Leading global cybersecurity firm Zendata has partnered with Qatari technology conglomerate Salam Technology in a landmark $35 million, five-year deal aimed at providing state-of-the-art services to companies in Qatar and across the Gulf.
The partnership empowers Salam Technology with advanced capabilities to service leading cyber companies, enhancing the local ecosystem’s cyber maturity and creating new jobs for Qatari and Gulf nationals. As part of the agreement, Salam Technology will operate one of the Gulf’s most efficient Security Operations Centres (SOC), powered by Zendata. This will provide Qatari and Gulf companies with access to an elite cyber Incident Response Team, international cyber consultants, Threat Intelligence, and unique cyber Intellectual Property (IP).
SOC as a Business (SaaB) Model
The deal introduces Zendata’s innovative ‘SOC as a Business’ (SaaB) model, designed to transform SOCs into revenue centers. This model allows Zendata to partner with companies to develop customized SOCs that enhance security and unlock new profit streams. Profits are shared between Zendata and its clients, making cyber security a collectively profitable venture. This collaboration positions Salam Technology and Zendata as the first line of defense for private and public entities, companies, and international organizations.
Fawaz Hadid, General Manager of Salam Technology, stated, “Salam Technology is proud to partner with Zendata, a global leader in cybersecurity. With our 72-year legacy of serving Qatar and the region, this collaboration marks a pivotal moment in our commitment to providing exceptional IT and OT cybersecurity services. By combining Zendata’s cutting-edge technology and expertise with Salam Technology’s established presence and deep understanding of the local market, we will be ideally positioned to deliver the most advanced SOC MSSP services in the region.”
Beyond Technology
“This partnership goes beyond just technology. We share Zendata’s vision of fostering a robust cybersecurity ecosystem in the Gulf. The innovative SOC as a Business model presents a unique opportunity to empower businesses with world-class security solutions while also contributing to the development of a skilled Qatari and Gulf national workforce. We are confident that this collaboration will be instrumental in safeguarding critical infrastructure and enabling businesses across the region to thrive in the digital age,” added Hadid.
Isabelle Meyer, Co-CEO of Zendata, emphasized, “We have partnered with Salam Technology with a single goal in mind, to help Qatar and the wider GCC protect and develop its growing services industry and its critical infrastructure from cyber-attack. As one of the leading firms in cybersecurity, with a record of working alongside governments, MNCs, and law enforcement agencies, we are particularly well placed to support Qatar and regional players on their transformation journeys, and help leading regional companies thrive in an ever more complex threat landscape. As we expand across the Gulf, we are particularly pleased to have Salam Technology as our partner and Qatar as the launch country for our unique SOC as a Business (SaaB) product.”
In addition to SOC as a Business, Zendata offers a range of managed services and products, including the flagship ZEN360 Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), a 360-degree infrastructure protection with a 24/7 Security Operations Centre, Quick Reaction Incident Response, ZENAudit as an Audit Platform, the ZENRAD technology for dynamic protection adjustment, and various other supporting services.
