Kingston Urges Gulf Governments to Reinforce Data Security Amid Rising Cyber Threats

Technology

Kingston Urges Gulf Governments to Reinforce Data Security Amid Rising Cyber Threats

In response to a sharp rise in cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure across the Gulf region, Kingston Technology, a global leader in memory products and technology solutions, is calling on public sector institutions to urgently strengthen their data security strategies at the hardware level.

Recent reports highlight an alarming surge in cyber threats. The State of the UAE Cybersecurity Report 2024, published by the UAE Cybersecurity Council, noted a 32% year-over-year increase in ransomware incidents. In Saudi Arabia, Foresight's Cybersecurity Report 2024 documented a 35% rise in cyberattacks, particularly affecting the government, financial, and energy sectors. The most common threats included ransomware and phishing campaigns, underscoring the vulnerabilities within national digital infrastructure.

Antoine Harb, Team Leader Middle East at Kingston Technology, emphasized the gravity of the situation: “In today’s climate, data isn’t just operational—it’s sovereign. When state institutions are targeted, the integrity of national systems, citizen privacy, and geopolitical stability are all at stake. Effective data protection has moved from being an IT best practice to a matter of national resilience.”

To combat the evolving threat landscape, Kingston Technology is urging the adoption of FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certified hardware-encrypted storage solutions. This level of certification is the highest internationally recognized standard for cryptographic security in hardware devices and is critical for secure data handling, especially when information is transferred across remote or unsecured environments.

Among Kingston’s flagship offerings is the IronKey™ D500S, a U.S.-assembled device that meets both FIPS 140-3 Level 3 and TAA compliance standards. Already deployed by defense and intelligence agencies worldwide, the IronKey D500S is engineered for high-security use cases where breaches can lead to national consequences.

“Security isn’t about the tools, it’s about the decisions behind them,” Harb added. “It starts with policy, training, and risk-based planning. Devices like the IronKey are essential enablers, but leadership, standards, and strategic foresight come first.”

In addition to advanced hardware solutions, Kingston supports public sector IT professionals through its Ask an Expert program. The initiative provides guidance on compliance, secure data mobility, and best practices for endpoint protection.

Kingston Technology’s call to action follows global cybersecurity warnings issued by the World Economic Forum, which now ranks cyber threats among the top global risks to economic and societal stability. As digital transformation accelerates, particularly in mobile and remote data operations, the company emphasizes the urgent need for a proactive, hardware-rooted approach to cybersecurity across government and public sector institutions in the GCC and beyond.