2026 Edition
The IDC IT Security Summit 2026 brought together IT leaders to discover the latest trends and advancements in cybersecurity.
Shilpi Handa
Event Sessions
One Day Event 9:05 am
IDC Keynote: Securing the Enterprise in the Age of AI Agents
As AI agents gain autonomy to access data, make decisions, and act across enterprise systems, they introduce a new and rapidly expanding attack surface that traditional security models weren’t built to handle. This keynote draws on IDC research to outline how security leaders can govern agent identities, enforce guardrails, and build resilient architectures that let organizations scale agentic AI with confidence.
One Day Event 9:00 am
Welcome Address
Tom Seal
Tom Seal is Senior Research Director, Enterprise Software Sourcing Strategies at IDC. In this role he is tasked with developing processes and market intelligence to support IDC’s new AI-powered platform aimed at Technology Buyers. In his prior role at IDC he was an analyst covering Enterprise Applications in Europe.
Before joining IDC Tom worked in the procurement and supply chain space in both corporate and advisory roles.
Yaman Hakmi
Yaman Hakmi is a strategic technology leader driving innovation and transformation across the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa. As Director of Solutions Engineering at Splunk, he leads regional efforts to empower organizations in advancing their digital resilience through observability, cybersecurity, and cloud-driven strategies.
His leadership focuses on shaping digital strategies, fostering design thinking, and delivering measurable outcomes that enable customers to thrive in this AI-driven era.
Yaman is also a co-founder of a digital trust non-profit organization that advocates for advancing cybersecurity and digital literacy across the Middle East.
Saghir Khan
Khan is a Senior Cybersecurity Consultant at SBM, a regional MSSP and cybersecurity advisory firm, with over 18 years of experience securing critical infrastructure, Finanacial Sector, energy sector operations, and enterprise environments across the Middle East, and Global. He specialises in AI-powered security operations, SOC transformation, and regulatory alignment under NCA, SAMA, and PDPL frameworks. Khan holds CISM, CCISO, CISA, CEH, AAISM, and PMP certifications with Master Degree in Cyber Security and has led large-scale security deployments and adversarial validation programmes across the GCC. He advises CISOs and boards on translating security investment into measurable business outcomes.
Notis Iliopoulos
Notis Iliopoulos is EVP of Managed Risk & Controls Services at Obrela, with more than 28 years of experience in information security, risk management, and cybersecurity leadership across Greece, the Balkans, the Middle East and Central Europe. Throughout his career, he has held senior consulting, CISO, and business leadership roles, leading complex cybersecurity and risk management initiatives in critical sectors, including telecommunications and financial services.
Notis specializes in cyber risk management, governance, compliance, information security strategy, and resilience programs. He holds an MSc in Information Security from Royal Holloway, University of London, an MSc in Management of Business Innovation & Technology, and is certified CISA, CISM, and ISO 27001 Lead Auditor.
Tarek Kuzbari
Tarek Kuzbari is a seasoned leader with 20+ years of experience in the Technology Media and Telecommunications (TMT) sector, specializing in international market expansion, revenue growth, and P&L management. He has held senior roles at HUMAN, Cybereason, Bitdefender, Group-IB, SABA Software, and Kaspersky, managing $58m ARR across regions including MEA, APAC, and Eastern Europe. Tarek, an acknowledged industry influencer, has been listed among the top “30 under 30” by Gulf businesses and ACN’s “Top 25 Most Powerful Executives in the Middle East”. He also earned a spot in Network Middle East’s “Top Executives in the Security Industry in the Middle East”. He holds an MBA from London Business School and actively supports NGOs like Agastya International Foundation and the Grow Movement.
Saddam Alsad
Saddam is a recognized cybersecurity, cloud, and AI leader with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations navigate complex technology transformations and strengthen their cyber resilience. Over the past two decades, he has worked extensively across the cybersecurity industry, partnering with leading global technology providers and advising some of the region’s largest enterprises, government entities, financial institutions, and critical infrastructure organizations on their security and digital transformation strategies.
Today, as a sales leader at Cloudflare, Saddam focuses on enabling organizations to securely accelerate cloud adoption, embrace AI-driven innovation, modernize network architectures, and implement Zero Trust security at scale. His expertise spans cybersecurity, cloud platforms, AI, networking, data protection, and digital resilience, allowing him to bridge the gap between business objectives and technology execution.
Known for combining strategic vision with operational execution, Saddam has built high-performing teams, developed successful go-to-market strategies, and led complex engagements that deliver measurable business outcomes. He is a trusted advisor to executive and technology leaders, helping organizations leverage the power of AI, cloud, and cybersecurity to drive innovation, improve user experience, and reduce risk in an increasingly connected world.
