Microsoft offers a hacker’s perspective to cyber security at second CISO Executive summit

In its ongoing commitment to intelligent cyber security in the Arab Gulf region, Microsoft today hosted the second edition of its CISO Executive Series, designed to support chief information security officers in their efforts against the ever-changing threat landscape. 

The event, this year titled “A Hacker’s Guide to Security Strategy”, was held at the Burj Al Arab, Dubai, and allowed security professionals to network with peers, as well as hear from a renowned cyber-security specialist on current and upcoming threats. International headlines continue to feature the plight of high-profile victims, as private- and public-sector organisations fight their ongoing daily battles with cyber-criminals. Recent years have seen a marked rise in targeted and sophisticated attacks, as businesses try to figure out how to secure their digital estates. 

“Most organisations know what cyber-attackers are likely to go after, once they have breached the corporate perimeter,” said Cyril Voisin, Executive Security Advisor for France, Italy, the Middle East and Africa at Microsoft’s Enterprise Cybersecurity Group. “That means that you know where to focus your efforts; and that is the beginnings of a formal, coherent, inhouse security strategy. Coupled with the power of the intelligent cloud and the perspective of seasoned White Hat experts like those heard here today, organisations should be in great shape to take the fight to the cyber-criminals.”

Voisin, who spoke at the event, has extensive experience in advising C-level executives across the public and private sectors of several countries, on how to think strategically when formulating security policies. 

“It is vital that regional organisations understand the evolving threat landscape and adjust their security posture accordingly,” he added. “A trusted cloud provider like Microsoft has the scale and experience to connect your organisation to industry-leading, AI-driven security measures that let you sleep more soundly. We invest US$ 1 billion annually in cyber security, so that our customers can be confident that the Microsoft cloud is a safe home.” 

Microsoft’s innovations such as Microsoft 365 and the Azure cloud are built from the ground up with industry-leading, AI-driven protection built into every layer. Data is encrypted at rest and in transit, and 24-hour event-remediation services are provided by a dedicated team of experts. 

At the CISO Executive forum, Paula Januszkiewicz, CEO and Founder of CQURE Inc, and a world-renowned cyber-security expert, shared insights, and an outside-in perspective of securing a business. 

“As the game intensifies, it’s time to level up, and venues such as Microsoft’s CISO Executive Series are the ideal way to do it,” said Januszkiewicz. “Cyber troublemakers are devious and creative. We have to think like them, to anticipate their attack vectors and behaviours; only then can we secure that which matters most: our precious digital assets.”

Januszkeiwics also stressed on the importance of upskilling of security professionals to meet changing needs of the digital era. “According to the industry’s statistics, by 2019 the market will need 6 million security professionals, but only 4 to 5 million of them will have the needed qualifications. hence, it is also very important to address this gap by levelling up” she added. 

The Microsoft CISO executive forum concluded with key takeaways from all perspectives of cyber security, and proved to be a strong platform for security professionals from across the UAE to network with peers and engage with subject matter experts.