Cloud Security Experts in the Middle East Prioritize Zero Trust Strategies
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Sulaiman
- . June 23, 2023
- . Update: June 23, 2023 9:15 pm
More than 55% of the region’s cloud security specialists intend to prioritize zero trust strategies in the upcoming year, according to a new study on the future of cloud security in the Middle East. The report, which Huawei sponsored and was approved by the UAE Cyber Security Council and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s Computer Emergency Response Team (OIC-CERT), emphasizes the growing significance of strong security measures in the Middle East’s rapidly developing cloud computing landscape.
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The study of 584 Middle Eastern cloud security experts indicated that most participants understood the necessity for a zero trust strategy to improve cybersecurity. Zero trust techniques are based on the idea that anyone trying to access business resources, even from within the network, cannot be automatically trusted. This includes employees, users, devices, and services. Instead, regardless of prior validation, users are confirmed each time they seek access.
Zero trust strategies were the top priority, but the study also found that 43 percent of respondents had serious concerns about data and privacy best practices. Protecting sensitive data and ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks have become crucial considerations for cloud security experts as more organizations in the Middle East adopt cloud-first strategies. 42 percent of respondents named regulatory compliance as a top priority, highlighting the increased importance placed on observing national and international laws pertaining to data protection and privacy.
The study found that choosing a cloud provider required careful consideration of security issues. The majority of respondents—nearly 43%—said that security had the biggest role in determining their decision. This demonstrates how important strong security measures are and emphasizes the crucial role that cloud providers play in protecting infrastructure and data.
Respondents highlighted a few crucial goals for cloud data protection. For 45% of participants, multi-factor authentication emerged as the top priority, followed by staff training and encryption, both at 32%. Notably, only 16 percent of respondents indicated a sustained focus on password-related measures, indicating a drop in the perceived usefulness of passwords as a cybersecurity technique.
The head of cybersecurity for the government of the United Arab Emirates and co-chair of the OIC-CERT cloud security working group, Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, emphasised the value of creating a cybersecurity culture and encouraging responsible online conduct. He emphasised the necessity of bilateral and multinational cooperation to boost cybersecurity initiatives throughout the Middle East.
Cloud security professionals in the Middle East are giving zero trust techniques priority as the region continues to adopt cloud-first strategies and acknowledges the critical role that cloud computing plays in realising national ambitions and building digital economies. The research paper emphasises the growing importance of data privacy, regulatory compliance, and the crucial part security plays in choosing a cloud provider.
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Organisations may improve their cybersecurity posture and reduce the risks associated with cloud computing in the quickly changing digital environment of the Middle East by installing strong security measures, such as multi-factor authentication and encryption, and encouraging a cybersecurity culture.
