CASE STUDY
ONE OF MY MOST SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS IS HELPING FORTINET BECOME THE LEADING CYBERSECURITY PROVIDER IN THE MIDDLE EAST .
Reflections by Alain Penel
forward without the right team in place , or they might face issues after deployment that could have been avoided with the right talent from the start . So the talent gap is a big issue in this space .
Cost is also one of the biggest hurdles in AI and ML implementation , especially when you consider the
• The role I currently hold at Fortinet allows me to work with cutting-edge solutions and a talented team , making it a fulfilling experience . One of my most significant achievements is helping Fortinet become the leading cybersecurity provider in the Middle East . When I started , Fortinet was ranked number four in the region . Through our collective efforts , we have grown significantly and now hold the top position according to IDC .
• I have been in the Middle East for almost 15 years now , hailing originally from France . My career in technology began with Digital Equipment Corporation , where I started as an account manager . My early experiences included working with global companies like Cisco and Alcatel Lucent .
• I was drawn to the technology sector due to my fascination with how it shapes businesses and society . Although not an engineer , I have always enjoyed discussing technology and the challenges it presents . My interest in cybersecurity , particularly at Fortinet , developed as I recognised the sector ’ s critical importance in the evolving digital landscape .
• The first technology product I was involved with was the VAX , VMS systems at Digital Equipment Corporation . As an account manager , I worked closely with large enterprises , including Alcatel and Thales , helping to transition them from VAX , VMS systems to Unix . This period was marked by intense competition with companies like IBM and HP , which made it an exciting and challenging time in my career . infrastructure , talent , and ongoing maintenance . There are ways to mitigate these costs , for example , cloud-based GenAI solutions can significantly reduce the need for expensive onpremises hardware .
Organisations can start with smaller , more manageable projects and gradually scale to control costs . Partnering with a vendor that offers scalable solutions can also help businesses get the most value out of their investment while keeping costs in check .
Regarding Fortinet ' s security solutions , what are the visible and tangible benefits for CISOs ?
Today ’ s CISOs carry great responsibility . With the constantly evolving threat landscape , coupled with strict regulatory demands , CISOs are compelled to maintain a delicate balance between safeguarding data integrity and confidentiality while adhering to governance requirements . This places them under significant pressure to implement foolproof security measures .
Fortinet ’ s Security Fabric Platform is perfect for CISO ’ s looking to bring all their security solutions under one roof , making it easier to see what ’ s happening across the entire network , from the cloud to the edge . By doing this , CISOs can ensure that security measures are consistent and that nothing slips through the cracks . It also simplifies management , which is always a bonus .
You have also heard the term Zero Trust a lot lately too . The idea here is simple but powerful : trust no one , verify everything . In a world where threats can come from inside or outside your organisation , CISOs must ensure that every user and device trying to access your network is authenticated and authorised .
Fortinet solutions like multi-factor authentication , MFA and identity and access management , IAM are key components in making this approach work effectively .
With a hybrid work culture , employees are scattered across offices and remote locations . Securing endpoints like laptops , smartphones , and IoT devices has never been more critical than it is today . CISOs must invest in advanced endpoint protection solutions that can detect and respond to threats in real time .
Regular patch management and keeping software up to date are some of the easiest ways to close security gaps . p
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