Security Middle East Conference: Chairperson’s key takeaways

The inaugural Security Middle East Conference was a major success for the security community.

Over 200 security leaders filled the conference in Riyadh on the 9th May to discuss a variety of security threats and opportunities, hearing from world-class key notes and panellists; from cyber resilience, to the skills gap in the region, to industry and regional collaboration, it is clear that Vision 2030 presents a plethora of unique, multidimensional challenges to overcome.

As Chairperson, I found the insights and strategic initiatives compelling. Whilst there is a significant amount of work to overcome over the next 7-10 years, the community itself is strong, energised and the desire to protect, defend and overcome these challenges is profound. Below are some of my key takeaways from the event itself:

Cyber resilience
While physical security has traditionally received strong attention and investment in the Middle East, the perception of the importance and value of cybersecurity lagged somewhat behind. However, it is now clear that cyber resilience, the modern, more all-compassing term for effective cyber risk management and security, is a fundamental business driver for companies, governments and vendors in the region. All organisations, from multi-billion dollar GIGA projects, to smaller government institutions….