Staying ahead of the cyber threat with Sophos

GISEC 2026 is emphasizing AI-driven security and critical infrastructure resilience, themes that closely align with Sophos’ priorities. Sophos recognized that AI has changed the landscape of cybersecurity, as it allows attackers to move faster and automate their campaigns, making detection more challenging. To tackle this issue, Sophos developed Sophos Fusion, an AI-native cybersecurity defense system that integrates various security components into a coordinated defense architecture.

A common misconception about ransomware and AI-driven threats is that organizations treat them as standalone malware problems. However, most attacks begin with compromised identities, phishing emails, or stolen credentials. In fact, 79% of attacks in Sophos' 2026 State of Ransomware report used an identity-based initial access vector. By the time encryption takes place, the attacker has already gained access to the environment, moved laterally, escalated privileges and prepared for maximum disruption.

The perception of cyber risk is evolving in the region as it grows increasingly linked to geopolitical instability. Boards are now treating cyber risk as a strategic resilience issue, discussing it at the same level as business continuity or reputation. This change is driven by the highly connected digital economy in the region, which is exposed to geopolitical tension, supply chain risk, and growing regulatory expectations.

Sophos’ business roadmap for the next 12 months in the region revolves around helping organizations get ahead of risk before it becomes a crisis. The biggest opportunities for growth lie in managed detection and response (MDR) and cloud security, as most security environments were built up over time after incidents or audit findings.

This results in a security stack that is difficult to manage effectively, with limited visibility. Sophos aims to provide a scalable, open, and aligned solution that tackles the evolving threat landscape and the pace of change in the region.