During a recent roundtable in Dubai, security leaders gathered to discuss advanced strategies for protecting sensitive data post-breach, emphasizing the need for a shift from traditional perimeter defenses to data-centric security approaches. The event, hosted by Certes alongside the CISO50 and Future Security Awards 2026 on October 15, 2026, highlighted the importance of making stolen data unusable and preparing for emerging quantum threats.
Rami Nehme, Managing Director for META at Certes, noted that the discussions revealed a significant gap between conventional cybersecurity measures and the actual protection of sensitive data. “Security leaders emphasised the challenges of achieving post-quantum readiness across complex legacy, hybrid, and cloud environments, without disrupting critical business operations,” he stated. This reflects a growing recognition that protecting data itself is as crucial as securing the networks through which it travels.
Data-Centric Security Strategies
The roundtable focused on practical methods for implementing data-centric security, which includes enhancing control over data flows and ensuring that intercepted information remains unusable. Participants explored the concept of crypto-agility, which allows organizations to adapt their cryptographic protections in response to evolving threats and regulations without overhauling existing infrastructure.
Simon Pamplin, CTO of Certes, emphasized that CISOs do not need to replace their current systems to protect data effectively. Instead, he advocated for applying policy-driven cryptographic protections to data in motion across various environments, including cloud, WAN, and legacy systems. “Quantum readiness is not simply deploying PQC; it requires evidence that implementations work as intended. Protect data today, while preparing to adapt tomorrow,” he remarked.
Addressing Quantum Threats
One of the critical topics discussed was the “harvest now, decrypt later” threat posed by quantum computing advancements. This risk involves attackers collecting encrypted data with the intention of decrypting it once quantum computing capabilities improve. For organizations that must safeguard sensitive information over extended periods, this threat necessitates careful consideration of data lifespan in security planning.
Nehme outlined practical steps for UAE organizations, such as identifying critical data flows, implementing advanced encryption techniques, and applying granular crypto-segmentation to minimize exposure and limit breach impacts. He stressed the importance of a data-centric security approach, where protection follows the data regardless of the network or infrastructure.
Governance and Accountability
The roundtable also addressed the need for board and regulatory accountability in cybersecurity. Beyond merely deploying security controls, organizations must demonstrate how these measures protect critical information and provide evidence for audits and risk oversight. This connection between technical implementation and governance responsibilities is essential for CISOs to effectively manage cyber resilience.
Nehme concluded the discussion by reiterating the importance of reducing the consequences of a breach: “Ultimately, the measure of cyber resilience should not only be whether an attacker can breach your defences, but whether the data they manage to intercept has any value to them.” This perspective underscores the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, where the focus is increasingly on the value of data rather than just the integrity of systems.
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