Acronis’s 68% revenue surge is a testament to the rising cybersecurity needs of businesses in the UAE. As cyber threats continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, organizations must adopt a forward-thinking approach to cybersecurity. AI-powered solutions, such as those offered by Acronis, are increasingly vital to protecting critical infrastructure and sensitive data from the growing wave of cyberattacks. With strategic investments like the Abu Dhabi Cyber Cloud Data Center and a commitment to adaptive security solutions, Acronis is well-positioned to help businesses navigate the increasingly complex cybersecurity landscape.
Source: Zawya
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