What happened
Global cybersecurity firm Group‑IB has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with value‑added distributor VAS Integrated Solutions to expand cybersecurity capabilities and collaboration across Saudi Arabia. The agreement was formalized on the sidelines of Black Hat MEA in Riyadh by Mohammad Flaifel, Regional Sales Director, KSA & Türkiye at Group‑IB, and Bilal Abdulrahman, Country Manager, KSA & GCC at VAS Integrated Solutions.
Under the MoU, the partners will explore joint go‑to‑market activities, channel expansion, partner enablement, and awareness initiatives. The collaboration aims to tailor advanced cyber threat and fraud intelligence capabilities to the Saudi threat landscape and raise cybersecurity awareness through education, workshops, and training.
Who is affected
- Enterprises and government entities operating in Saudi Arabia that face evolving cyber and fraud threats.
- Channel partners and local IT service providers that will participate in expanded solution delivery and enablement programs.
- Security practitioners and professionals who may benefit from joint awareness and training initiatives.
Why CISOs should care
- Enhanced threat intelligence access: The partnership leverages Group‑IB’s predictive, adversary‑centric threat intelligence with local context, which can improve detection and response strategies for organisations in the region.
- Localised delivery and support: Working with a regional distributor like VAS can help organisations accelerate the deployment and support of advanced cybersecurity tools aligned with Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation priorities.
- Awareness and skills development: Joint educational initiatives may help close skills gaps and increase readiness against cyber threats in a rapidly digitising market.
3 practical actions
- Evaluate threat intelligence integrations: Assess how partnering with providers like Group‑IB can augment existing threat intelligence feeds and detection tools in your security stack.
- Engage local channel partners: Work with regional distributors, such as VAS Integrated Solutions, to ensure faster deployment, local support, and training tailored to your environment.
- Prioritise awareness initiatives: Encourage your security teams to participate in workshops, webinars, and training sessions resulting from such collaborations to elevate organisational cyber awareness and response capabilities.