Check out this blog from ScotlandIS COO, Nicola Taylor, around her recent trip to GISEC in Dubai and her key takeaways on the opportunities and challenges for Scotland’s cyber industry.
I’ve just returned from GISEC Global 2025 in Dubai – one of the biggest cyber security gatherings in the world – and I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means for Scotland’s cyber community.
There’s something electric about being surrounded by thousands of people from over 160 countries, all talking about how we secure a future powered by AI, data, and connectivity.
GISEC is where the world’s cyber minds meet, and it’s a powerful reminder that Scotland absolutely has a place at that table.
Having representation from so many wonderful Scottish cyber companies on the UK Pavillion really helped to highlight the great things that are happening in Scotland on a global stage.
So, what did I take away?
There’s real opportunity out there.
AI was front and centre at this year’s event. Whether it’s threat detection, fraud prevention, or intelligent automation – every conversation had an AI thread running through it. If you’re a Scottish company already working in AI-powered cyber security, now is the time to step forward. Global demand is growing fast, and we’ve got the talent and ideas to meet it.
Another huge topic was OT (Operational Technology) security; protecting the critical infrastructure that keeps energy, transport, and manufacturing running. With cyber attacks on OT systems up nearly 50% in 2024, this is a space ripe for innovation. We’ve got cyber firms in Scotland already working in this space, and I’d love to see more taking their solutions global.
And then there’s the power of simply being there. GISEC gave us a chance to build relationships. Face-to-face conversations with international investors, partners, and policymakers remind me just how far a warm introduction can go. There’s a real appetite for collaboration, and we’ve got stories worth telling.
But we’ve got some challenges too.
The first is visibility. We punch above our weight in Scotland, but internationally we’re still too much of a hidden gem. We need to continue to show up, at events like GISEC, but also in how we share our success stories, support our founders, and connect our startups with global buyers and investors.
The second challenge is scaling. Some of our best ideas come from small, agile teams, but scaling to meet international demand is tough. We need to wrap the right support around companies with potential and help them grow without losing their spark.
And finally, innovation can’t stop. The threats are evolving daily, and if we want to stay competitive, we have to keep investing in the future, whether that’s through R&D, talent development, or stronger industry-academic partnerships.
Where do we go from here?
GISEC reminded me that Scotland has every reason to be confident. We have the talent. We have the innovation. And we have a growing ecosystem of support – from accelerators to investors to government strategy – ready to help our cyber companies thrive.
But confidence comes from action. So, let’s act. Let’s show the world what Scotland has to offer, and make sure our cyber companies are in the room when big decisions are being made.