In November 2024, SANS Institute, the global leader in cybersecurity training and certifications, will once again host its flagship event in the GCC, SANS Gulf Region 2024. Held at the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Beach Resort from November 2 to 21, this event will feature an intensive series of 15 hands-on courses led by industry experts, offering a unique opportunity for cybersecurity professionals across the Middle East to bolster their skills. As the cybersecurity landscape evolves, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) threats, this event comes at a critical time for organizations aiming to fortify their defenses.
As the UAE continues to rise in global cybersecurity rankings, the nation is also grappling with the challenges posed by rapid digitalization and the increasing adoption of AI. With a forecasted cybersecurity market value of $13 billion by 2027, the UAE is at the forefront of the regional push for stronger digital defenses. However, AI, while a tool for innovation, also introduces new risks that organizations need to understand and mitigate. The SANS Gulf Region event is set to equip professionals with the necessary knowledge and tools to address these modern challenges.
SANS Gulf Region 2024: A Comprehensive Training Ground for Cybersecurity Professionals
SANS Gulf Region 2024 brings a specialized curriculum to the Middle East, focusing on the most pressing issues facing the industry today, including AI-driven cyberattacks and incident response. With the increased use of AI in both offensive and defensive cybersecurity measures, attackers are now exploiting machine learning models to bypass traditional security mechanisms. Ned Baltagi, Managing Director of SANS Institute for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, emphasizes that “upskilling in AI and cybersecurity is not just about growth but national security. The complexity of AI-driven threats demands a proactive and educated response.”
This year’s event offers a blend of in-person and online courses, catering to a broad range of participants. Courses like FOR508: Advanced Incident Response, Threat Hunting, and Digital Forensics and SEC595: Applied Data Science and AI/Machine Learning for Cybersecurity Professionals are designed to prepare security teams for the ever-growing threat landscape, particularly those involving AI-based attacks.
Cybersecurity professionals attending SANS Gulf Region 2024 will benefit from expert-led training in areas like Cloud Penetration Testing and Advanced Exploit Writing and Ethical Hacking, among others. These courses aim to close critical cybersecurity skills gaps, ensuring that participants can tackle the evolving risks associated with modern digital infrastructure.
Key Topics and Events at SANS Gulf Region
One of the highlights of SANS Gulf Region 2024 is its Community Night Talks, which will offer invaluable insights into cutting-edge issues within cybersecurity:
- On November 4, Nik Alleyne will explore how machine learning can help reduce alert fatigue by focusing on true positives, improving detection accuracy in security alerts.
- On November 11, Chris Dale will discuss how agile techniques are reshaping penetration testing, with offensive security operations increasingly relying on flexibility and speed.
- On November 18, Michael Hoffman will present on the SANS ICS Five Critical Controls, providing attendees with actionable strategies for improving cybersecurity in industrial control systems (ICS) and operational technology (OT) environments.
In addition to these expert-led talks, SANS Gulf Region will feature NetWars Tournaments, a highly anticipated series of competitions where cybersecurity professionals can test their skills in real-time scenarios. Running from November 5-6 and November 19-20, with a dedicated DFIR (Digital Forensics and Incident Response) tournament on November 12-13, these events offer participants a dynamic environment to apply their learning and engage with peers.
10 Ways to Protect Your Organization from AI Cyber Threats
With AI’s rise in the cybersecurity world, organizations must stay ahead of potential risks. Here are 10 ways to strengthen your defenses against AI-based threats:
- AI Threat Awareness Training: Educate your security teams on the latest AI-driven attack vectors to ensure preparedness against sophisticated threats.
- Implement AI-Based Defenses: Deploy AI and machine learning tools for threat detection and response to quickly identify unusual patterns in network activity.
- Routine Vulnerability Assessments: Conduct regular security audits and AI model assessments to identify weaknesses in your infrastructure.
- Limit AI Integration Scope: Only integrate AI technologies that are well understood by your team, minimizing risk exposure.
- Data Sanitization: Ensure that data fed into AI systems is properly sanitized to prevent poisoning attacks, where attackers manipulate input data to produce inaccurate results.
- AI-Specific Incident Response Plans: Develop and maintain incident response protocols specifically for AI-driven cyber threats, ensuring rapid reaction capabilities.
- Access Control Mechanisms: Strengthen access control to AI models, preventing unauthorized users from manipulating or corrupting machine learning processes.
- Encryption and Data Privacy: Implement strong encryption techniques for data handled by AI systems to secure sensitive information.
- Real-Time Monitoring Systems: Use real-time monitoring tools to detect anomalies in AI behavior that could indicate a cyberattack.
- Collaboration and Threat Intelligence Sharing: Engage in industry-wide threat intelligence sharing networks to stay updated on emerging AI threats and best practices.
Conclusion
As the UAE continues its rapid digital transformation, events like SANS Gulf Region 2024 are crucial for equipping professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to combat evolving cybersecurity threats. AI, while offering numerous benefits, also presents unprecedented risks, and cybersecurity teams must be prepared to address these challenges head-on. With the right training and tools, organizations can build resilient defenses that not only protect against current threats but also anticipate future ones. Source: Zawya
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