Cisco, a global leader in networking and security, has unveiled key cybersecurity trends for the Middle East ahead of Black Hat MEA 2024, set to take place in Riyadh from November 26 to 28. The insights, based on analysis by Cisco Talos, reveal a sharp rise in identity-based and ransomware attacks between July and September 2024.
Key Threats: Credential Theft and Ransomware
Cisco Talos, one of the world’s most trusted threat intelligence teams, identified an increase in identity-based attacks, with credential theft comprising 25% of incident response cases. These attacks have become increasingly accessible to cybercriminals due to the widespread availability of tools.
Ransomware continued to be a dominant threat, accounting for nearly 40% of reported incidents. New variants such as RansomHub, RCRU64, and DragonForce surfaced, alongside known variants like BlackByte and Cerber. Organizations in the education, manufacturing, and financial services sectors were particularly vulnerable, representing over 30% of the compromised cases—a trend consistent with earlier quarters of 2024.
Cisco at Black Hat MEA 2024
Cisco will participate as a Strategic Sponsor at Black Hat MEA 2024 under the theme “Innovating a New Era of Security.” The company plans to showcase cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions, particularly its AI-ready data centers and clouds, designed to secure applications and devices across distributed networks.
Salman Faqeeh, Managing Director of Cisco Saudi Arabia, emphasized the company’s commitment to bolstering digital resilience. “The rise in identity-based attacks and ransomware reflects the rapidly evolving threat landscape. Cisco remains dedicated to equipping our customers with advanced security solutions to strengthen their defenses,” he stated.
Cisco will also use the platform to share insights into preventing identity-based attacks, detecting breaches, and minimizing exploit risks. Splunk, a Cisco company, will exhibit solutions that enhance Security Operations Centers (SOC) and Operational Technology (OT) security.
Keynote on Security in the AI Era
As part of its program, Cisco will host a keynote address by Lothar Renner, Managing Director of Cisco Security, EMEA. Titled “Redefining Security in the Age of AI,” the presentation will highlight Cisco’s approach to navigating the complexities of cybersecurity in an AI-driven era.
Cisco’s participation at Black Hat MEA reaffirms its role as a pioneer in cybersecurity, continuously innovating to meet the challenges posed by an ever-evolving digital threat landscape.
