Headlines Featured WhereLeadersMake YourLegacy
Editor's Note
Visionary Leadership in Cybersecurity Shaping Resilience and Innovation
Ascybersecurityincreasinglybecomesacornerstone ofglobalbusinessoperationsandnationalsecurity, organizations are facing a rapidly evolving and morecomplexthreatlandscape.Thewidespreadadoptionof cloud computing, the shift toward remote and hybrid workforces, and the rise in sophisticated cyberattacks have amplified vulnerabilities across industries and government sectors alike. These changes not only expand the potential attacksurfacebutalsointroducenewchallengesinsecuring sensitive data, ensuring regulatory compliance, and maintaining business continuity In this environment, reactiveapproachesarenolongersufficient.
CIOLookinitsexclusivefeatureMostInnovativeLeaders inCybersecuritytoWatchin2025recognizesindividuals whocombinetechnicalexpertisewithstrategicvision.Their work spans from leading critical infrastructure protection efforts to creating frameworks that promote cross-border cybersecurity collaboration. Many are also driving talent developmentandadvocatinginclusivepoliciestoexpandthe cybersecurity workforce. By harnessing artificial intelligence, zero-trust models, and automated threat
detection, these leaders are building adaptive and resilient defenses.Beyondtechnologicalinnovation,theyaresetting benchmarks in ethical data protection and privacy while fostering diverse, skilled teams committed to responsible cybersecurityleadership.
Asthreatsbecomemorecomplexandwidespread,visionary leadershipisessential.Leaderswhoanticipaterisksandcraft long-term strategies are key to guiding organizations throughtoday’schallengingcybersecuritylandscape.Their expertise in adopting advanced technologies, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and building resilient defenses offers both inspiration and a strategic framework for organizationsaimingtostaysecureandfuture-ready.
Haveagreatreadahead!
PrinceBolton
C O N T E N T S
Hani Bani Amer
PoojaMBansal Editor-in-Chief
CONTENT
Deputy Editor Anish Miller
Managing Editor Prince Bolton
DESIGN
Visualizer Dave Bates
Art & Design Director Davis Mar n
Associate Designer Jameson Carl
SALES
Senior Sales Manager Wilson T., Hunter D.
Customer Success Manager Collins J.
Sales Execu ves Tim, Smith
TECHNICAL
Technical Head Peter Hayden
Technical Consultant Victor Collins
SME-SMO
Research Analyst Eric Smith
SEO Execu ve Alen Spencer
FOLLOWUSON www facebook.com/ciolookmedia
www.twi er.com/ciolookmedia
WE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON
CONTACTUSON
Email info@ciolook com For Subscrip on www.ciolookmedia.com
Copyright © 2025 CIOLOOK Media, All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmi ed in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from CIOLOOK Media. Reprint rights remain solely with CIOLOOK Media.
sales@ciolookmedia.com
September,2025
Most Innovative Leaders in Cybersecurity to Watch in 2025
Hani Bani Amer
Defining Cyber Resilience and Empowering Innovation
Cybersecurity is not an obstacle to progress, rather sets the foundation to enable innovation and sustainability to thrive.”
Head of Information Security Al Etihad Payments
In an age of transformational technological innovations, the arena of cybersecurity is expanding. Industry Leaders are redefining strategies and making a massive impact through their dedication and innovative thought processAmong these leaders is Hani Bani Amer, who has positioned himself at the top with vision, technical knowhow, and erudite leadership. As the Head of Information Security of Al Etihad Payments (AEP), he has led the growth of the UAE's digital payments sector, pushing the boundaries of what is possible while bringing confidence in everything they do. Having spent more than two decades on anillustriouscareer,BaniAmer'sunyieldingcommitmentto innovation, leadership, operational excellence and building strong digital footprint. says much about his indomitable drivetowardsprogress.Hisleadershipisatestamentnotjust tohisvasttechnicalknow-howbutalsotohisenthusiasmfor building robust, future-proof cyber infrastructures that protectandempowercommunitiesintoday'sinterconnected society
CIO Look got an opportunity to sit down for an informative interviewwithHani.Inthisinterview,heopenedupabouthis professionaljourney,experiences,challenges,achievements, and future plans. Following are the highlights of the interview:
Couldyousharethekeymilestonesinyourpersonaland professionaljourney?
