Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: Cisco has identified Saudi Arabia as one of the most dynamic markets globally for artificial intelligence adoption and cloud transformation, stressing that the rapid pace of innovation is elevating the importance of cybersecurity as a critical safeguard for data, digital identities, and business continuity across vital sectors.

The company indicated that AI adoption in the Kingdom exceeds the global average, while AI-related risks and cyberattacks are also higher than in many other markets. This, Cisco noted, underscores the need to integrate security from the earliest stages of AI planning rather than treating it as a secondary consideration.

In an interview with Asharq Al Awsat, Lothar Renner, Vice President of Security at Cisco for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, pointed to findings from the company’s Global Cybersecurity Readiness Index and AI Readiness Index, both of which included Saudi participants. He highlighted that Saudi organizations show strong enthusiasm for AI adoption, alongside heightened exposure to AI-driven threats.

Renner noted that around 34 percent of Saudi organizations are already using AI to strengthen cyber resilience, while threat actors are moving faster and using more advanced techniques. He emphasized that innovation must be matched with robust governance, identity protection, and real-time network visibility.

Cisco also highlighted its local cybersecurity cloud presence in Saudi Arabia, including dedicated data centers and cloud platforms, aligning with data sovereignty requirements and supporting the Kingdom’s accelerating digital transformation.