More than 170 companies from over 86 countries are showcasing their latest products and services to meet the growing demands for cybersecurity solutions in the region and beyond at the Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference (Gisec) 2019, in Dubai, UAE.

Gisec, the largest cybersecurity event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, opened today (April 1) and will run until April 3, at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, director general of Smart Dubai, today officially opened the conference.

Supported by Dubai Electronic Security Center, Dubai Police and Smart Dubai, the annual cybersecurity meet aims to unravel the complex web of cyber security, attracting an audience of industry experts and business leaders – with special appearances from some of the world’s greatest ever hackers, on-hand to guide businesses on where their systems could be susceptible to rogue attacks.

It is co-located alongside the Internet of Things Expo (IoTX) and the Future Blockchain Summit, the latter of which returns for its second year.

Opening the event, Bin Bishr took a tour of the show floor, and the delegation stopped at the stands of various exhibitors and government entities, including Dubai Electronic Security Center, Dubai Police, Nedaa, as well as Spire, Huawei, Proofpoint, SAP, Carbon Black and Crowdstrike.

Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice president, events and exhibitions management, Dubai World Trade Centre, said: “Cybersecurity is not a new phenomenon, but it has become an increasingly crucial topic for organisations around the world. As data breaches and cyber security attacks are keeping organisations and governments on their toes, GISEC offers to take a deep dive into both sides of the equation preparing businesses and governments alike for this new era of connectivity and data.”

“Together with IoTX and Future Blockchain Summit, Gisec and Dubai World Trade Centre’s Future Technology Week will shed light on the smart technologies that are creating intelligent cities and on how Blockchain is changing the way we interact with one another,” she added.

With the Middle East and Africa (MEA) cybersecurity market forecast to reach $34.6 billion by 2023, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.6 per cent, Gisec will be the region’s premiere platform for any business or entity looking to make their systems impenetrable.

Headlined by two of the world’s most famous hackers, Kevin Mitnick – once on the FBI’s Most Wanted list after hacking more than 40 major corporations – and Jamie Woodruff – Europe’s top ethical hacker renowned for hacking Kim Kardashian’s website, as well as that of Google, Microsoft, Facebook and Twitter – Gisec’s debut Dark Stage will be centre-point for groundbreaking hacking expertise.

The Dark Stage is a first ever for Dubai, where an open forum will take a deep dive into the dark web and perform exciting live hacks as way of exposing potential threats this new platform poses.

Other new show features include Gisec’s Secret Briefings, a series of closed-door lectures delivered by senior leaders to senior leaders, and a dedicated B2B matchmaking programme aimed at helping businesses find the right vendors for their software. The event will also host ISC2 cyber security workshops, with full professional accreditation, and more than 12,000 visitors are expected across its three days.

Leading brands taking part include Huawei, SAP, Vodafone Business, Etisalat Digital, Recorded Future and Tahaluf Al Emarat Technical Solutions.

Emile Abou Saleh, regional director, Middle East and Africa, at show sponsors Proofpoint, said: “Gisec represents a cornerstone in the Middle East cybersecurity events calendar, and a fantastic opportunity to meet partners, customers and prospects of the highest quality over the course of a few days.” – TradeArabia News Service