Aloysius Cheang, the Chief Security Officer at Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, says Huawei will focus on demonstrating the value it can bring to the industry by safeguarding businesses on their digital transformation journey

Tell us about the cybersecurity trends for 2024.
As we look ahead to 2024, several key cybersecurity trends are emerging that will shape the landscape. One of the most prominent is the increasing importance of AI-driven cyber resilience, a core theme of GISEC 2024. Organizations recognize the need to leverage AI and machine learning to enhance their ability to detect, respond to, and recover from cyber threats in an increasingly complex and fast-moving threat environment.

Another major trend is the growing focus on cloud security and data protection. As more companies migrate their operations and data to the cloud, ensuring the security and privacy of that data becomes paramount. Building trust in an increasingly connected, intelligent world will require robust security measures and a commitment to transparency and accountability.

What is the theme of your participation at GISEC 2024?
Huawei’s theme for GISEC 2024 is “Towards a Trusted, Resilient and Fully Connected Intelligent World”, where we will demonstrate the value Huawei can bring to the industry by not only safeguarding businesses on their digital transformation journey but also elevating their cybersecurity and privacy protection capabilities as vital tools for business success in the new digital landscape.

At the event, we will showcase our comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, which encompasses our collaborative efforts with partners to develop and promote industry standards, as well as our cutting-edge security solutions designed to help organizations navigate the evolving threat landscape. We can help our visitors, customers and partners envision a future where digital technologies drive innovation and growth and enable a more secure and trustworthy digital ecosystem.

Which products and solutions will you be showcasing at GISEC 2024?
Huawei will showcase various innovative products and solutions at GISEC 2024, designed to help organizations strengthen their cybersecurity posture and protect their critical assets.

One of the highlights will be our HUAWEI CLOUD security solutions, including security operations solutions empowered by SecMaster, which leverages AI and machine learning to analyze security threats and automate threat response, and end-to-end data security solutions. We will also demonstrate our OceanProtect Backup Storage and Appliance solutions, which provide advanced data protection and resilience against the growing threat of ransomware attacks.

Other vital solutions on display will include our Multilayer Ransomware Prevention (MRP) solution, HiSec SASE solution for integrated cloud-network-edge-endpoint protection, HiSec Endpoint EDR for ransomware detection and recovery, and eKit Kunling secure and reliable network solutions designed specifically for SMEs.

How are you equipped to help companies overcome digital security and privacy challenges?
At Huawei, we are committed to helping companies overcome the complex digital security and privacy challenges they face in today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape. We achieve this through a multi-faceted approach encompassing advanced technology solutions, a robust cybersecurity strategy, and close collaboration with industry partners.

Our comprehensive, efficient, and secure network architecture solutions are designed to provide organizations with the strong foundation they need to protect their digital assets. We also prioritize a “security first” approach in our cloud-native innovation, ensuring security is built in from the ground up.

Transparency, openness, and trustworthiness are core principles that guide the development of our solutions. We work closely with customers to understand their unique security needs and develop solutions that are not only effective but also responsible and accountable.

Ultimately, our goal is to enable organizations to better protect their customer data assets and confidently navigate the challenges of an increasingly connected, intelligent world.

Is there a skills gap in the cybersecurity industry? What needs to be done to bridge that gap?
The cybersecurity skills gap is a well-recognized challenge facing the industry globally. As cyber threats evolve and become more sophisticated, there is a growing need for skilled professionals who can help organizations defend against these threats.

Huawei recognises the importance of building a solid cybersecurity talent pipeline, and we are actively working to contribute to this effort. Our collaboration with partners on developing cybersecurity standards and best practices is one way we are helping to advance the collective knowledge and expertise of the industry.

Additionally, we offer a comprehensive training and certification portfolio designed to help professionals at all levels develop and enhance their cybersecurity skills. Further, by investing in education and upskilling initiatives at the university level through initiatives such as the annual ICT Competition, we believe we can help bridge the talent gap and build a more resilient and secure digital future.

Addressing the cybersecurity skills gap will ultimately require a concerted effort from across the industry. This includes increased investment in education and training programs and initiatives to attract more diverse talent to the field. By working together to prioritize cybersecurity skills development, we can ensure that organizations have the expertise they need to protect against the ever-evolving threat landscape.