Intelligent CIO Middle East Issue 16 | Page 87

FINAL WORD and to reap the advantages that digital innovation offers. Trust and confidence are attitudes that must emerge from a secure digital network, and should they be reinforced by robust cyber security policies and practices, they can provide the basis on which economic activity can expand exponentially. Organisations should incorporate cyber security into every aspect of their digital operations. As we are witnessing time and again in media reports covering cyber breaches, the failure to invest in cyber security can at the very least result www.intelligentcio.com in operational stagnation, and is more likely to manifest in failure or a large bill to clean up the mess following a breach incident. Many cyber attacks result in disruption and losses that amount to many times more than what it would have cost to implement a proactive cyber security programme in the first place. Forecasts from international research houses predicting just how much will be invested in cyber security in the coming years and decades is only part of the story. This investment, while significant and vital, does not take into consideration the potential build-up of potential business gains should digital infrastructure be secured and trusted, and then utilised efficiently. Cyber security is not just an ICT issue. It’s a mission critical issue that should be treated as a priority across an organisation’s management framework. Stakeholders should be taking companies to task, understanding their cyber security policies and protocols, and ensuring its potential to contribute to long-term business success. Rabih Dabboussi is Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Business Development at DarkMatter. Rabih may be contacted on Twitter @RabihDabboussi INTELLIGENTCIO 87