Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity news, data protection updates, cloud security trends, and digital threat intelligence for businesses and organizations in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region.

European Quantum Funding Gap: Investor Warns Europe Risks Repeating AI Mistakes
Europe attracts only 5% of global private quantum funding versus 50% in the US, as Brussels prepares a Quantum Act. An investor warns the bloc must act now to avoid repeating its AI mistakes.

Anthropic Adds Claude Computer Use Feature for Pro and Max Subscribers on macOS
Anthropic has launched a research preview of Claude computer use for Pro and Max subscribers on macOS, enabling the AI assistant to control a computer and complete tasks autonomously.

Regional Cyber Activity Rises After U.S.-Israeli Strikes on Iran, FortiGuard Labs Reports
FortiGuard Labs reports a surge in regional cyber activity following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, warning of delayed retaliation and opportunistic attacks targeting critical infrastructure.

Rubrik Data Protection for Google Workspace Targets Enterprise Cyber Resilience
Rubrik Data Protection for Google Workspace launched March 23, 2026, offering immutable backups and rapid recovery for over 11 million enterprise users of Gmail and Google Drive.

South Korea Extends Facial Recognition SIM Registration Pilot to June 2026
South Korea’s MSIT extended its facial recognition SIM registration pilot until June 2026 after mobile operators and industry bodies requested more time to address on-site challenges.

Kingston IronKey Locker+ 50 G2 Launches With 256-Bit AES Hardware Encryption and FIPS 197 Certification
Kingston Technology launched the IronKey Locker+ 50 G2 USB drive on March 17, 2026, featuring 256-bit AES hardware encryption, FIPS 197 certification, and multi-password support across capacities from 32 GB to 256 GB.

Supply Chain Attacks Top Cyber Threats Facing Businesses Globally and in Saudi Arabia
Supply chain attacks affected 31% of enterprises globally and 30% in Saudi Arabia over the past 12 months, topping all other cyberthreat categories in a new Kaspersky study.

Model Context Protocol Remains Relevant for Enterprise AI Agents Despite CLI Trend
A technical analysis published March 14, 2026 argues that Model Context Protocol remains the right architectural choice for enterprise AI agent deployments, despite growing CLI advocacy online.

WhatsApp Launches Parent-Managed Accounts for Pre-Teens with PIN Controls and Activity Alerts
WhatsApp has begun rolling out parent-managed accounts for children under 13, giving parents PIN-protected controls over contacts, groups, and activity alerts while preserving end-to-end encryption.

Google Acquires Wiz: Cloud Security Platform Joins Google Cloud as AI Threats Accelerate
Google has officially closed its acquisition of Wiz, the cloud security company. Wiz will continue operating as a multi-cloud platform while integrating with Google Cloud and Gemini AI.

Hikvision ESG Award: Company Wins DMCC Global Enterprise ESG Leader Recognition
Hikvision received the inaugural DMCC Global Enterprise ESG Leader Award on March 12, 2026, recognizing its environmental, social, and governance performance across its Middle East operations.

Meta Acquires Moltbook, an AI Agent Social Network, to Expand Superintelligence Labs
Meta Platforms has agreed to acquire Moltbook, an experimental social network for AI agents, with the team set to join Meta’s Superintelligence Labs.

China Restricts OpenClaw AI Platform Use Across Government Agencies and State Banks
China has moved to restrict OpenClaw AI platform use across government agencies and state banks, citing data security risks. Tencent and JD.com continue to promote adoption in the private sector.

Cequence Security Named Co-Chair of TM Forum’s Agentic Interaction Security Initiative
Cequence Security has been named co-chair of TM Forum’s Agentic Interaction Security Blueprint, taking on a leadership role in defining global standards for secure agentic AI in telecommunications.

AuditBoard Rebrand Optro: GRC Platform Adopts New Identity as AI Reshapes Risk Management
AuditBoard formally rebranded as Optro on March 10, 2026, signaling a strategic shift toward agentic AI-powered risk management. The announcement came during the Institute of Internal Auditors’ Great Audit Minds conference in Las Vegas.

ScreenCheck and ICT Sign Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Enterprise Security Across the GCC
ScreenCheck and Integrated Control Technology (ICT) signed a strategic partnership on March 10, 2026, to expand access control and unified security management solutions across the GCC.

Fortinet Report: AI-Driven Cyber Fraud Surges 1,300% as Saudi Arabia Tops MEA Cybersecurity Rankings
Fortinet’s 2026 report documents a 1,300% global rise in AI-driven cyber fraud and places Saudi Arabia among the top cybersecurity performers in the Middle East and Africa.

Grok Chatbot Controversy Deepens as X Launches Internal Investigation in the UK
X launched an internal investigation into its Grok chatbot after reports of harmful religious attacks and false claims about football disasters. UK regulators ICO and Ofcom are also conducting separate probes.

Infobip Opens New Data Center in Saudi Arabia to Support AI and Digital Sovereignty
Infobip launched a new data center in Saudi Arabia on March 6, 2026, enabling local AI application deployment and supporting national data sovereignty requirements.

Huawei AI Banking Solutions Get Major Upgrade at MWC Barcelona 2026
Huawei upgraded its AI banking solutions at MWC Barcelona 2026, cutting AI agent development cycles from months to weeks and reducing response latency by over 60%.

Software Escrow Saudi Arabia: How Organisations Can Move from Policy to Practice
Escode’s Middle East director outlines practical steps for organisations in Saudi Arabia to implement software escrow following the CST guideline, covering verification, governance, and SaaS considerations.

Biometric Intelligence: How Devices Are Moving Beyond Authentication to Contextual Awareness
Biometric technology is evolving beyond authentication into a layer that interprets human behaviour and intent. A senior consultant at ROSA eSolutions outlines what this shift means for business strategy and digital governance.