Absolutely Mycareerintechnologystartedbackin2005,just three months after I graduated from university. I consider myself quite fortunate to have landed my first job so quickly—especially at a time when many fresh graduates struggledtobreakintotheindustry.
Before graduation, a close friend advised me to pursue my first professional certification.That suggestion turned out to beagame-changer Itgavemeaheadstartandpositionedme wellforjobopportunitiesrightoutofuniversity.
But like many early-career professionals, I had a lot of unansweredquestions:WhatdoIreallywanttodo?Whatwill makemehappy?WherecanIcontributethemost?HowcanI makealastingimpact?Thesequestionskeptmeupatnight.I went through several interviews—some were tough, and a few were outright discouraging, especially given that expectations were often too high for someone fresh out of school.Still,Ilearnedalotfromeachexperience.
Atonepoint,Ifoundmyselftornbetweenpursuingacareerin technicalrolesorshiftingtowardsales.Eventually,Irealized that the most effective sales professionals in technology are
those who truly understand the technology—those with a solid technical foundation. That insight helped shape my decision.
So,Icommittedtoatechnicalpathandstartedmycareerasa NetworkEngineer Fromhumblebeginningswithtechnology partners and service provider companies, I transitioned into managingnetworkandsecurityoperationsatabank,followed by a role in the oil and gas sector, focusing on security operationsandadministration.Myjourneylatertookmetoa coupleofmajorsolutionprovidervendors.
Today, I’m proud to be leading the Information Security functionatAlEtihadPayments.Ithasbeenandstillisapath filled with learning, growth, challenges, and continuous evolutionthatthisfielddemands.
PleasetellusaboutyourexperiencesofbeingtheHeadof securityatdifferentfunctionsandorganizations.
Every experience I’ve had as Head of Security has been uniqueandstimulatinginitsownway Theexpectationsand challengesvarysignificantlydependingontheorganization's businessverticalandthespecificfunctionwithinthesecurity landscape. I’ve have been privileged to work in both the banking and finance sector as well as the oil and gas industry—two vastly different in terms of risk appetite, regulatoryrequirements,andoperationaldynamics.
In addition, my career has spanned across both operational and governance-focused roles within the cybersecurity industry. These two roles, while complementary, are fundamentallydifferentintheirresponsibilitiesandstrategic objectives.
As Head of SecurityAdministration, I am positioned on the front lines as the first line of defense My primary responsibility is to build, implement, and operate security controls in alignment with the organization’s approved governanceframeworks.
In contrast, my role as Head of Information Security Governance is centered on building the overarching information security program This includes developing policies, frameworks, cybersecurity incident response planning and compliance initiatives, while working closely with business units to ensure these were effectively implemented and adhered to across the organization. It requires a more strategic view focusing on risk management,regulatoryalignment,stakeholderengagement, andcross-functionalgovernance.
Cybersecurity industry must transform from being reactive to be proactive intelligencedriven industry”
Each role taught me different aspects of leadership and cybersecurity. One demanded operational agility and technicaldepth;theotherrequiredstrategicforesight,policy development, and the ability to drive culture change Together, they’ve provided me with a holistic view of the cybersecurity landscape and a strong appreciation for the interplaybetweengovernance,compliance,andoperations.
What motivates you to keep pushing boundaries and to deliverthebestinformationsecurityservices?
That’satoughquestion,buttoanswerit,mycoremotivation lies in building things differently—smarter, stronger, and more resilient. I’m driven by the challenge of designing security architectures and cybersecurity programs that not only meet compliance standards but genuinely protect an organization’s data, systems, and operations—regardless of thenatureorsophisticationofthethreatstheyface.Whether it’s safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of critical assets, I see cybersecurity as an enabler, not an obstacle,tobusinesssuccess.
