In a region where digital transformation is accelerating at pace, the cybersecurity landscape is evolving just as fast. From hybrid cloud adoption to safeguarding critical infrastructure, the demands on enterprise IT teams are mounting. To understand how organizations can navigate these complexities while turning security into a business enabler, Dubai Diaries spoke with Shadi Khuffash, Senior Regional Director, South Middle East at Fortinet. In this exclusive Q&A, he shares insights on consolidating infrastructure, measuring the true cost of cyber incidents, and the evolving role of cybersecurity in shaping trust, resilience, and innovation.
With security operations growing more complex, how can CIOs and CISOs consolidate their security infrastructure without compromising threat visibility or control?
Many security leaders are buried under a patchwork of tools that don’t talk to each other. The answer isn’t more technology, it’s smarter integration. Consolidation works when it’s built on a platform that can stitch together threat data, enforce policy across environments, and automate response without losing context. Visibility must remain end-to-end, from data center to edge. The right architecture can reduce noise and response times, and give teams the visibility and flexibility to focus on strategy, not just firefighting.
What are the most overlooked financial or operational impacts of cyber incidents, and how can a proactive cybersecurity posture translate into measurable ROI for business leaders?
Boards often focus on fines and breaches. However, silent losses like slowed decision-making, customer churn, or diverted innovation budgets hurt just as much. A proactive security posture isn’t just risk mitigation, but operational insurance. When infrastructure is secure by design, teams can move faster, compliance costs shrink, and brand trust holds steady. Cybersecurity must be considered as a growth enabler, and not just governance.
As organizations expand into hybrid and multicloud environments, what should decision-makers prioritize to ensure scalability and consistent security across platforms?
Every new cloud provider, SaaS platform, or remote site adds another layer of risk, unless security is baked in from the start. Decision-makers should focus on policy consistency, identity-based access, and real-time visibility across the board. Relying on siloed tools per environment is no longer viable. It’s about creating a unified control layer that scales with the business, not against it. The architecture needs to support agility without opening the door to complexity or blind spots.
How can cybersecurity evolve from being seen as a cost center to becoming a business enabler—especially in driving innovation and customer trust?
Security is often the invisible layer behind great user experiences. When done right, it allows businesses to launch faster, operate globally, and build trust with customers. The shift happens when CISOs speak in business outcomes, not just risk reports and implementation costs. Secure APIs, reliable uptime, and built-in compliance don’t just reduce threats, they open doors to markets. Trust isn’t a by-product of security anymore; it’s the product and businesses must always place emphasis on effective cybersecurity.
What distinguishes your approach in supporting enterprise IT teams beyond the technology—particularly in advisory, ecosystem collaboration, or managed services?
Support isn’t just about raising tickets, it’s about providing insight and intelligent action. What teams need today is a partner that can advise on architecture, help build internal capability, and offer flexible models for scaling. Whether that’s a tight integration with existing tools, co-managed SOC services, or hands-on training for regional compliance, it’s taking the journey with the customer, not just handing over the technology.
Fortinet’s Engage Partner Program is our way of helping partners to engage and succeed in today’s fast-moving security environment. This includes access to industry-leading expertise and specializations that set them up for success in areas such as SD-WAN, Cloud Security, Secure Networking Firewall, Secure Networking LAN, SASE, Operational Technology, and Security Operations.
