Navigating the Evolving Cybersecurity Landscape in the Middle East
In today’s digital age, cybersecurity remains a pressing concern for organizations worldwide, particularly in the Middle East. As businesses accelerate their digital transformation, the associated risks grow increasingly complex. To shed light on this evolving landscape, we spoke with Sujoy Banerjee, Associate Director at ManageEngine, during the GISEC 2025 conference. His insights reveal how companies can fortify their cyber defenses amidst growing threats and highlight the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity.
The Cybersecurity Challenges Facing the Middle East
The cybersecurity battle in the Middle East is marked by several distinct challenges. Chief among these is a significant shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. With the rapid evolution of cyber threats, organizations are struggling to build robust internal teams capable of navigating today’s intricate threat environment.
Adding to this complexity is the swift adoption of cloud technologies. While the cloud offers undeniable operational benefits—such as enhanced efficiency and scalability—it also introduces new layers of security risk. Many organizations find themselves grappling with fragmented systems and tools, which can exacerbate vulnerabilities.
Moreover, cyber threats themselves are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The emergence of ransomware-as-a-service has transformed the attack landscape, making these threats a persistent concern across the region. In response, organizations must shift from a reactive stance to a proactive one, equipping themselves to anticipate, identify, and contain threats before they escalate.
ManageEngine’s Unified Approach to Cyber Defense
A standout player helping organizations navigate these challenges is ManageEngine, the enterprise IT management division of Zoho Corporation. According to Banerjee, the company’s enhanced unified Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution, integrated with AI capabilities, represents a significant advancement in cybersecurity.
ManageEngine’s approach is uniquely powerful because their AI is entirely home-grown, meaning it is developed in-house without reliance on third-party components. This control not only enhances security but also allows for seamless integration of AI features across their PAM, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), and endpoint management solutions.
Transforming Security Operations with AI
At the core of ManageEngine’s AI-driven solutions is a structured approach built around three key pillars: simulation, detection, and architecture. By simulating various threat scenarios, organizations can better prepare themselves for potential attacks.
Real-time detection is achieved through a combination of behavioral and traditional methods, enabling rapid identification of threats. This layered approach is instrumental in creating a cohesive cybersecurity architecture that enhances the organization’s overall resilience.
The benefits of this AI integration extend beyond mere alerts; it aids in prioritizing threats, recommending appropriate actions, and facilitating swift containment measures. By providing a unified cybersecurity experience, ManageEngine empowers organizations to move from merely reacting to threats to making intelligence-led decisions that enhance their security postures.
ManageEngine’s Key Messages at GISEC 2025
During the GISEC conference, one of ManageEngine’s pivotal messages centered around the necessity of adopting a unified security platform. Banerjee emphasized that as cyber threats continue to evolve, organizations can no longer rely on isolated tools and siloed data. They need an integrated platform that combines intelligence-led predictions, real-time threat detection, and rapid mitigation—all under one umbrella.
By consolidating capabilities like SIEM and PAM, along with endpoint management, ManageEngine provides businesses with a comprehensive overview of their threat landscape, all backed by AI-driven insights. This integrated approach helps organizations not just to defend against threats but to navigate a rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape effectively.
AI as an Enabler in Cybersecurity
While AI can pose risks, Banerjee views it primarily as a driver of positive change. Within ManageEngine, AI capabilities are being embedded across over 60 enterprise products—not just in cybersecurity, but throughout various domains like helpdesk, IT operations, and identity management tools.
For instance, the introduction of an AI-driven agent behavior feature across the product suite exemplifies how effectively integrated AI can enhance function and mitigate risk. Instead of using AI merely for marketing hype, ManageEngine focuses on functionality that genuinely enhances productivity, decision-making, and operational efficiency.
In cybersecurity specifically, AI features empower organizations to better understand threat patterns, respond more swiftly, and manage risks effectively. Outside of security, they automate repetitive tasks and offer intelligent insights, streamlining operations and making teams more effective.
By concentrating on practical AI applications, ManageEngine is committed to helping organizations meet the escalating demands of today’s business and security environments, ensuring they remain resilient in an ever-changing threat landscape.