My broader ambition is to help shift the cybersecurity industryfromareactive,assumption-basedindustrytoamore proactive,intelligence-drivenapproach.Onethatisgrounded onfacts,notfear.Weneedtobuilddigitalecosystemsthatcan absorbattacks,adapttothreats,andcontinuetooperatewith confidence I believe that by laying strong security foundations, we empower not just individual organizations, butthebroaderdigitalcommunity,tothriveinanincreasingly hostilecyberlandscape.
Cyber threats are evolving faster than ever, from threat pointofview,whatisthebiggestcybersecuritychallenge facing organizations today, and how should they approachsolvingit?
The biggest challenge today isn't just the sophistication of cyber threats, but also the speed and scale at which they are evolving, especially with AI and automation now in the attacker’stoolkit.Butunfortunately,theweakestlinkremains to be the human factor. Phishing, social engineering, and credentialcompromiseaccounttakeoverstillaccountforthe majority of breaches. So the real challenge is how to build securitythat’sbothhuman-centricandresilient.
Organizationsneedtoshiftfromapurelyreactivemindsettoa proactive, risk-aware culture. That means investing in modern integrated detection systems, and embedding cybersecurity into every layer of the business, from infrastructureandcodetoculture.adoptingpositivesecurity
model, continuous user education, and cross-functional collaboration aren't just trends; they are essential security needs The Cybersecurity business problems shall be addressed at a board-level, as a result, the organizations that havetreateditthisfashionwillleadthefuture.
What are the most significant challenges facing the information security sector today, and how are you addressingthem?
Theinformationsecuritysectorfacesseveralsignificantand evolving challenges everyday Some of the most critical Challenges are increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, ransomware, extortion, and supply chain attacks that are accompanied with the lack of security visibility The strategiestoaddressthemisrepresentedinanumberofways:
Ÿ Implementing a positive security model that is implemented on a need-to-do basis eliminating unnecessaryexposurestodataandsystemassets.
Ÿ Conductingproperbehaviorandtechnologyassessments prior onboarding any implementing any security technologyandorchoosingavendor.
Ÿ Implementing advanced detection technologies that can bebasedonAIforfasteranomalyandmaliciousbehavior detection.
Alloftheabove-mentionedwouldrepresentthestandardand traditionalCybersecurityBAU.Whatreallyworriesmeisthat the industry is reactive in nature and is assumption based; whichmightleadtocatastrophicoutcomesinthebusiness.
Building a resilient digital ecosystem requires embedding security into every layer—from infrastructure to culture.”
Continuous validation, not assumptions, should guide our security posture in today’s threat landscape.”
Another perspective would be to conclude reactiveness and start with proactiveness This ensures that the security controlsandsystemsconfigurationarebuiltinawaythatwill end the attack chain at each and every phase of it. The only way to overcome the assumption part is by building an effectiveness validation program that will fuel security postureandsecurityleaderswithvisibilityrequiredandbuild thetrustrequired.
Atlastbutnotleastthenumberoneissuethatkeepallsecurity professional up at night is the lack of the required IT and Securityskillsetinthemarkettorunandoperatesystemsand dataassets.
What is your long-term vision and how do you plan to achieveit?
SecuritycollaborationWithintheindustryandit'sExpertsisa key aspect. This is beacuse the security professionals today aremostlyworkinginsilosandtheydon’tcommunicatenor shareexperiencewitheachother.Securityisateamsportand everyone’s contribution to the industry might lead to major advancementsovertime.Inmyopinion,thiswillsetastrong foundation to pave a way for greater security collaboration thatwilladvancethecybersecurityindustryonglobalscaleto adopt cybersecurity industry recommendations and best practices.
In what ways have you adapted or innovated to the challengesandopportunitiespresentedbythedigitalage?
The digital age has transformed how we connect, work, and grow, and adapting to it has required both agility and foresight. Yet, we must not forget basic security hygiene; unfortunately,thisiswheremostorganizationssetthemselves for failure. In the race to innovate and with the daily
overwhelming workloads, we often overlook the basics, which can lead to major breaches. However, this should not deter us from innovation. I firmly believe that innovation should occur in areas that embed security into the infrastructure,products,orapplicationfromtheirinception.
