Generative artificial intelligence is significantly affecting business spending on security, but misjudged investments may create a false sense of security that makes companies more vulnerable to threats, a senior executive of Palo Alto Networks has said.
While it is important for organisations to invest in protection, there is not always a direct correlation between the size of these investments and the level of protection gained, Ercan Aydin, regional vice president for the Middle East and Africa, told The National on the sidelines of the Gitex Global technology conference.
"There are various reasons for this, including organisations making investments in a large number of overlapping and often incompatible technologies. In this scenario, an organisation would typically face higher costs just to manage its complex security set-up," he said in an interview.
"Yet, the result would be patchy security, leaving them at risk of a serious security breach. A holistic, integrated approach offers greater security and cost efficiency."
Mr Aydin's warning follows a new study from the California-based cyber security company which showed that 97.6 per cent of chief executives and top-level managers in the UAE plan to increase their spending in artificial intelligence to safeguard their systems.
In the study of 250 respondents last month, they acknowledged a significant increase in cyber threats, with about 63 per cent reporting a higher number of attacks compared to 2023, and 14 per cent saying they experienced the same level of breaches compared to last year.
On the other hand, enterprises in the Emirates appear confident that they can improve their cyber security with AI, with 94 per cent saying they trust the effectiveness of AI tools in detecting or mitigating threats compared to traditional means, the report said.
In addition, concerns over the implications of using AI were highlighted. Half of respondents said they were worried about privacy issues, while 48 per cent were concerned about the potential misuse of AI and 45 per cent were wary about costs.
"AI is a broad term, encompassing a range of technologies including generative AI, machine learning and natural language processing, each of which can be used for good or bad in various ways," Mr Aydin said.
"In this light, it is not surprising that business leaders in the UAE have concerns about the potential implications of AI, because, in fact, everyone is still wrestling with this issue."
AI has long been used by enterprises for activities including cyber security. The birth of generative AI, made popular by OpenAI's ChatGPT last year, accelerated the technology's use.
However, with its rise came new threats. In a 2024 blog, Palo Alto identified six common, yet potentially dangerous, AI-induced cyber attacks: conducting reconnaissance, enhanced social engineering, malicious code development, automated vulnerability exploitation, deepfake attacks and prompt injection.
The first two are acts of gathering information on intended targets and tricking users with highly-polished phishing e-mails. All cases, however, share a common denominator: AI, generative AI in particular, can be used to prevent them, inasmuch as it can cause harm.
"The technology is being widely exploited by cyber criminals, leading to a surge in complex automated attacks. At the same time, cyber security specialists are also using AI to transform and improve security with the aim to always be one step ahead," Mr Aydin said.
Palo Alto's study showed that 90 per cent of senior executives in the UAE had already engaged AI for cyber security, with more than half saying they had made extensive implementations and 38 per cent having made limited deployments.
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
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Rating: 3.5/5
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
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The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Rating: 2/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
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- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
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- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Barings Bank
Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks, was
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
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Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
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