A new threat is emerging as geopolitical conflicts escalate. Cyberattacks on supply chains have become a significant cybersecurity issue for businesses in the UAE.
A study by Kaspersky reveals that this threat has emerged as organizations grapple with talent shortages and competing security priorities.
The study found that over 40 per cent of respondents in the UAE reported a lack of qualified IT security personnel. This is likely to be a major hurdle for managing these risks. About 47 per cent of respondents explained that companies are struggling to focus on major security tasks to remove the risk of trusted relationship attacks and the supply chain.
But what is a ‘trusted relationship’ and why does it matter for a business? These are cyberattacks in which fraudsters target and exploit the trust and access shared with third-party vendors.
The reports also highlight a growing challenge as companies become increasingly dependent on digital ecosystems and third-party vendors. This results in more potential entry points for fraudsters and cyber attackers.
The rise in such threats comes as businesses boost digital adoption and shift towards critical operations to the cloud. Thus, increasing the exposure of cyber risks for their businesses. The security and AI operations company Rubrik has also introduced new data protection capabilities for Google Workspace. The aim is to help businesses reduce cyber threats and strengthen cyber resilience as reliance on cloud-based tools continues to rise.
On March 22, the UAE Cybersecurity Council warned that remote-work-related cyber attacks rose by over 40 per cent in recent years. This took place as schools, universities, and some businesses shifted to distance learning and remote work due to the current geopolitical conflicts.