Industry: Finance and Management
At a Glace
- Industry: Finance and management
- The Company: A Mid-Sized Finance and Management Consultancy, Dubai, UAE
Key Challenges
- Limited cyber risk visibility
- Complex regional regulations
- Inconsistent IT governance
Solution
- Comprehensive IT audit
- Framework-based gap analysis
- Phased transformation roadmap
Business benefits
- Improved cyber resilience
- Enhanced regulatory readiness
- Agile, secure IT operations
Problem Statement
A rapidly growing finance and management consultancy based in Dubai encountered increasing cybersecurity threats, evolving regulatory requirements, and heightened expectations from clients and regulators as it expanded across the Gulf region. The organisation lacked a clear view of its current information technology capabilities, cyber maturity, and regulatory compliance posture. To address these challenges, it sought a comprehensive evaluation to identify gaps, assess alignment with international and local standards, and design a strategic roadmap for secure, agile, and compliant digital transformation
Key Challenges
The organisation lacked visibility into its current cybersecurity capabilities and overall digital compliance readiness.
Regulatory complexity across Gulf countries created uncertainty in meeting both international and local compliance obligations.
Fragmented technology practices and inconsistent policies hindered the firm’s ability to respond effectively to cyber threats.
The Solution
Conducting a comprehensive Cyber and Compliance Assessment
The engagement began with an in-depth evaluation of the organisation’s cybersecurity maturity and regulatory compliance. The assessment covered people, processes, and technology across the IT landscape. It aimed to identify gaps, risks, and inefficiencies, enabling a structured understanding of the current posture and creating a baseline for improvement.
Implementing the correct Methodology and Frameworks
The assessment was conducted using a blend of international standards and region-specific regulations. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework was used to evaluate the firm's capabilities across five core areas—identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover. The CMMI Cyber Maturity Model provided a structured benchmark to measure and improve cybersecurity practices. ISO/IEC 27001:2022 standards were used to assess information security governance and certification readiness. Compliance was further aligned with the UAE National Cybersecurity Strategy and DIFC Data Protection Law. COBIT 2019 was applied to assess IT governance and ensure business-IT alignment.
Defining the Target Future State
A future state was defined in alignment with the firm’s growth ambitions and evolving risk landscape. This included achieving Level 4 cyber maturity, readiness for ISO/IEC 27001 certification, full compliance with national and sectoral laws, a secure cloud-first infrastructure, and an agile, scalable IT operating model. These objectives provided clarity and direction for transformation.
Designing a phased Roadmap to Implementation
A three-phase roadmap was developed for implementation over 24 months. Phase one focused on stabilisation—establishing cyber governance, drafting security policies, and launching basic protections like multi-factor authentication. Phase two focused on scaling—implementing risk assessments, security monitoring, and compliance systems. Phase three optimised the ecosystem with certification, automation, and embedded security-by-design practices.
Embedding Agile and Secure IT Practices
To support sustained transformation, agile and secure development principles were integrated into the IT delivery model. This included adopting DevSecOps, deploying compliance dashboards, and enhancing cyber threat intelligence capabilities. These changes improved responsiveness, reduced risks, and aligned IT operations with business goals and regulatory expectations.
Benefits Derived
- The organisation achieved improved cyber resilience through enhanced visibility into threats and proactive response capabilities.
- Regulatory compliance was strengthened by aligning internal policies with UAE national standards and DIFC data protection laws.
- A structured IT governance model ensured that all digital initiatives supported business objectives and risk management priorities.
- Agile practices were adopted to accelerate IT delivery and improve responsiveness to evolving business and regulatory needs.
- Technology investments were optimised to align with compliance goals, security priorities, and the company’s strategic direction.
