Kaspersky Executive: AI is a Double-Edged Sword in Cybersecurity, Warning Against Rising Geopolitical Threats

During an exclusive interview with (The Technology Portal) on the sidelines of GITEX Global 2025, Toufic Derbass, Executive Director for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey (MEAT) at Kaspersky, shed light on the company's strategy, its accelerated regional growth, and the major challenges that the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence poses to global cybersecurity. The conversation highlighted critical infrastructure protection and the imperative of human awareness in the face of sophisticated digital threats.

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• Accelerated Regional Growth: Kaspersky has achieved robust 20% growth in the MEAT region over the past three years, driven by escalating demand for advanced cybersecurity solutions amidst rising digital threats.
• Industrial Security Leadership: The company is recognized as a global leader (top 2-3 worldwide) in protecting critical infrastructure by combining deep expertise in Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT).
• AI as a Double-Edged Weapon: Cybercriminals are leveraging AI to generate advanced threats at an unprecedented pace, leading Kaspersky to deal with over 500,000 new malicious files daily.

Protecting Critical Infrastructure and Industrial Security Leadership

Kaspersky focuses its efforts intensely on safeguarding vital infrastructure sectors, including energy, electricity, and water, fields where the company holds deep specialization.

Toufic Derbass explained that Kaspersky's competitive edge lies in its profound experience in Operational Technology (OT) – used in industrial systems such as oil extraction and power generation – alongside its comprehensive coverage of Information Technology (IT). He confirmed that Kaspersky is among the top two or three global companies in the field of Industrial Security.

Cyber Threat Intelligence and the Geopolitical Perspective

Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) stands as a major competitive advantage for the company. Due to its global presence, Kaspersky can collect and analyze threat intelligence from all sources, ranging from small criminal entities to complex state-sponsored cyber espionage attacks.

Derbass noted that Kaspersky distinguishes itself through a massive focus on research, development, and technical quality. He explained that the company possesses a unique "Eastern perspective" unparalleled by competitors, providing it with a vast amount of data unavailable to rivals. He affirmed that Kaspersky shares this valuable information with its clients and governmental partners to aid them in self-protection.

Derbass also emphasized that the company's research teams operate around the clock to monitor these dangers, with a significant portion of the research staff based within the region.

Artificial Intelligence: A Double-Edged Sword

Discussing the escalating threats, Derbass warned that artificial intelligence has become a double-edged weapon, utilized by cybercriminals to generate advanced threats at an unprecedented speed. He revealed that Kaspersky teams deal daily with over 500,000 new malicious files, a volume directly attributed to AI’s capabilities in formulating sophisticated attacks.

Derbass also highlighted the ethical and legal challenges. He stressed that defenders (like Kaspersky) are bound by governance and laws, while criminals operate without boundaries, making the mission of cyber defense increasingly difficult and complex.

He asserted that protecting the planet from cybercriminals cannot be shouldered by a single entity, calling for concerted efforts between the public and private sectors to build a collective global firewall against digital threats.

Human Awareness is the First Line of Defense

In concluding his remarks, Derbass underscored that the human factor remains the weakest link in the cybersecurity ecosystem. He emphasized the critical importance of investing in employee education and enhancing Cyber Awareness at all levels, as a simple human error can potentially open the door to catastrophic attacks.

Derbass affirmed that Kaspersky, leveraging its strong regional presence, will continue to invest in bolstering the defensive capabilities of companies and institutions in the region, supporting governmental efforts to protect their digital economies and vital infrastructure.