Black Hat MEA has evolved into one of the most influential cybersecurity events in the world. What began as a gathering for engineers and software programmers to meet cutting-edge security experts and hackers has now grown into a must-attend conference for anyone in the cybersecurity field. Today, it’s the place to be for professionals across the industry, offering an unparalleled platform for innovation, collaboration, and learning.

For Axidian, Black Hat MEA 2024 was an essential opportunity to showcase our identity security solutions. The event strikes the perfect balance between size and activity, creating an exciting atmosphere. Every corner of the exhibition hall is filled with meaningful interactions — whether through presentations, workshops, or one-on-one meetings with new and existing partners and clients.

This year, Axidian participated in Black Hat not only to strengthen the position in the region but also to contribute to the ongoing evolution of cybersecurity best practices. Black Hat gave us the opportunity to engage with both the Saudi Arabian and global cybersecurity ecosystems. It reaffirmed our commitment to providing effective solutions. This includes Axidian Shield, our Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) solution, along with other key products.

In this article, we’ll dive into the highlights of our participation at Black Hat Saudi 2024, share what we achieved, and reflect on how we continue to drive the future of identity security forward.

What Happened During the Event: Axidian at Black Hat

The 2024 Black Hat event attracted a diverse range of local and international companies, all eager to showcase their innovations in IT and cybersecurity. Our booth became a hub for discussions on identity security, drawing attention from security leaders, CISOs, CTOs, senior cybersecurity specialists, and VPs from various sectors, including government agencies, BFSI, FMCG, and more. The event gathered a diversity of attendees from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, and several African countries.

Connecting with Our Partners and Industry Leaders

A huge thank you to our partners, with whom we had the chance to connect and collaborate during the event. It was invaluable to meet with both long-time allies and new faces in the industry. The conversations were insightful, and we’re excited about the opportunities to continue working together to strengthen cybersecurity across regions.

Sharing Insights during the Axidian Shield presentation

Throughout the event, Axidian hosted several engaging presentations, where we invited attendees to dive deeper into the current threat landscape and identity security. 

The core message we communicated was simple but vital: the human element remains one of the most common points of failure in cybersecurity, and identity is one of the most targeted areas by cybercriminals. As the digital landscape evolves, so do the threats targeting identities. This makes identity security more critical than ever, and it’s clear that organizations must take proactive measures to safeguard their assets.

At the heart of our discussions was Axidian Shield, our Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) solution. We demonstrated how it is uniquely designed to tackle today’s identity-based threats. 

By capturing all access-related events within a protected perimeter, Axidian Shield offers continuous monitoring of both user and service accounts. Through advanced behavioral analysis, it identifies anomalies and flags potential threats before they escalate. This proactive approach empowers organizations to safeguard their most valuable assets — user credentials — ensuring robust defenses against identity-based attacks.

Media Engagement and Expert Insights

In addition to our presentations, we had the opportunity to engage with the media, further underlining the importance of cybersecurity awareness, particularly in the realm of identity security. Our CEO, Georgy Ovanesyan, shared valuable insights with a local media outlet, discussing Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation, the country’s cybersecurity needs, and Axidian’s role in meeting these challenges. It was a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the ongoing conversation about cybersecurity in the region.

Another insightful conversation took place with Anna Surovova, our Head of Sales and Partnerships. She shared her perspectives on Axidian’s role at Black Hat, the current challenges facing the industry, and the future of cybersecurity. It’s rewarding to see that our expertise and opinions are not only valued by our partners and clients but are also respected within the wider cybersecurity community.

Key Takeaways from Black Hat: What’s Next for Axidian

The Black Hat 2024 event proved to be a highly successful and insightful experience for Axidian. The event attracted a diverse range of participants, from top-level executives to eager graduates, all coming together to engage in workshops and discussions about modern cybersecurity trends, challenges, and technologies. This combination of workshops and hands-on activities, like the student challenge games, created an engaging and dynamic atmosphere for everyone involved.

For us, Black Hat was the perfect platform to dive into market trends and explore how cybersecurity is evolving in Saudi Arabia and the region. It was also an ideal opportunity to showcase our products and better understand our customers’ needs and interests. We were excited to witness the level of discussion at our booth, engaging with cybersecurity professionals who demonstrated deep expertise and genuine curiosity about the latest trends and solutions in identity security.

Focus on Zero Trust and Emerging Challenges

One of the standout insights from the event was the strong focus on the Zero Trust model, which local companies are increasingly adopting as part of their cybersecurity roadmaps. However none of them have fully achieved it due to a lack of automation. 

Automation is crucial for managing Zero Trust at scale. ITDR solutions, like Axidian Shield, enhance Zero Trust with real-time threat detection, automated multi-factor authentication enforcement, and continuous monitoring of user and device behavior. Its seamless integration and agentless deployment automate threat responses across the security stack, ensuring consistent, error-free enforcement.

We also observed several gaps that still need attention, such as the lack of traditional multi-factor authentication (MFA) and insufficient control over administrative accounts. These uncovered areas indicate that although progress is being made, there’s still a long way to go to ensure comprehensive security coverage.

However, the good news is that local regulations from organizations like NCA and SAMA are actively pushing businesses in the right direction, driving the adoption of better cybersecurity practices and standards. It’s clear that the region is committed to improving its security posture, and Axidian is eager to contribute to this growth.

Looking Ahead: Axidian’s Future in Saudi Arabia

Our participation in Black Hat 2024 strengthened Axidian’s presence in the local and global cybersecurity ecosystem, reaffirming our commitment to delivering innovative and reliable solutions. 

As we look to the future, we are excited about expanding our footprint in Saudi Arabia and beyond. We are currently planning to establish a local branch in 2025-2026. This move will underscore our dedication to fostering local business opportunities and contributing to the growth of the region’s cybersecurity landscape.

In addition to our growing partner network, we are actively engaging with new strategic partners, further solidifying our position as a leader in identity security solutions.

A big thank you to everyone who participated and made the event a success. The journey doesn’t end here — let’s keep pushing the boundaries of cybersecurity and continue working together to make the digital world safer for all!

Stay tuned for more updates from Axidian as we hit key regional events and share our insights. Together, we’ll make the future of cybersecurity stronger, safer, and smarter.

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