CPI Media Group and tahawultech.com recently hosted the 2025 edition of their long-running CISO50 & Future Security Awards.
Set at the lavish, Sofitel Dubai Downtown Dubai, the dual event sought to celebrate both exceptional enterprise IT security leaders and businesses that have delivered ground-breaking value through the application of security technologies.
Sponsored by Gold Sponsors – LinkShadow & Starlink an Infinigate Group Company and Silver Sponsors – Cyberhub powered by Finesse & Teksalah, this unique event provided a platform for networking and knowledge sharing within various industries alongside recognising decision makers across various categories for their consistent commitment to innovation.
Speaking on the evening, Sandhya D’Mello an Editor for CPI Media Group remarked, “The CISO 50 & Future Security Awards 2025 were more than a celebration of achievement — they reflected the collective resilience, innovation, and vision driving the region’s cybersecurity landscape. From recognising trailblazing CISOs to honouring organisations shaping the future of security, tonight underscored one truth: cybersecurity is no longer a support function, it is at the very heart of business strategy and digital transformation”.
The evening began with a detailed and engaging panel discussion titled ‘Cybersecurity at the core – Leading with resilience in a digitally dynamic world’. The expert panellists included:
- Kawther Haciane, Principal, EY
- Anoop Kumar Paudval, Head of Information Security Governance Risk and Compliance, Gulf News, Al Nisr Publishing LLC
- Ajay Mathai, Director of Information Technology, Atlantis Resorts, Dubai
Moderated by Sandhya D’Mello, Editor, CPI Media Group, the engaging discussion shed light on the core business role that cybersecurity plays for today’s organisations and how businesses must build out from a cybersecurity foundation. Attendees left the session with a renewed mindfulness on how to navigate the modern digital landscape with key cyber resilient principles.
The highlight of the evening was of course the awards ceremony for CISO 50 & FSA 2025. This showcase celebrated individuals and organisations that demonstrated exceptionalism with regards to security technologies in addition to recognising the key-decision makers that help make it all possible.
The winners of the CISO 50 & FSA Awards for 2025 are:
CISO 50 Awards 2025:
- Dr. Mohammad Abdulla Al Awadhi- Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP)
- Davide Del Vecchio- Careem
- Talal Albalas- Ministry of Culture, Government of the United Arab Emirates
- Mohammed H. AlAbbadi- Fertiglobe
- Ajay Mathai- Atlantis Resorts, Dubai
- Abhinav Kumar Shrivastava- NMC Healthcare
- Ebrahim Kamalzadeh- Al Nabooda Automobiles LLC
- Jinson Pappachan- Emirates Policy Center
- Dr. Fayid Kadambodan- Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ)
- Ali Al Kaf Alhashmi- Mubadala
- Mohamed Riyasudeen- Al Ain Ahlia Insurance Company (PSC)
- Prashant Nair- Airtel Africa
- Shafiullah Ismail- Mubadala Capital
- Dhiraj Sasidharan- Leading Financial Institution, UAE
- Kausar Mukeri- GEMS Education
- Vishnu Padmakumar- General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSAAE)
- Nisha Rani- MMI Emirates Leisure Retail
- Luqman Kondeth- New York University Abu Dhabi
- Anas Elsadig Eltahir- The Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department
- Nagesh Aswartha- RAK Public Services Department
- Kanesan Pandi- Galadari Brothers Group
- Ajith Kumar Pillai- Liva Insurance B.S.C. (C)
- Rochak Puri- Dubai Aerospace Enterprise
- Rohit Anand Bajpai- Gulf Islamic Investments (GII)
- Ahmed Nabil Mahmoud- Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
- Jayesh Nandanan- Mediclinic Middle East
- Vijay Velayutham- Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, UAE
- Santosh Pathak- King’s College Hospital London, Dubai
- Nishanth Menothparambil- Enova Facilities Management Services LLC
- Padam Sundar Kafle- Aster Hospitals UAE
- Ram Soni- Mashreq
- Dr. Alok Tuteja- Esyasoft Holdings
- Dr. Mohammed Salem Matar Alshamsi- Emirates Health Services
- Zaheer Mubarak Shaikh- Mbank
- Hasan Mehdi- Habib Bank Limited
- Karim Shaik- Vice President’s Office
- Mohammed Munib- National Bonds Corporation
- Manish Agarwal- M. H. Enterprises LLC
- Kiran Kumar PG- Alpheya
- Hadi Anwar- CPX
- Chenthil Kumar- Red Sea International (RSI)
- Manoharan Mudaliar- Truebell Group of Companies
- Anchal Choubey
- Mansoor Ahmad Khan- IHS Towers
FSA Awards 2025:
- Best Security Solutions Provider of the Year- CPX
- Digital Risk Visionary Leader of the Year- Kawther Haciane, EY
- Best Intelligent NDR Vendor of the Year- LinkShadow
- Most Innovative Cybersecurity Training Programs of the Year- SANS Institute
- Best Managed Security Services Provider of the Year- Gulf Business Machines (GBM)
- AI-Native Cybersecurity Innovation of the Year- SentinelOne
- Excellence in Cybersecurity Channel Development- VAD Technologies
- Cybersecurity Community Leader of the Year- Kapil Matta
- Best Identity and Access Management Vendor of the Year- Delinea
- Best Security Systems Integrator of the Year- Raqmiyat
- Best Enterprise Cybersecurity Provider of the Year- NTT DATA
- Cybersecurity Leader of the Year- Help AG
- Best AI-Driven Cyber Defense Services Provider of the Year- Omnix International
- Best Cybersecurity Solutions Partner of the Year- Teksalah
- Hall of Fame Cybersecurity Leader of the Year- Ahmad Halabi, Resecurity
- Best Cyber Resilience Distributor of the Year- StarLink
- Outstanding CSR Initiatives in Digital Literacy & Cybersecurity- Network Binary
- Network Infrastructure Innovation Award- D-Link
- Best AI-Powered Exposure Management Platform of the Year- Tenable One
The CISO 50 & FSA Awards evening was a resounding success, bringing together some of the brightest minds in an industry that is evolving at a lightning-fast pace for well deserved recognition.
Image Credit: CPI Media Group