Help AG Report Identifies AI, Quantum Risk, and Cyber Resilience as Key Security Priorities for the GCC in 2025

Help AG, the cybersecurity arm of e& enterprise and the region’s leading Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP), unveiled its State of the Market Report 2025 at GISEC Global, offering critical insights into the evolving threat landscape across the GCC. The report highlights artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and cyber resilience as the next frontiers of cybersecurity in the region.

Unveiled at an exclusive media roundtable on the first day of GISEC Global (May 6–8, Dubai World Trade Centre), the report reveals an alarming surge in Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks in the UAE, rising by over 862% from 38,797 in 2019 to 373,429 in 2024. This sharp escalation also includes longer and more persistent attacks, with one incident lasting over 35 days in 2024. Critical infrastructure and government targets have seen an uptick in strategically focused attacks, increasing concerns about national cybersecurity.

Speaking at the event, Stephan Berner, CEO of Help AG, stated, “We are witnessing a shift from cybersecurity to cyber autonomy—where systems are not only defending but also deciding. In a region leading the world in digital innovation, autonomy underpinned by trust, intelligence, and sovereign infrastructure is the future.”

Nicolai Solling, CTO of Help AG, emphasized the role of resilience: “Cyber resilience now means protecting the technologies shaping our future, including AI, quantum computing, and a rapidly expanding digital ecosystem. Our role is to ensure agility alongside security.”

Key Findings from the 2025 Report:

• AI-Driven Threats: Generative AI (GenAI) is fueling stealthier phishing and impersonation attacks. Phishing initiated 90% of all reported cyber incidents in 2024, while 45% involved credential-based breaches.

• Ransomware Evolution: 66% of organizations in the GCC were impacted by ransomware, with many facing ‘double extortion’ schemes. Notably, 36% of affected companies reported board-level fallout as a direct consequence.

• Data Exfiltration on the Rise: The report indicates a surge in stealthy data exfiltration methods using collaboration tools and cloud storage, requiring organizations to adopt advanced traffic monitoring and tighter third-party access controls.

• Quantum Preparedness: With quantum computing expected to challenge current cryptographic standards, Help AG urges immediate adoption of post-quantum cryptography to protect long-term data. The report also highlights a 236% year-on-year increase in Security-as-a-Service (SECaaS) adoption, alongside rising cloud misconfigurations and Operational Technology/IoT threats.

The State of the Market Report 2025 outlines a forward-looking roadmap for governments and enterprises in the UAE and Saudi Arabia to reinforce cyber defense mechanisms through technological resilience, AI-driven automation, and quantum readiness.