IDC's first IT security roadshow in the Middle East brings in the crowds

Aimed at helping users find security solutions that match their business needs and IT infrastructure, the roadshow drew nearly 1,100 people to its five stops (Dubai, Kuwait, Doha, Manama, and Riyadh), with Riyadh and Dubai topping the attendance list with 300 and 273 people, respectively.

"Given this is our first year on the road across the region, we're very pleased that we have been able to reach so many people," says Ronita Bhattacharjee, Conferences Manager for IDC MEA. "The size of the audiences also tells us that there is a lot of work left to do and that professionals want to speak directly to solution providers and hear about real-world examples of successful implementations."

Representatives from more than 1100 enterprises across the region; representing education, state ministries, defense, the energy sector, banking and finance, and the oil and gas industries, among others, attended the roadshow to see both IT security professionals and independent speakers address best practices in implementation. For instance, in Manama, one of the speakers outlined the combination of staff, processes, technologies, and management needed for effective security. In Riyadh, a speaker presented a strategy to align IT security with international standards - a key selling point for developing business outside the region. And in Dubai, one presentation focused on how to leverage IT security to generate new business.

"IT security is far more complex than building firewalls and installing virus protection," says Jyoti Lalchandani, VP for IDC Middle East and Africa. "While these are essential components of any solution, businesses must also consider things like staff training, wireless access, identity theft and management, direct attacks on desktops, and Web applications in addition to attacks on routers and firewalls. Today enterprises need an integrated matrix of protection and an approach that includes all of these things."

Which was one of the primary goals of the IDC IT Security Roadshow. Generating awareness about the role of IT in security goes hand-in-hand with promoting safe and transparent business practices. Both are essential in generating the trust and confidence necessary to expand operations nationally, regionally, and globally. Contributing to this mission were IDC's partners across the region: CA Arabia, OgerSystems, Symantec, Trend Micro, Net IQ, Cipher Trust, Wipro, MSI, Utimaco, Solutions ME, CITRIX, Websense, TDI, I(TS)2, COMSEC, and RSA Security.

"We feel very fortunate that we are in a position to bring people together and contribute to a business environment that helps organizations transcend differences," says Lalchandani. "We look forward to doing it again with our next roadshow."