Critical infrastructure organisations across the Middle East face an expanding cyber-physical attack surface as IT, operational technology (OT) and Internet of Things (IoT) environments become increasingly connected. Greater integration supports digital transformation and smart infrastructure projects, but also exposes legacy systems and operational networks to advanced, AI-enabled threats.
Bachir Moussa, Vice President of Sales for EMEA South at Nozomi Networks, discusses the shift from conventional incident response to continuous cyber risk management. He explains why comprehensive visibility is essential, how AI can strengthen anomaly detection and risk prioritisation, and what organisations must do to protect connected operational environments from disruption.
How are critical infrastructure organisations shifting from incident response to continuous cyber risk management?
Incident response alone is no longer sufficient to protect organisations from advanced and AI-enabled attacks. Critical infrastructure operators need a holistic programme that continuously identifies risk, detects threats and supports a rapid, informed response. This approach requires visibility across IT, operational technology (OT) and Internet of Things (IoT) environments. Security teams must understand what is moving across connected networks and detect suspicious activity in real time. Accurate intelligence and contextual information also give incident response teams the time and insight needed to contain threats before disruption occurs.
Why do visibility gaps remain a major security risk across OT and IoT environments?
Many OT environments were traditionally air-gapped from corporate IT networks and continue to rely on legacy technologies and protocols that can be difficult to secure. Growing IT and OT convergence has increased connectivity and flexibility, but it has also expanded the attack surface. Organisations need a unified strategy that brings together IT and OT technologies, people, processes and functions. Modernising operational environments allows security solutions to deliver consistent visibility, threat detection and response across both domains. Without this visibility, organisations cannot identify exposed assets, detect anomalies or understand the risks affecting critical operations.
How is the cyber-physical threat landscape evolving across the Middle East?
The Middle East is experiencing significant development across smart cities, digital transformation and connected infrastructure. This rapid innovation is creating new opportunities, but it is also attracting threat actors seeking to disrupt the systems being built across the region. Attackers are increasingly using AI-enhanced techniques to target connected IT, OT and IoT environments. Regional organisations must therefore strengthen security as new projects and infrastructure come online. Government cybersecurity councils in the UAE and other Middle Eastern markets also play an important role in establishing security requirements, raising awareness and helping organisations prepare for emerging threats.
What AI-driven security, threat intelligence and risk prioritisation capabilities will Nozomi Networks showcase at GISEC Global 2026?
Nozomi Networks has incorporated AI and machine learning into its platform from the outset. These capabilities support asset visibility, anomaly detection and the correlation of threats and risks across connected environments. GISEC Global 2026 provides an opportunity for us to demonstrate how these capabilities continue to evolve. This includes Vantage IQ, which allows different personas within an organisation to use embedded AI to understand security conditions and respond quickly when threats emerge. The platform helps customers and partners translate extensive operational data into actionable security insights.
How can organisations secure critical infrastructure as connectivity across operational environments continues to increase?
The starting point must be comprehensive visibility because organisations cannot protect assets they cannot see. This visibility should extend across the entire organisation rather than remain limited to one business unit or technology environment. Once this foundation is established, AI-enabled tools can identify anomalies, evaluate organisational risk and break that risk down by user, asset or site. Solutions such as those provided by Nozomi Networks can combine asset visibility, threat detection and risk intelligence, enabling security teams to apply measured controls quickly and reduce the likelihood of operational disruption.
Image Credit: Nozomi Networks
Source: Tahawul Tech