Industry Thought Leadership

Innovation and digital transformation was always at the core of our strategy to ‘Drive the digital future to empower societies’ putting our efforts on providing innovative solutions enabling connectivity and mobility.

Today we are able to play a greater role in the digital lives of consumers and enterprises with the backbone of a robust and one of the most advanced, fastest and widest network in the region.

With the move towards a digital economy, an increasing amount of consumer and citizen data will be stored digitally due to the large number of transactions carried out online by companies, individuals as well as government departments. The importance and impact of cyber security has increased with more and more businesses adopting digital services and platforms.

Every customer who interacts on the internet is in a way or another already using the cloud (i.e. infrastructure outside its office). While sending an email or browsing the web, they are accessing data on the cloud. Cloud-based security solutions or using intelligence from the cloud, which has become integral to protecting daily activities.

Therefore digital security spans across securing customers’ assets, infrastructure, identity in a connected world. While most SMBs are aware of the cyber-security risks, the biggest challenge they face is the rising number of targeted attacks with increased complexity.

In this scenario, Etisalat plays a role of a trusted service partner that provides them access to the best-of-breed security technologies ‘as a service’.

Etisalat considers security as an integral part of its service framework and has embedded fundamental security capabilities within each offering to comply with the highest security standards.

Digital security in a connected world
Digital security spans across securing customers’ assets, infrastructure, identity in a connected world. With its SMB focused digital security propositions, Etisalat is helping its customers secure their networks and connectivity, data and applications, and user devices and platform with various type of solutions,

• Cloud firewall: Etisalat’s Business Edge internet bundles come with an in-built cloud firewall that ensures your network is protected and users only have access to sites approved by the company’s management.
• Endpoint security: All broadband services have one or several Windows/Mac endpoint security antiviruses bundled without extra fees.
• Mobile security: All business users can download the Etisalat application on Android where Etisalat has embedded mobile antivirus by default or free of cost.
• Email security: Etisalat has stand-alone email security for mail server owners or Office 365 subscribers to ensure there is no malware and users have less spam.
• Web security is another stand-alone cloud-based service which makes sure that users are safe and that they are following the company policies wherever they are.

Telco’s increasing role in cyber security services
While most SMBs are aware of the cyber-security risks, the biggest challenge they face is the rising number of targeted attacks with increased complexity. Telco’s play an important role as a trusted service partner that provides them access to the best-of-breed security technologies “as a service”.

According to industry reports, 46 percent of SMBs have experienced cyber-security incidents in the past 12 months and about 50 percent of them are likely to consider purchasing cyber-security services from their telecom operators. (*1)

Etisalat considers security as an integral part of its service framework and has embedded fundamental security capabilities within each offering to comply with the highest security standards. There are optional features available to our customers to enhance protection, like the new Business Edge offering including secured broadband connectivity due to Etisalat’s in-country cloud next generation firewall capabilities. Customers can increase protection based on their business needs and opt for added security features, which are fully managed from our unified operations centres.

Subscriber-based solutions help manage investments
Cybersecurity today is an essential part of the technology framework and a top priority for continued business success. With the changing threat landscape and the need for continuous investments, Etisalat’s SMB security solutions enable customers to enjoy enterprise level protection with subscription based security solutions. This monthly subscription does not require significant CAPEX investments and is in line with the current industry trend that is moving towards subscriber-based model.

A large number of the technology network providers require upfront investments therefore this solution is a relief for an SMB. In a typical scenario they would have to purchase a firewall which will include paying for the expensive hardware and deployment costs (capex), besides annual license subscriptions and maintenance.

Etisalat makes it easier for a customer to access these services in bundles where they pay only a monthly fee for internet connectivity and a cloud firewall. Even in the case of endpoint security, customers usually pay an annual amount for five to ten licenses whereas at Etisalat the plan is flexible offering upto one license for a month.

Moving towards cloud based security
Every customer who interacts on the internet is in a way or another already using the cloud (i.e. infrastructure outside its office). When an employee sends an email or browses the web, they are accessing data on the cloud. If companies do not apply cloud-based security solutions a large part of their critical daily activities are exposed and become vulnerable.

Etisalat aims to provide cloud-based security wherever there is reliable technology and market acceptance. Services that power Etisalat’s cloud firewall, Web security, and DDOS protection, among others are testimony of services moving to the cloud. Solutions that are on devices (endpoint security), even have connection to the cloud from time to time for threat intelligence updates.

Bringing business value for SMBs
With a vast majority of SMBs looking at bringing business value by focusing on efficiency and affordability, we at Etisalat work closely with these customers by delivering customised services targeting their business requirements fully managed from a state-of-the-art operation center managed by certified professionals with flexible financial models making it easier to configure business solutions that reflect on the smooth functioning of their business.

*1-Understanding the cyber-security solutions market for SMBs