The 14th edition of GISEC Global 2025 brought together some of the most influential voices in cybersecurity, with the event maintaining high energy and engagement over its three-day run. One of the standout figures was Abdullah A. Qaisi, CEO and General Manager of EVAD, who shared his thoughts on the evolving dynamics of cybersecurity both regionally and globally. Fresh from the RSA Conference in San Francisco, Qaisi highlighted how the Middle East, particularly Dubai’s GISEC Global 2025 , now rivals international cybersecurity forums in scale, organization, and relevance.
Reflecting on EVAD’s debut at GISEC Global 2025 , Qaisi emphasized the event’s strong cybersecurity focus as a key reason for choosing it over broader tech expos. Unlike traditional exhibition models that focus solely on showcasing products, Qaisi noted that EVAD’s approach centers on storytelling—communicating complex cybersecurity solutions in ways that resonate with clients’ specific challenges. “Cybersecurity isn’t just something to sell, it’s a story to tell,” he said, underlining the need to build narratives that make cybersecurity solutions more understandable and impactful.
From Competition to Collaboration: A Cultural Shift in Cybersecurity
In a space traditionally marked by competition, Qaisi is advocating for a more collaborative ecosystem. He explained that instead of seeing other distributors as rivals, EVAD views them as partners in building a more resilient cybersecurity landscape. According to him, when one distributor grows, it strengthens the entire industry. “It’s about collaboration, not combat,” he said, pointing to shared growth opportunities across markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya, where EVAD has a strong presence.
Qaisi also recounted a revealing moment at GISEC Global 2025 when a competing distributor hesitated to engage due to perceived rivalry. “I told them, ‘Let’s collaborate. If I can’t close the deal, maybe you will. Or maybe we do it together,” he shared, illustrating his belief that cooperation can lead to better outcomes for all. For Qaisi, the cybersecurity community must abandon siloed thinking and work collectively to raise awareness and readiness across all sectors.
Storytelling, Perception, and the Road Ahead for Cybersecurity
Despite growing awareness, cybersecurity still struggles with a perception issue. Qaisi pointed out that many outside the industry still view cybersecurity as a cost rather than a necessity. This is largely because the sector’s technical complexity often makes it difficult to relate to. To change this, he stressed the importance of storytelling in humanizing cybersecurity and linking it to real-world business outcomes. “Once we explain it in ways that resonate, understanding and investment will follow naturally,” he said.
Looking to the future, Qaisi sees major growth in areas such as IoT security, AI-driven solutions, penetration testing, and threat intelligence. However, he believes the most critical frontier is data security, which has often been overshadowed by network and endpoint protection. “Data security needs to be treated as a core pillar of cybersecurity strategy,” he stated. For EVAD and for Qaisi, the path forward is clear: a more collaborative, narrative-driven approach will shape the future of cybersecurity distribution.
