CIO OPINION
3 % of all vulnerabilities are responsible for the most impactful exposures.
“ By zeroing in on the small percentage of vulnerabilities that present the greatest risk, security teams not only enhance their security posture but can optimise resources, ensuring efforts are aligned with the most significant threats,” says Maher Jadallah, Vice President, Middle East and North Africa, Tenable.
What CISOs expect from vendors
“ Security teams now require specialised skills in key areas like cloud security, especially across multi-cloud environments, Identity and Access Management, and Zero-Trust implementation. Familiarity with DevSecOps practices and securing CI, CD pipelines is increasingly critical, especially in agile development environments,” says Gerald Beuchelt, CISO Acronis.
Beyond technical knowledge, there is a growing need for expertise in threat intelligence analysis, incident response, and regulatory compliance. of on-premise systems, cloud services and Edge technologies. The focus is on reducing manual workload while enhancing the overall efficiency and resilience of security operations,” says Ram Narayanan, Country Manager, Check Point Software Technologies, Middle East.
“ CISOs expect more than solutions, they want cybersecurity vendors that are strategic partners. AI is expected to be baked in, not bolted on and support for frameworks like Zero-Trust is no longer optional. Vendors are also expected to make compliance easier, streamline operations and fit smoothly into existing technology stacks without adding unnecessary complexity,” says Shane Grennan, Senior Channel Director, Middle East and Türkiye, Fortinet.
“ CISOs need cybersecurity vendors to be more than product providers; they want trusted partners. Clear ROI, support for regulatory compliance, and contributions to a resilient, business-aligned security posture are essential. Today’ s security leaders value transparency, ongoing support,” adds GBM’ s Khouri.
“ Vendors are finding value by integrating their products with other vendors, even if there is some overlap. The value multiplier by doing so, is much easier consumed by the customer and organisations, when it comes to operational efficiency and cost,” says Christopher Hills, Chief Security Strategist, BeyondTrust.
“ Vendors should also offer flexible deployment options, including cloud-native solutions, and ensure their products are easy to integrate with existing other security infrastructure,” says Mohammed AlMoneer, Senior Regional Director, Middle East, Africa and Türkiye, Infoblox.
“ CISOs expect cybersecurity vendors to deliver well-rounded solutions that easily align with a mix
“ CISOs want cybersecurity vendors to move beyond point solutions and offer integrated, scalable platforms
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