At the CISO Middle East Summit 2025 – UAE Edition in Dubai, a standout session brought together two influential voices in cybersecurity: Betania ALLO, United Nations AI Consultant, and Ouaissou DEMBELE, founder of CISOParadise and Cybercory.com. Their discussion, “Cybersecurity Governance & Compliance: From Policy to Practice,” offered a timely and strategic roadmap for organizations navigating the complex intersection of policy, risk, and regulation in today’s digital landscape.
The conversation between Betania ALLO, United Nations AI Consultant, and Ouaissou DEMBELE, founder of CISOParadise and Cybercory.com, at the Dubai Cyber Show 2025 was a strategic deep dive into the evolving landscape of cybersecurity governance and compliance. Rather than offering surface-level commentary, the session dissected the foundational elements that define cybersecurity maturity in today’s complex regulatory and threat environment.
The talk explored the frameworks that shape governance—such as NIST, ISO/IEC 27001, and COBIT—and how organizations can move beyond mere adoption to meaningful implementation. It examined the critical importance of aligning cybersecurity initiatives with overarching business goals, ensuring that security is not a siloed function but a core enabler of growth and resilience.
A significant portion of the discussion focused on the role of executive leadership and boards in driving cybersecurity strategy. The speakers emphasized the need for CISOs to communicate risk in business terms, enabling informed decision-making at the highest levels. They also addressed the challenges of managing regulatory compliance in a world where data protection laws are rapidly evolving and becoming increasingly interconnected.
The session didn’t shy away from the hard truths—highlighting common audit pitfalls, the complexities of building effective cybersecurity policies, and the necessity of continuous risk assessments. The conversation also looked ahead, forecasting the convergence of cybersecurity, privacy, and AI governance, and urging organizations to prepare for a future shaped by global regulatory harmonization.
This session was more than a theoretical overview—it was a practical guide for CISOs, compliance officers, and business leaders seeking to operationalize governance and compliance in a way that is sustainable, scalable, and aligned with their mission.
To explore the full depth of insights, watch the complete session on our YouTube channel. You’ll gain actionable strategies and a forward-looking perspective on how to build cybersecurity governance that truly works—from policy to practice.
Top 10 Takeaways:
- Governance starts with leadership—not just frameworks.
- Cybersecurity must align with business goals to be effective.
- Boards need actionable, risk-based insights to make informed decisions.
- Compliance is a continuous process, not a one-time event.
- Audit failures often stem from poor documentation and outdated controls.
- Effective policies are built on real, evolving risk assessments.
- Cyber risk must be communicated in business terms.
- Automation is key to achieving continuous compliance.
- Global regulations are converging—prepare for unified standards.
- Governance is a culture that must be nurtured across the organization.
Conclusion:
The Dubai Cyber Show 2025 provided a powerful platform for thought leaders like Betania ALLO and Ouaissou DEMBELE to challenge outdated paradigms and inspire a new era of cybersecurity governance. Their conversation underscored a critical truth: in today’s digital economy, cybersecurity is not just a technical issue—it’s a strategic imperative. Organizations that embrace governance as a cultural and operational cornerstone will be best positioned to thrive in an increasingly complex regulatory and threat environment.
