New devoted observe at Center East and Africa’s largest cybersecurity occasion tackles AI-driven industrial threats, Zero Belief adoption and the $44.9B OT safety increase
Dubai, UAE, eleventh Might 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, As operational expertise (OT) cyberattacks skyrocketed 49% in 2024 – concentrating on energy grids, oil & fuel services, factories and transport programs – GISEC World 2025 is responding with the launch of its pivotal new OT Safety observe at the Center East and Africa’s largest cybersecurity occasion, presently going down till 8th Might on the Dubai World Commerce Centre.
The OT-focused convention on the second day of GISEC World tackled evolving dangers, system vulnerabilities and techniques for securing essential infrastructure. Different essential concerns included AI in ICS/OT Safety, Quantum Computing Menace, Defending ICS and SCADA Techniques & Digital Provide Chains within the presence of high CISOs, CIOs, OT safety heads and policy-makers to fortify SCADA, ICS and digital provide chains.
The brand new addition arrives amid an ideal storm within the trade:
- The worldwide OT safety market is projected to double to $44.9 billion by 2029 (Markets and Markets).
- In line with research by IBM, the typical price of cyberattacks on organisations within the Center East is $8.75 million, practically double the worldwide common.
Why OT Safety? Why Now?
OT safety encompasses superior cybersecurity protocols designed to make sure the integrity, availability and security of business management programs. As essential infrastructure faces escalating cyber threats, strong OT safety is important for sustaining continuity throughout the oil & fuel, manufacturing, vitality, transport and utility sectors.
In late 2024, ransomware teams accelerated assaults on industrial sectors, with manufacturing, transportation and ICS operations prime targets. Solely aggressive defence, intelligence sharing and cross-sector collaboration will safeguard essential infrastructure into 2025 and past.
On Wednesday, the viewers heard from specialists on the necessity for contemporary OT safety which delved into precision AI, leveraging machine studying, deep studying and huge language fashions.
Discussing cybersecurity threats within the maritime trade, the place ships can maintain up to 10,000 passengers, are pushed autonomously and every nation has their very own set of AI laws, Simone Fortin, World CISO Cruise Division at MSC Cruise Division, known as for streamlined laws that may be utilized to all international locations all over the world.
He mentioned: “For an industry like maritime, which is regulated by the UN, it is hard to interpret how to prevent AI threats for something critical like managing a ship. The UN gives the policy a broader scale, but then everything is regulated by bilateral agreements between the states and the regulators, and implemented by companies; but then, everything is defined by the fact that you could be in international waters. And ships can be owned by one entity, managed by another while sailing under a separate flag.”
Bridging the hole between AI-powered cyber defence and important infrastructure resilience, the OT Safety Observe additionally put the highlight the escalating IoT/IIoT threats within the oil & fuel sector, that includes frontline insights from world CISOs defending the world’s most focused industries.
Amal Krishna, Govt Director & CISO, ONGC, mentioned: “To combat the surge in OT cyberattacks, businesses must prioritise asset visibility, network segmentation and secure remote access – but equally critical is breaking down silos between IT, OT and engineering teams. Cyber resilience in critical infrastructure isn’t just about technology, it’s about collaboration, continuous monitoring and a security-first culture.”
Albert Vartic, Upstream OT Cybersecurity Officer, OMV Petrom, added: “Over the next five years, OT cybersecurity in the Middle East’s critical infrastructure will see significant evolution. The region’s rapid digitalisation has expanded the attack surface, making industrial systems more vulnerable – proactive measures like IEC 62443 adoption and cross-team collaboration will be essential to safeguard operational resilience.”
Shield and plan towards digital assaults
Exhibitors Ayman Al Issa (CPX) and Mohammed Mousa (CyberKnight) dissected the 49% surge in OT assaults, providing actionable defences for the vitality, healthcare and manufacturing sectors.
Mousa, OT/xIoT Advisor at CyberKnight, warns that legacy OT programs weren’t constructed for right now’s threats.
He defined: “The escalation in intrusions is a consequence of accelerated digital transformation in industrial sectors. As organisations combine IT and OT environments to enhance effectivity and assist the enterprise, they inadvertently broaden the menace floor. Moreover, legacy programs stay in operation far past their meant lifespan and sometimes lack native safety controls.
“Meanwhile, increased reliance on remote access, third-party integrations, and limited OT-specific cybersecurity governance heightens exposure. Simply put, organisations are moving faster than their security strategies are evolving.”
