The Middle East has long been viewed as an important region strategically, as well as a hotspot for a variety of security-related issues.
The internet age, it seems, may be affecting the nature of security concerns in that part of the world.
According to a recent AMEinfo report, a U.S. official recently told reporters that internet security has become a key priority for organizations and governments across the Middle East.
Dale Meyerrose, chief information officer for the U.S. National Intelligence Community and a recognized authority on internet protection, told guests at a Dubai press conference that current vulnerabilities are an area of concern for many in the region.
"Everyone is talking about network, enterprise and cybersecurity, but no one is mentioning how vulnerable supply chains are to an IT compromise," Meyerrose said. "Governments and commercial entities are channelling billions into offensive and defensive technology but few are addressing cyber-threats to the supply chain."
According to Meyerrose, the problem is not limited to the fact that supply-chain security is often overlooked. In addition, he said, very few companies are using internet security products that are capable of monitoring technologies throughout the supply chain.
According to AMEinfo, Meyerrose highlighted the need for organizations to shift their focus toward potential threats and vulnerabilities.
"We have to be more concerned about how information can be exploited, stolen or put at risk through a supply chain compromise," he said.
The potential for damage from cyber attacks, Meyerrose said, is "extremely real" and, as a result, the "capabilities scale" needs to be tipped against potential attackers.
A growing number of organizations use cloud computing solutions to ensure their data is protected. According to a recent CloudTweaks report, for example, many companies use the cloud for disaster recovery. Such companies may be well-advised to adopt data protection solutions to ensure confidential information does not fall into the wrong hands, experts say.