The most attractive areas for security innovation would be continuous security validation, not only for security posture but also for monitoring and detecting capabilities. Another promising avenue is Continuous Threat Exposure Management(CTEM),alongwithcyberriskquantification.
How do you see the role of technology evolving in the informationsecurityservicessectoroverthenextdecade?
Informationsecuritytechnologyandservicesworkswithfull reliance on technology as a backbone, and developments in the Information technology space in terms of infrastructure, applications,integrations,authentication,encryptionsetcwill haveadirectimpactonsystemanddataassetsconfidentiality, integrityandavailability Personally,Ibelievethatwewillbe seeingidentityandaccessredefined,wewillbeseeingmore of hybrid cloud models, steady movement towards complianceautomations.
Inaddition,organizationswillbefocusingmoreandmoreon post quantum readiness, especially looking deeper into quantum-resistant algorithms to safeguard sensitive data againstfuturequantumcomputingthreats.
At last but not least, an explosion in artificial intelligence adoptiontodetect,investigate,andrespondtothreatsinreal time by implementing tools that will move from alerting analyststoautonomouslyremediatingincidents.
Whatadvicewouldyougivetoaspiringleaderswhowant tomakeameaningfulimpactintheirindustries?
Cybersecurity is very dynamic and very changing industry andwhatisconsideredtobesecurenow,itmightbesecurein the next 5 minutes, which require vigilance and staying updated. Keepinguptodatewiththerightworkgroupsand collaboration platform would be a very difficult task to achieve, this is where my ask to cybersecurity leaders is to participateinbuildingpropersecuritycollaborationandwork groups tosharetheknowledgeandexperiencestocreatethe requiredplatformsforknowledgesharing.Cybersecurityisa differentanddifficultproblemtosolveandwouldrequireall available hands to help in solving it at departmental, organizational,businessverticalorindustry,country,regional andgloballevels.
Cybersecurity Strategies or a Safer Online Experience
With today's very networked world, cybersecurity has become a technical challenge transformed into an imperative for people, companies, and institutionsglobally.Ascyberspacethreatshavegrownmore complex and powerful in character, never before have there beengreaterneedsformulti-facetedsecurityplanning.From ransomwarecapableofbringingdownawholeinstitutionto identity theft that destroys lives and finances of individuals, theimpactofinadequatecybersecuritydefensesreacheswell beyondtemporaryannoyance.Thehyper-convergentpaceof digital change, especially since the world transitioned to remote working and internet-based services, has expanded the attack surface cyber attackers can leverage. Traditional boundaries of security have collapsed because workers now accesscompanyassetsfromanywhereandonavastarrayof devices, and customers pay, shop, communicate, and entertain themselves more and more digitally This change needs to be met in advance in the area of cybersecurity in termsofindividualawarenessandinstitutionalreadiness.
BuildingGoodDigitalFoundations
Atthenucleusofeverygoodcybersecuritypositionishaving good authentication mechanisms in place and have good access control policies. Multi-factor authentication is one of the strongest counter measures to unauthorized access that has more than a single mode of proof in addition to regular passwords.Thisprovidesanextremelysecuredefenseagainst account breach even when passwords are stolen or compromised since additional layers of security such as biometric data, hardware devices, or time tokens by mobile softwareareinvolved.
Password management goes beyond personal responsibility to corporate policy that requires complexity requirements, regular rotation, and elimination of password reuse across multiple accounts. Contemporary password managers are helpful software that create and store separate strong passwords for all accounts while the user is only required to
remember a master password. Organizations would supplement these individual practices by using role-based access control practices limiting employees from accessing anything beyond resources necessary to perform their particular job responsibilities. Constant de-provisioning of the accounts of departing employees and ongoing access reviewalsosupplementthesefundamentalsecuritypractices withoutimpairingoperationsefficiencyandcompliancewith theregulations.
