At the recent GISEC Global 2025 held from May 6 to 8 at the Dubai World Trade Center, major players in the cybersecurity industry gathered to address the evolving landscape of digital threats and the pressing need for robust security measures. The event showcased a range of initiatives aimed at enhancing cybersecurity across the region, including significant partnerships and innovative training programs.
One of the standout announcements came from PowerDMARC, which signed Onetic Africa as a Value-Added Distributor in Africa. This partnership aims to empower African enterprises, Managed Service Providers (MSPs), and resellers with advanced email authentication solutions, including DMARC, SPF, DKIM, MTA-STS, TLS-RPT, and BIMI. Maitham Al Lawati, CEO of PowerDMARC, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, "Partnering with Onetic Africa is a significant milestone for our expansion and growth in Africa. Their regional expertise and strong distribution ecosystem will be instrumental in expanding our presence and helping organizations across the continent secure their email domains with confidence."
Additionally, Zainab Al Lawati, Business Development Manager (MEA) at PowerDMARC, highlighted the commitment to simplifying email authentication for organizations throughout Africa. "This partnership reflects our commitment to working closely with leaders who understand the unique security challenges businesses face," she added.
On the other hand, Tenable, a prominent cybersecurity firm, is shifting its focus towards exposure management at GISEC 2025. Bernard Montel, EMEA Technical Director and Security Strategist at Tenable, discussed the critical need for proactive strategies that prioritize exposure over traditional detection methods. "It’s about understanding the full range of exposures across the attack surface—from classical assets to the cloud, including identity and OT—in a single, holistic approach," Montel explained. He noted that this comprehensive view is essential for addressing the business risks associated with these exposures.
Tenable has recently introduced new features in vulnerability intelligence, risk prioritization, and web application scanning, which enhance the capabilities of its security platform. Montel pointed out that with the rise of operational technology (OT) cyberattacks, particularly in the Middle East, there is an urgent need for dedicated OT security solutions. "Misconfigurations in OT represent major exposure risks," he warned.
The increasing reliance on cloud technologies has transformed the cybersecurity landscape, with Montel revealing that Tenable's research found 70 percent of AI workloads have critical vulnerabilities, compared to 50 percent for classical workloads. "The business pressure to deploy AI fast often sidelines security," he cautioned, indicating a need for organizations to rethink their security strategies.
Meanwhile, the SANS Institute, a global leader in cybersecurity training and certification, participated in GISEC Global 2025 as a strategic partner. The SANS GISEC Academy provided free technical training sessions led by certified instructors, focusing on various cybersecurity domains. Ned Baltagi, Managing Director for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa at SANS, remarked on the growing threats in the region, stating, "Digital infrastructure is under increasing pressure from AI-powered threats that are more deceptive, adaptive, and persistent."
During the academy, instructor Jean-François Maes led a full-day track on Offensive Operations, covering topics such as malware evasion and common vulnerabilities found in cloud environments. Day two featured Ian Reynolds, who explored deception-based defenses and advanced threat hunting techniques, while Michael Hoffman focused on ICS/OT cybersecurity on the final day, drawing insights from real-world incidents.
Rob T Lee, Chief of Research at SANS, also made notable contributions at GISEC, presenting on the Dark Stage about the growing use of AI in cyberattacks and the evolving methodologies of attackers. "Attackers are no longer bound by time or complexity. What used to take weeks can now be done in minutes with tools that generate believable malware, deepfakes, and targeted phishing at scale," Lee stated. He emphasized the need for defenders to adapt and outthink their adversaries to keep pace with the rapidly changing threat landscape.
SANS also announced plans to host four training events throughout the Middle East in May, including SANS Doha, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. These events aim to further enhance the skills and knowledge of cybersecurity professionals in the region.
As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, the discussions and partnerships formed at GISEC Global 2025 highlight the industry's commitment to addressing the challenges posed by modern threats. With organizations like PowerDMARC, Tenable, and SANS leading the charge, there is a concerted effort to enhance cybersecurity measures and protect critical infrastructures across the globe.
The collaborative spirit and innovative approaches showcased at GISEC 2025 signal a proactive shift in the cybersecurity community, emphasizing the importance of education, partnership, and advanced technologies in the fight against cybercrime.