Bushra Alhetelah
Bushra Alhetelah is a Detection and Intelligence Fusion Specialist at Cyberani by Aramco Digital, with experience in cybersecurity, threat detection, and intelligence-driven defense strategies. Her expertise includes detection engineering, threat intelligence, Large Language Models (LLMs), and prompt attack security. Bushra developed the first solution capable of detecting and preventing Browser-in-the-Browser attacks. She holds GRID and GDAT certifications from SANS and a Master’s degree in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity from KFUPM, with a strong focus on advancing proactive cyber defense capabilities.
Hisham AlSuwi
Rami Gherbal
Sultan Alanazi
Sultan Alanazi is the Country Regional Director for Saudi Arabia at LogRhythm | Exabeam, with over 10 years of experience in cybersecurity, enterprise sales, and project leadership. He specializes in driving regional growth, leading high-performing teams, and enabling large-scale digital transformation across government and enterprise sectors. Sultan holds a Master’s in Cybersecurity and is PMP and Prosci certified, with a strong focus on aligning cybersecurity strategy with business outcomes.
Tarek Elsabaa
Tarek is an experienced IT Professional and Data Protection specialist with more than 15 years of comprehensive experience in this field , Tarek covers Saudi Arabia & Egypt region as Data Protection & Cyber Recovery Solutions Presales helping our customers in their journey for IT transformation through Modern & Proven Data Protection Strategy , Adding resilient framework within the standards Cyber Recovery solutions .
Wissam Alkhaldi
A Cybersecurity professional with over 15 years of experience across multiple security solutions. Global data security leader currently serving as a Regional Manager of Sales Engineering at Forcepoint, I worked closely with multiple organizations as a trusted advisor to align security strategies with business goals.
Siva Prakash
Charbel Chekie
Pushkar Singh
Pushkar Singh brings over two decades of leadership experience spanning India, the Middle East, and Europe, with a proven track record in driving large-scale technology, risk, and cybersecurity transformations. Throughout his career, he has worked with leading Consulting firm, Telecommunications providers, Banking, Insurance and Government organization, where he led strategic initiatives focused on compliance and secure digital transformation across diverse sectors. With extensive experience collaborating with global clients and strategic partners, Pushkar plays a pivotal role in strengthening the security posture of digital ecosystems.
Currently serving as Country Head at Protectt.ai, a leading provider of Mobile Application and AI security solutions, Pushkar is focused on helping organizations secure their mobile and AI-driven environments. His mission is to enable enterprises to adopt innovation confidently by ensuring their digital assets remain resilient, compliant, and secure.
Georgy Ovanesyan
Georgy is a technology executive with 20+ years of experience building, transforming, and leading technology businesses worldwide. Starting his career as a certified MCSE, he directed large-scale 24/7 technical operations before moving into consultancy, where he earned ITIL Service Manager, ITIL Expert certifications, and MOF, COBIT, and ISO 27001 Auditor credentials. He has delivered over 200 projects for 100+ clients and led transformative initiatives across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
Now CEO of a global identity security vendor, Georgy blends strategic vision with expertise in local compliance and unmatched execution, shaping the global standard for secure digital identity.
Thamer Alrowidhan
Thamer Alrowidhan is a seasoned cybersecurity executive with extensive experience leading information security strategy across government and critical national sectors in Saudi Arabia. As a Chief Information Security Officer, he specializes in building and scaling cybersecurity programs aligned with national regulations, risk management frameworks, and large-scale digital transformation initiatives.
With a strong background in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), Thamer has led the development of resilient security architectures, incident response capabilities, and enterprise-wide security operations. His expertise spans cloud and hybrid security, data protection, third-party risk management, and aligning cybersecurity with organizational and national priorities.
Thamer is recognized for his practical, execution-driven approach to cybersecurity—bridging strategy with real-world implementation. He has played a key role in strengthening cyber resilience within complex environments and advising leadership on managing evolving threat landscapes. He frequently contributes to industry discussions and forums, sharing insights on cyber resilience, regulatory compliance, and the future of cybersecurity in Saudi Arabia.
Eng. Khalid Alfaheid
Eng. Khalid is a cybersecurity leader with extensive experience in cybersecurity governance, digital transformation, and national technology initiatives. He led the establishment of the General Department of Cybersecurity at the Ministry’s Headquarters and contributed to building a Cybersecurity Center of Excellence that currently serves more than 25 entities through over 30 specialized services.
He also participated in the design and launch of the “Reef Saudi” program and contributed to cybersecurity support for the international COP16 conference. In addition, he has been involved in several national digital projects, including the “Nafath” project, the “Absher” platform, the “Deem” cloud project, and the GCC Data Exchange project.
Alongside his professional contributions, Eng. Khaled is the author of the book “CYBROSHIMA,” reflecting his interest in promoting cybersecurity awareness and knowledge.
Asma Alyemni
As a Cybersecurity and Network Engineer with over 13 years of experience managing information technology and network operations in the educational sector, I am proud to serve as a Board Member of Trustees at the National IT Academy (NITA). Since 2022, I have been the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) in Saudi Arabia, where I lead multiple enterprise information security divisions, including governance, risk management and compliance (GRC), cyber resilience, security architecture, security strategy, security technologies, incident response, and data protection.