SecureDatabyEncryption
Data protection is the key element of good cybersecurity practicethatcompelsorganizationsandindividualstoencrypt data at rest and data in transit. Strong encryption methods offer robust security of confidential information on devices, servers,andcloudinfrastructuresuchthatevenwhenphysical securitycontrolsareviolated,thedataremainsunreadableto unauthorized individuals Full-disk encryption, file encryption,anddatabaseencryptionallhavetheirparttoplay in a multi-layered security policy for the protection of confidentialinformationateverystageofitsexistence.
Secure communication channels are taking on more prominence as telecommuting and web-based collaborative applications become widespread in organizations of every kind. Virtual private networks provide secure, encrypted connectionsforinternetcommunications,protectingdata-intransit from unauthorized interception and manipulation. Secure usage policies for approved communication media, email encryption methods, and safe file-sharing software must be mandated by organizations. In addition, secure backupprocessesusingencryptedoff-sitestorageenabledata integrity and recoverability in case of system crash, natural disaster, or ransomware. Regular testing of backup and recoveryprocessesguaranteesthatthesecontrolsareinplace andassessthreatspriortocybercriminalsleveragingthem.
SustainingAwarenesswithContinuousMonitoring
Goodcybersecurityisonewherethereisongoingmonitoring with the help of built-in monitoring systems capable of detecting,analyzingandrespondingtohiddenthreatsinrealtime. SIEM solutions collect data across many locations withinanorganizationalinfrastructureandappliesadvanced analytics and machine learning techniques to detect suspicious activity as well as likely security events. These systemsallowsecurityprofessionalstoreactfasttoathreatas it occurs and provide a comprehensive log that can be analyzed to report back on compliance. Cyber preparedness
includesincidentresponseplanning,astepwiseguidelinethat providesallthestepstobefollowedduringthecontainment, investigation,andrecoveryofsecurityincidence.
Well-planned incident response plans allocate roles and responsibilities, communication procedures, preservation of evidenceprocedures,andstep-by-steprecoveryproceduresto minimize downtime and data loss. Tabletop exercises and attacksimulationdrillsperiodicallycanhelporganizationsto model their response mechanism and decide where they can bestreamlined.Additionally,liveintelligenceforthesakeof current information in regards to emerging threats via threat intelligence feeds, security advisories, and industry collaborationmakesactivedefensepossible.
Conclusion
Efficientcybersecuritypracticesinvolveamulti-levelprocess thatincorporatesauthentication,encryptionofdata,real-time monitoring and the adoption of an awareness-based security culture among firms. The dynamic security environment requires individuals and firms to be constantly on guard, receptive,andproactiveinissuesofsecurity Awarenessinthe discipline of cybersecurity is not achieved by a single patch but by a clever integration of technical measures, organizational strategies, and human skills into a single defenseprogram.Companiesandorganizationsthatinvestin enterprise security strategies today will have a greater opportunity to safeguard their valuable assets, retain customer confidence, and be able to continue operating in a morenetworkedworld.
The Role of Innovation in Cybersecurity
In an era defined by digital transformation, cybersecurity
has emerged as a critical priority for organizations across all sectors. The increasing reliance on interconnected systems,cloudcomputing,andremoteworkenvironmentshas exposed businesses to a growing range of cyber threats.These threatsarebecomingmoresophisticated,targetingnotonlydata but also operational continuity, intellectual property, and organizationalreputation.Attacksthatwereonceopportunistic have evolved into highly targeted and persistent campaigns, often orchestrated by organized cybercriminal networks or state-sponsored actors. Traditional security measures, such as static firewalls and signature-based antivirus solutions, are no longersufficienttocombatthespeed,scale,andcomplexityof modern cyberattacks. In response, innovation has taken center stageinthecybersecuritylandscape,drivingthedevelopmentof advanced tools, adaptive strategies, and proactive defense mechanisms. By leveraging emerging technologies, real-time intelligence, and a culture of continuous improvement, organizationscanenhancetheirresilienceandsafeguardcritical digitalassetsagainstincreasinglysophisticatedthreats.
