Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 58 | Page 75

t cht lk EMAIL PROTECTION: A PEOPLE-CENTRIC APPROACH Email remains the top initial threat vector of choice for most malicious actors which means it’s crucial that organisations pay close attention to keeping their email gateways secure. Emile Abou Saleh, Regional Leader – Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Proofpoint tells Intelligent CIO Middle East about the importance of human behaviour in preventing these types of attacks and offers advice to CISOs looking to strengthen their email security strategies. wWhat is the current cyberthreat landscape in the UAE? The cyberthreat landscape in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is rapidly evolving, with cybercriminals increasingly targeting people rather than infrastructure. In fact, Proofpoint’s recent survey of CISOs and CSOs in the region revealed that 82% of UAE organisations suffered at least one cyberattack in 2019. Over half (51%) reported multiple incidents and almost a third (31%) experienced one. From email-based threats, such as Business Email Compromise attacks (BEC), to compromising cloud accounts and debilitating ransomware attacks, cybercriminals are aware that employees can easily be tricked. Using social engineering attacks, cybercriminals can steal credentials, siphon sensitive data and fraudulently transfer funds. Employees across all job levels and functions can put your business at risk in numerous ways, from using weak passwords and sharing credentials to clicking on malicious links and downloading unauthorised applications. “ ORGANISATIONS MUST ENSURE THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE TOOLS TO DEFEND AGAINST ALL MANNER OF THREATS. www.intelligentcio.com INTELLIGENTCIO 75