Cybersecurity experts discuss the challenges of artificial intelligence technologies at the information security conference "MENA-ISC 2023" in Riyadh in September 

Coming to Riyadh on September 12th and 13th, the 11th edition of the Middle East and North Africa Information Security Conference is themed, “Cognitive Cyber: Evolution from Reactive to Predictive Cyber Leveraging AI & Emerging Technologies: IT, OT & IoT
 
The Saudi population today has more access to the internet than ever. From banking to government related services, the internet has permeated all aspects of everyday life and makes many processes smoother for the Kingdom’s residents. The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aims to digitally transform the economy in a pioneering and ultra-modern fashion which can be seen by the fact that Saudi Arabia is ranked 1st in the Government Strategy Index for Artificial Intelligence in the Tortoise Intelligence Report and is currently 4th globally in Digital Systems Preparedness.
With an aim to realize the goals of Vision 2030, a majority of all companies across all industries in Saudi Arabia have become digitally assisted, if not gone fully digital. There is no industry that has been left untouched by this trend, and the front-runners of all industries being the companies that adopt digitization and make it a part of their blueprint for the future. It is clear that companies should focus on embracing a digital-first strategy and design products to take advantage of the accelerated adoption across the region.
With this growing trend of digitization also comes the concern of security, one that companies across all industries often raise and while AI has given cybercriminals newer ways of launching attacks, it has also changed cybersecurity into a reactive affair rather than a predictive one.
With the lines between the two blurred, AI-driven cybersecurity is becoming the trend due to its offerings of advanced threat detection, real-time response and automation and scalability. AI-driven cybersecurity makes it easier to predict attacks beforehand rather than react to them later, a stance that saves the $6.53mn that a company exposed to a cyberattack loses on average. The importance of MENA ISC is multi-fold, especially for Saudi Arabia which is the largest market for information and communication technology in the MENA region.
Many of the region's thought leaders in cybersecurity and AI will be convening in the Hilton Hotel, Riyadh, on the 12th & 13th of September, to advance this thought process at VirtuPort’ s 11th Edition of MENA ISC, a conference that sees the who’s who from the industry come together and discuss networking, foster collaboration, develop skill, encourage regional cooperation and collaboration as well as drives the conversations in the region about the adoption and usage of this emerging technology. VirtuPort’s CEO, Samir Omar, said, "In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, our Cognitive Cyber Security Conference serves as a beacon of thought leadership, illuminating the path forward for Saudi Arabia's unwavering commitment to maintaining its prestigious position as the number one global force in AI strategy."