eHosting DataFort highlights the key trends for upsurge in Managed Security Services in UAE

eHosting DataFort (eHDF), the region’s leading Cloud Infrastructure, Managed Hosting and Security Services Provider, today announced the growing trend of Managed Security Services (MSS) globally as well as in the Middle East. Few reasons for the increasing demand are the increased levels of Cyber threats, in-house shortage of security skills talent, digital transformation and increased adoption of BYOD due to the progressive increase in the mobile workforce. Simultaneously, organizations are also relying on MSS providers with portfolios that include advanced predictive security intelligence and analysis as well as detection services to manage and mitigate the complex security landscape.

Markets and Markets projects that the global MSS market will expand at a CAGR of 14.6 percent between 2016 and 2021 and that the sector will be worth nearly USD33.7 billion by 2021. The research also suggests that the increase is not just related to growth of enterprise IT infrastructure, but also corelates to the increase in compliance requirements. Simultaneously, SMBs are now adopting advanced IT technologies and are keen to ensure a secure IT infrastructure. This segment is expected to see the highest growth of Managed Security Services during the projected forecast period.

“The frequency and very powerful security threats that organizations are facing are now being recognized and discussed in boardrooms. Focused efforts are going into detailed strategies to build and implement comprehensive security for risk management and protection. The fast-paced developments in cybersecurity also call for specialized skills. Most organizations are unprepared to adapt to this next chapter. As MSS providers, we see increasing number of CIOs contracting these services to reduce the vulnerabilities to attacks as well as enable a quick response to information security breach incidents.,” said, Yasser Zeineldin, CEO, eHosting DataFort.

According to a Cisco 2016 Annual Security Report, there is a deficit of 1 million security practitioners, increasing to 1.5 million by 2019. Globally, 26% of organisations are facing staffing shortages, and 35% are facing expertise shortages with security jobs growing at 12 times the rate of the overall job market, and 3 times the rate of general IT. This skills shortfall is the basis for the increasing use of MSS globally.

Digital penetration across the government and business sectors in the Middle East has been growing at a very rapid pace. The push is being spearheaded by local governments especially in countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt with digital transformation strategies to building smart cities as well as for eCommerce. While the progress has very positive consequences for the society at large as well as businesses, it also brings along the added challenges of cybersecurity.

“As an MSS provider, we focus on ensuring that our services are positioned to provide advanced threat intelligence and management for larger organizations as well as the growing SMB markets in the Middle East. Our team of skilled professionals and experts are equipped to provide short as well as long term security strategies and we have continued to grow our customer base by meeting their diverse demands. This is supported by the substantial investments we make in updating and upgrading our services with new technologies and services to stay abreast with the dynamic threat environment,” added Zeineldin.