For companies and governments to remain forward of cyber criminals, Al Issa, Director – OT Cybersecurity at CPX, emphasised the significance of enterprise threat and menace assessments to grasp what property are in danger and the way potential attackers would possibly goal them, sooner relatively than later.
He mentioned: “In right now’s fast-shifting enterprise panorama, organisations have to concentrate on figuring out their most crucial property – these which can be on the highest threat and that they care about probably the most, relatively than attempting to guard every part or plan for restoration throughout your complete enterprise. As such, organisations ought to conduct in-depth menace and threat assessments particularly contemplating the distinctive traits of business management programs (ICS), together with their bodily penalties.
“This entails mapping out interdependence, potential assault vectors and penalties of downtime. Utilizing menace intelligence and aligning with frameworks like CIS ICS Controls might help organisations monitor suspicious exercise, handle vulnerabilities and create tailor-made incident response plans.
“Once this is clear, more targeted and practical defence measures can be put in place and continuously tested, using threat intelligence to stay ahead of evolving threats. Risk assessments should be continuous, evolving with technological changes and emerging threats and should be validated through regular penetration testing.”
Amr Elsayed, Regional OT/ICS Cybersecurity Specialist at CyberKnight, agrees, saying expertise, collaboration and workforce coaching ought to be key priorities for companies.
He mentioned: “To reinforce OT safety resilience towards rising cyber threats, companies ought to undertake a Zero Belief method, implementing least-privilege entry and micro-segmentation to restrict breach influence. Superior real-time monitoring and menace intelligence sharing (ISACs, public-private partnerships) are essential for proactive defences.
“Moreover, sustaining correct OT asset inventories, conducting OT-specific incident response drills and implementing risk-based vulnerability administration (compensating controls, tailor-made patching) will strengthen safety postures. Lastly, OT-focused worker coaching ensures a security-aware workforce.
“By prioritising these measures – spanning technology, collaboration and workforce readiness – organisations can safeguard critical infrastructure, mitigate disruptions and build long-term cyber resilience in OT environments.”
Drafting the laws playbook
With Center East nations quickly adopting digitisation into their day-to-day practices, the area is turning into a goal for cyberattacks. Nonetheless, the specialists count on quite a lot of measures to be put in place to guard cybersecurity infrastructure, and GISEC 2025 might be the place policymakers and tech giants will draft the playbook.
Al Issa added: “Over the subsequent 5 years, we will count on a serious shift towards structured, regulation-driven cybersecurity approaches. AI-driven OT menace detection, the widespread adoption of Zero Belief ideas and deeper integration of compliance frameworks will outline the regional OT cybersecurity panorama. Stricter regulatory frameworks and compliance mandates region-wide will push for higher safety practices.
Organised by Dubai World Commerce Centre, GISEC World 2025 is hosted by the UAE Cybersecurity Council beneath the theme of ‘Securing an AI-Powered Future’, and supported by Dubai Digital Safety Middle (DESC), UAE Ministry of Inside and Dubai Police.
To study extra about GISEC World 2025, go to www.gisec.ae.
About GISEC World
GISEC World, Center East & Africa’s largest and most impactful cybersecurity occasion, will return to Dubai World Commerce Centre for its 14th version going down from sixth to eighth Might 2025, beneath the overarching theme of “Securing an AI-Powered Future.” Following the monumental success of 2024, the super-connector occasion for the area’s cybersecurity trade will carry collectively over 25,000 attendees, 750 exhibiting manufacturers and 350-plus audio system hailing from over 160 international locations. GISEC World stands because the unrivalled platform for navigating the ever-evolving panorama of cybersecurity. Extra data: www.gisec.ae
About Dubai World Commerce Centre
A worldwide enterprise facilitator since 1979, Dubai World Commerce Centre (DWTC) is dwelling to the area’s main purpose-built conference and exhibition centre. DWTC supplies a platform for connecting folks, merchandise, innovation and concepts from all over the world via a dynamic calendar of worldwide commerce exhibitions and its personal roster of sector main mega occasions. As a chosen free zone, complemented by award-winning industrial actual property, DWTC performs an integral function in Dubai and the area’s development story. Since its inauguration, DWTC has hosted over 6,000 occasions, with an estimated financial output of AED 248 billion, attracting over 38 million enterprise guests to Dubai.
Constructing on this legacy, DWTC’s second flagship venue, the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), stands as a premier vacation spot for outstanding nationwide and worldwide mega occasions. Strategically aligned with the Dubai 2040 City Grasp Plan, DEC’s just lately introduced AED 10 billion growth is integral to Expo Metropolis Dubai’s imaginative and prescient of turning into a worldwide enterprise hub for exhibitions and occasions.
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