In addition, I represent TVTC on the Sectoral Council for Skills Development in Cybersecurity, contributing to national efforts to strengthen and align cybersecurity competencies with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives.
Throughout my career, I have held diverse leadership roles such as Deputy CISO, Head of Purchasing Department, and Director of Public Relations & Media. Before joining TVTC, I worked as a Project Manager at King Saud University, where I helped launch the Smart University Project in 2010.
I also previously served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Saudi Association in the UK, and have been actively involved in shaping the National Cybersecurity Strategy of Saudi Arabia in collaboration with the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA).
Dr. Saleh Alharbi
Dr. Saleh Alharbi is Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Shaqra University and an Associate Professor of Computer Science. He leads enterprise-wide initiatives in digital transformation, cybersecurity, cloud computing, AI, and technology governance. With a strong focus on innovation and business enablement, he drives the adoption of emerging technologies—including Large Language Models (LLMs) and IoT—to build secure, resilient, and future-ready digital organizations.
Abdulaziz Alarfaj
Abdulaziz Alarfaj is a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) with extensive experience in cybersecurity strategy, governance, architecture, and risk management. He has led cybersecurity initiatives across critical infrastructure environments and is a frequent speaker on cybersecurity leadership and emerging security challenges.
Dr. Abdullah A. Alnajem
Dr. Abdullah A. Alnajem is a Saudi Cybersecurity Executive, Head of Cybersecurity & Data Protection, Certified Nuclear Cybersecurity Professional (CNSP), and Licensed Computing, IT & Communications Consultant granted by the Saudi Ministry of Commerce. He holds a PhD in Computer Science (Cybersecurity) and an MSc in Informatics (Thesis in Wireless Network Security) from the University of Manchester, UK, as well as a dual Bachelor’s degrees in Finance and Accounting from George Mason University (GMU), USA. Started at KPMG and Riyad Bank HQ (2003 & 2005 respectively), Dr. Alnajem has progressed exponentially after the experience at Riyad bank – London Branch, UK (2014) where he was a consultant in liquidity risk and ani-money laundering investigations, then led cybersecurity, data protection, Cyber fraud prevention initiatives across the insurance, payment systems, and fueling automation systems sectors where he managed strategic projects involving fuel station payment technologies and critical operational infrastructure. He is the author of a US-patented cybersecurity innovation in mobile banking Multi-factor Authentications and fraud prevention and has spoken at international conferences, including Pulse Conferences, while contributing to scientific publications and research forums associated with IEEE and ACM in Macau, South Korea, and Scotland.
Aamir Khalid Pirzada
Aamir Khalid Pirzada is a distinguished technology executive, Chief Information Officer (CIO), and digital transformation leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cyber Security, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Software Project Management, Enterprise Architecture, Data Analytics, and IT Infrastructure. His expertise extends across diverse industries, including manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, retail, telecommunications, and public services. Aamir is recognized for helping organizations transition from traditional digitalization to AI-powered enterprises by leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, intelligent automation, and advanced cybersecurity frameworks to drive innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable business growth. He specializes in developing AI adoption strategies, establishing data-driven operating models, and implementing intelligent business solutions that enhance productivity, decision-making, and organizational resilience.
As a Chief Information Officer, Aamir provides strategic leadership in defining technology vision, governance, and transformation roadmaps aligned with business objectives. He oversees complex technology ecosystems, enterprise applications, cybersecurity programs, IT operations, digital innovation initiatives, and technology investments while ensuring business continuity and regulatory compliance. Aamir has successfully led large-scale enterprise transformation programs involving SAP S/4HANA, Oracle E-Business Suite, Microsoft Dynamics AX, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), ESG Sustainability Platforms, and advanced analytics solutions. His expertise includes integrating AI capabilities into business processes, predictive analytics, process automation, cybersecurity operations, and enterprise data management to create intelligent and connected organizations. A respected cybersecurity leader, Aamir has designed and implemented comprehensive security strategies, governance frameworks, risk management programs, security operations centers (SOC), vulnerability management initiatives, and cyber resilience programs that protect critical business assets and support regulatory compliance.
In addition to his technology leadership, Aamir is passionate about emerging technologies and their role in shaping the future of business. He actively advises organizations on AI readiness, data strategy, digital transformation, cybersecurity modernization, ESG technology solutions, and innovation management. His unique combination of business acumen, technical expertise, and leadership capabilities enables organizations to harness the power of AI, data, and technology to achieve measurable business outcomes and long-term competitive advantage. Aamir Khalid Pirzada continues to be a trusted advisor and transformation leader, helping organizations accelerate their digital journeys, strengthen cybersecurity posture, and unlock the full potential of Artificial Intelligence for sustainable growth and business success.
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IDC Predicts
By 2028 40% of large enterprises in the META region will have a dedicated budget for GenAI Fraud Defense