Cyber protection specialist Acronis confirms participation in Gitex Technology Week 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has reinforced the dire weaknesses in personal and business cybersecurity the world over, but moreover here in the Middle East.

Most organisations expect to invest more to secure remote working long-term, with nearly 60 per cent of enterprises covered in a recent survey saying that they will invest over $250,000 to secure the telework systems in the next 24 months.

Beyond business fortifying their digital ramparts, individuals and human capital have proved to be a weak link too, with over half of the employees in the 16-24 age group in the UAE admitting to opening emails even though they looked suspicious, according to another poll.

Financial malware in the UAE has reportedly increased by 42.5 per cent during the first half of 2020 compared to the same period last year.

The broader GCC region registered an increase of 45 per cent in financial malware within the same period.

The threat in the region is exemplified by a staggering 95 per cent of Saudi businesses polled in August which said that they experienced a business-impacting cyberattack or compromise over the last 12 months.

That the need for adequate cybersecurity is front-and-centre among the priorities of businesses. The upcoming Gitex Technology Week which will take place from December 6-10 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, will focus largely on cybersecurity.

Acronis, a cyber protection company which was founded in Singapore in 2003 and employs over 1,500 employees in 33 locations across 18 countries will be present at the trade show.

“We have 5.5 million end-user customers and over half a million business customers. We operate in over 150 countries,” says Mareva Koulamallah, head of marketing and communications, Middle East and Africa at Acronis.

The range of services that Acronis offer include innovative backup, anti-ransomware, disaster recovery, storage, and enterprise file syncing and sharing solutions.

Among Acronis’ high-profile clients are some of the world’s biggest football clubs.

“We partner with leading sports teams and offer innovative sports technologies and cyber protection to them,” adds Koulamallah.

Acronis which has already developed AI-based active protection technology, blockchain-based data authentication and unique hybrid-cloud architecture will showcase its strength, capabilities and range of services at Gitex which will be the first major global tech event to be conducted as a physical event this year.

“Gitex has always been one of the key worldwide events on technology. After such a rough year for us all, going virtual for most of our relationships, Gitex is definitely a breath of fresh air. It’s now time to go back to physical events and we’re so appreciative that Gitex is taking a leading step allowing us to meet in a safe environment,” said Koulamallah.

Koulamallah also singles Dubai and the Gitex organizers for putting together the on-ground event despite the pandemic. “It is because Dubai is so prepared and organised, and the team at Gitex have gone out of their way to make sure everyone is safe, that we can meet in December.”

The Dubai World Trade Centre is certified with the Bureau Veritas SafeGuard label, which attests to its compliance with the highest hygiene standards.

The government of Dubai too is paying close attention to the topic of cybersecurity.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, launched the Dubai Cyber Index in July, the first of its kind in the world, that seeks to promote healthy competition among government entities in the field of cybersecurity.

Acronis and its message about the need for cyber protection and the latest innovations around this field will undoubtedly find a sizeable audience at Gitex.