GrowingComplexityofCyberThreats
In today’s interconnected world, cybersecurity threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, persistent, and diverse. Therapidexpansionofdigitalinfrastructure,cloudcomputing, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and remote work environments has widened the attack surface for malicious actors. Cyber adversaries are employing advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence-driven phishing, ransomware-asa-service platforms, deepfakes-based social engineering, and supplychainattacks.Thesemethodsareoftendifficulttodetect and mitigate using conventional cybersecurity tools and demandaproactive,adaptivedefensestrategy.
Organizationsnowfacealandscapeinwhichoutdatedsecurity frameworksareinadequatetosafeguardsensitivedata,critical systems, and customer trust Legacy systems with static defenses are ill-equipped to respond to real-time threats that
evolve within seconds. Breaches in operational technology and cloud environments can disrupt essential services and compromise sensitive information, with far-reaching financial and reputational consequences. This has led to a growing reliance on innovation-driven cybersecurity solutions that leverage advanced technologies, predictive analytics,andautomationtodetect,respondto,andneutralize threatswithspeedandprecision.
Technological Innovations Reshaping Cybersecurity
Emergingtechnologiesarefundamentallytransforminghow organizationsapproachcybersecurity Artificialintelligence, machine learning, quantum computing, and behavioral analytics provide new capabilities to identify, predict, and prevent cyber threats before they can inflict damage.AI and machine learning models can process massive datasets to detectanomalies,uncoverhiddenvulnerabilities,andidentify patterns of attack that human operators might miss. These technologiesalsoenableadaptivethreatintelligencesystems that continuously learn from past incidents and refine their defensealgorithmstoanticipatefutureattacks.
Cloud security solutions and zero-trust architectures are further reshaping enterprise cybersecurity strategies. Cloud platforms allow for scalable deployment of security measures, real-time monitoring, and rapid patching of vulnerabilities Zero-trust frameworks enforce rigorous verification of every user and device attempting to access organizational resources, reducing the risk of unauthorized access. Meanwhile, encryption technologies, multi-factor authentication,andsecureidentitymanagementpracticesare becoming standard protocols as organizations seek to enhance resilience and comply with increasingly stringent globaldataprotectionregulations.
Human Element and Collaboration in Cybersecurity
While technology is a crucial enabler, human expertise remainsindispensableforaneffectivecybersecuritystrategy. Innovation-drivenapproachesemphasizethecultivationofa culture of continuous learning, where security teams are encouragedtoexperimentwithnewtools,shareinsights,and collaborate across industries. Public-private partnerships, threat intelligence sharing platforms, and cross-sector collaboration allow organizations to pool resources, exchange knowledge, and build collective defenses against increasinglysophisticatedcyberattacks.
Training and awareness programs are equally vital in strengthening cybersecurity resilience. Employees at all levels from executives to operational staff must understand how to recognize and respond to threats Cybersecurity innovation is not solely about deploying advancedtools;italsoinvolvesenhancinghumanjudgment, situational awareness, and decision-making capabilities. As attackersadoptmoresophisticatedtechniques,organizations must strike a balance between technological advancement and human oversight, ensuring that both elements work together to protect digital assets, operational integrity, and organizationalreputation.
Conclusion
Innovation has become the cornerstone of modern cybersecurity, enabling organizations to maintain resilience inthefaceofrapidlyevolvingthreats.Advancedtechnologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud securitysolutions,andzero-trustarchitecturesareredefining howbusinessesdetect,prevent,andrespondtocyberattacks. Simultaneously, collaboration, human expertise, and continuouslearningensurethatthesetechnologiesareapplied effectively and adapted to emerging challenges. As cyber threats grow in complexity and scale, innovation-driven cybersecurity approaches provide a sustainable path forward—onethatstrengthensdefenses,buildstrust,ensures compliance, and safeguards critical infrastructure By embracing both technological advancements and humancentered strategies, organizations can create a robust, adaptive cybersecurity ecosystem capable of navigating the uncertaintiesofthedigitallandscape.Innovationistherefore not merely an enabler but a necessity for organizations strivingtosecureasustainableandresilientdigitalfuture.
