EDGE | April-May 2026 3 EDITOR’S LET TER Safety sits at the core of what we need as people. In Maslow’s hierarchy, it follows the basics, and at the heart of safety is security. The ability to trust someone, or something. An organisation. A system. An infrastructure that holds. Over the past month, that sense of trust has been tested. For many across the region, there has been a quiet shift. A heightened awareness. A question in the back of our minds about how secure the systems around us really are. And yet, we have remained safe. Even with the uncertainty. Even with the discomfort that comes from recognising how interconnected and exposed our world has become. This issue is a response to that moment. Because while conversations around risk can feel heavy, they are necessary. The digital world is our world. It shapes how we work, communicate, and function as societies. Its protection directly impacts our well-being and the stability of the systems we rely on every day. That is what we explore in our cover story with Eugene Kaspersky. Having spent half his life protecting cyberspace, he brings a perspective that feels grounded in reality. There is no sense of exaggeration in how he speaks about today’s threat landscape. Instead, there is clarity. Eugene advocates for global cooperation and shared responsibility across borders and industries. In a world where threats move faster than response, resilience depends on working together. As you fl ip further into the issue, we present Middle East’s leading security voices, individuals shaping how organisations approach risk, governance, and protection at a time when the stakes are high. Because security today spans everything. From defence to cybersecurity. From the infrastructure that powers cities to the apps we open without thinking twice. And increasingly, it shapes something more personal, our peace of mind. The quiet reassurance that the world around is working as it should. Which is precisely why this conversation matters now. Because security shapes how we live and move forward. And if not now, then when do we take it seriously? FROM MY NOTEBOOK o I’M PROUD OF... frontline workers, defence systems, and government leaders holding this region together, often under pressure unseen, keeping systems running and people safe. I’M NOTICING... how workforce strategy is being rewritten, with layoff s prompting a deeper look at skills, structure, and resilience amongst people and their leaders. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO... seeing how the industry builds resilience, and whether collaboration becomes the way forward, not just in moments of crisis, but as a long-term mindset. Editor ITP.NET Edge_Apr2026_3_Editor Letter_13870982.indd 3Edge_Apr2026_3_Editor Letter_13870982.indd 323/04/2026 15:0923/04/2026 15:094 EDGE | April-May 2026 FEATURE How cyber threats are reshaping defence and operations BIG PICTURE The race for data is redefi ning power in the AI world NEWS NVIDIA backs Nebius with $2bn AI cloud investment NEWS AI-led security tie-up targets real- time threat response MAPPED Latest developments, trends across the GCC COVER STORY Eugene Kaspersky refl ects on decades of cybersecurity and calls for global cooperation 32 81214 24 22 Edge_Apr2026_4-5_Contents_13870983.indd 4Edge_Apr2026_4-5_Contents_13870983.indd 423/04/2026 15:1123/04/2026 15:11EDGE | April-May 2026 5 TIMELINE McAfee’s evolution from antivirus to enterprise security POWER LIST The leaders strengthening security across the region REPORT The reality of the cybersecurity skills gap GADGETS Our take on the Huawei Mate 80 Pro VINTAGE TECH When GPS falters, old-school navigation makes a comeback. LEADERSHIP STRATEGY Why CISOs need to focus on fundamentals under pressure 1820 363850 16 Edge_Apr2026_4-5_Contents_13870983.indd 5Edge_Apr2026_4-5_Contents_13870983.indd 523/04/2026 15:1123/04/2026 15:116 EDGE | April-May 2026 The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. To fl ip through previous editions of Edge magazine, visit itp.net/magazine-issue/edge PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 (0)4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London, Mumbai, Riyadh & Geneva ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO: Ali Akawi Managing Director: Martin Chambers Head of Business and Technology: Thomas Shambler EDITORIAL Group Editor: Thomas Mackie Editor: Pavneet Kaur +971 4 444 3152 / pavneet.kaur@itp.com ART Art Director: Amjad Ayche Art Editor: Tofi q Memon ADVERTISING Group Publishing Director: Natasha Pendleton +971 4 444 3248 / natasha.pendleton@itp.com Commercial Manager: Neha Ghosh +971 4 444 3257 / neha.ghosh@itp.com PHOTOGRAPHY Senior Video Editor: Liju Cheruvathur MARKETING Head of Events: Eleanor Ashton / eleanor.ashton@itp.com Senior Events Manager: Kate Galaktionova Events Manager: Gavin Moeketsi Associate Events Manager: Vrinali Nazareth Associate Events Manager: Maria Trishina Events Sales Executive: Jan Mokoala Events Sales Assistant: Joyce Salonga Events Coordinator: Bobbie Rosario PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION Senior Production & Distribution Manager: Balasubramanian P Production Manager: Anand Sundaram Circulation Executive: Rajesh Pillai Distribution Coordinator: Avinash Pereira ITP GROUP CEO: Ali Akawi CFO: Toby Jay Spencer-Davies PUBLISHED BY AND © 2026 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC. Edge_Apr2026_6_Flannel_13870984.indd 6Edge_Apr2026_6_Flannel_13870984.indd 623/04/2026 15:1523/04/2026 15:15BIG PICTURE 8 EDGE | April-May 2026 There was a time when companies spoke about data as the “new oil.” Today, it feels closer to gold THE DATA GOLD RUSH Edge_Apr2026_8-9_Big Picture_13876140.indd 8Edge_Apr2026_8-9_Big Picture_13876140.indd 823/04/2026 15:1623/04/2026 15:16BIG PICTURE EDGE | April-May 2026 9 Every organisation, from banks and hospitals to governments and retailers, is racing to collect and analyse as much information as possible. Customer behaviour, fi nancial transactions, health records, location signals, browsing history. All of it feeds the systems that now drive AI models, automate services, and shape business decisions. But every new dataset creates another point of risk. The more valuable data becomes, the more attractive it is to attackers. Cybercriminals have understood this shift faster than most organisations. Where money once sat in vaults, it now sits in databases. Recent incidents show how this race for data can quietly expand the attack surface. In the United States, the FBI recently began investigating suspicious cyber activity involving a system that stores sensitive surveillance information. While the compromised network was not classifi ed, it still held law-enforcement-sensitive records and personal data, raising concerns about how attackers gained access to infrastructure linked to investigations. Around the same time, healthcare technology fi rm TriZetto confi rmed that a cyberattack exposed personal and health data belonging to 3.4 million people. Healthcare data is particularly valuable because it contains deeply personal information that cannot simply be cancelled or reset like a password. These incidents highlight a broader reality. The digital economy is becoming increasingly data- hungry. AI systems need it to learn. Businesses need it to personalise services. Governments rely on it to run digital platforms. Yet every additional record stored somewhere creates another incentive for someone to steal it. Cybersecurity leaders often talk about protecting systems, networks, and devices. Increasingly, however, the real challenge lies in protecting the data itself. Once information exists, it becomes a potential target. The question organisations may need to ask more often is not only how to secure data, but also how much of it truly needs to be collected and stored in the fi rst place. In the rush to build smarter systems and more personalised services, the digital economy may be accumulating vast stores of information faster than it can protect them. And for cyber attackers, that gold rush is becoming impossible to ignore. Every new dataset created for innovation also becomes a new incentive for someone to steal it Edge_Apr2026_8-9_Big Picture_13876140.indd 9Edge_Apr2026_8-9_Big Picture_13876140.indd 923/04/2026 15:1623/04/2026 15:16Next >