Middle East Zero Trust Security Market Research Report: Forecast (2021-2026)

Zero Trust Security is an IT security model requiring all clients, whether in or outside the enterprise network, to be authenticated, authorized, and consistently approved for security configuration before accessing applications & data.

The Middle East Zero Trust Security Market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of around 16.1% during the forecast period, i.e., 2021-26, says MarkNtel Advisors. The market growth primarily attributes to rapid digital transformation among enterprise organizations and the surging cyberattacks across the Middle East.

Additionally, the rising trend of mobile & cloud-enabled environments, coupled with the emergence of startups like Perimeter 81, an Israel-based security startup that rolled out Zero Trust application access in 2019, also propel the market growth.

Moreover, the launch of security solutions by the startups and the shift of end-users from legacy VPN to zero-trust security services are other crucial factors likely to augment the market growth during 2012-26, further states the research report. “Middle East Zero Trust Security Market Analysis, 2021."

COVID-19 Outbreak Positively Impacted the Middle East Zero Trust Security Market

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a breakneck transformation of the IT industry, primarily due to the imposition of lockdown & stringent movement restrictions by the government to curb the virus transmission. It forced businesses to shift their operations from on-site to remote working, which further accelerated the risk of cyber-attacks due to the incapability of existing security infrastructure to handle the threat, thus making critical assets vulnerable to unauthorized access. Hence, these aspects have surged the need for zero-trust security among enterprises of all sizes.

Moreover, with all the changes imparted by COVID-19, some things would stay in the future like most companies are planning to operate with 50% staff working at office and rest working from home. It's also evident that working from home can introduce some severe security concerns. Hence, the demand for zero-trust security is expected to continue increasing in the coming years.

Market Segmentation

By Solution:

Network Security Accounted for the Largest Share of the Middle East Zero Trust Security Market

Based on the Solution, the market bifurcates into Network Security, Data Security, Endpoint Security, Security Orchestration Automation & Response (SOAR), API Security, Security Analytics, and Security Policy Management. Network Security acquired the largest share of the Middle East Zero Trust Security Market. The demand for network security is high across BFSI, energy, and retail industries to secure their internal networks.

Soaring investments by the government in digital infrastructure, escalating funding by leading companies toward cybersecurity due to the increasing number of data breaches are the prime aspects that contributed to the segment growth. For instance, in 2019, Saudi Arabia and the UAE had the second-highest average data breach cost of USD 5.97 million.

Due to the COVID crisis, remote working is gaining popularity. Therefore, the need for network security is rapidly increasing among enterprises to enable users to access the network securely from multiple locations. Additionally, the surging IoT traffic and burgeoning concerns to secure networks from data breaks has also infused a lucrative opportunity for the market growth in the region, cites MarkNtel Advisors in their research report, “Middle East Zero Trust Security Market Analysis, 2021.”

By Authentication Type:

Multi-Factor Authentication Held the Largest Share of the Middle East Zero Trust Security Market

Based on the Authentication Type, the market divides into Single-factor Authentication and Multi-Factor Authentication. Of both, Multi-Factor Authentication captured the largest share of the Middle East Zero Trust Security Market in the past few years. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) requires more than one factor to allow access to an account or data. Hence, it is beneficial in the banking sector due to the mounting need for online security & data privacy.  

Moreover, the massive spending by companies in cloud computing, the introduction of large-scale data center development plans, and rising awareness regarding investment in cybersecurity are the prime factors expected to fuel the demand for zero-trust security with multi-factor authentication. For instance, the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) launched a USD18 billion plan to build a network of large-scale data centers.

By Deployment:

Cloud Deployment to Register Fastest Growth in the Middle East Zero Trust Security Market

Based on the Deployment, the market segments into Cloud, On-Premise, and Hybrid. Of these three, Cloud deployment is growing tremendously and is expected to witness the fastest growth rate during 2021-26. The adoption of cloud deployment has surged rapidly across various industries due to the growing demand for data digitalization & cloud service benefits, such as cost reduction, immediate scalability, etc. 

The introduction of cloud policy by the governments and mushrooming number of online transactions across the telecom sector have also contributed to the bolstering demand for zero-trust security. For instance, the Cloud First Policy by Saudi Arabia aims to hasten the transition of government agencies from conventional IT solutions to cloud-based solutions. Moreover, companies are also investing in cloud-based zero trusts to curb the risk of cyber threats, which, in turn, would further escalate the demand for zero-trust security in the forecast years.

Country Landscape

UAE to Witness Sturdy Growth in the Zero Trust Security Market

Country-wise, the Middle East Zero Trust Security Market bifurcates into UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, Egypt, Kuwait, and Others. Of them all, UAE is projected to observe robust growth in the market during the forecast years. The burgeoning deployment of cloud-based services and the growing number of cyber vulnerabilities have escalated the need for zero-trust security among end-users across the country. Last year, UAE alone witnessed a 250% increase in cyberattacks, targeting businesses across multiple sectors. 

The surging number of employees working remotely in the UAE due to the COVID-crisis has also infused a lucrative opportunity for the zero-trust security market growth in the country. Moreover, more than 62% of the respondents worked remotely in Dubai, over 51% in Abu Dhabi, and above 56% in other emirates.

Market Driver

Increasing Number of Cyber-Attack Propels the Middle East Zero Trust Security Market Growth

Cybercriminal activity is one of the biggest threats that every organization faces. The value of the business and its operations depends on the level of data security. According to a recent report by the Ponemon Institute, after the US, the Middle East ranks second in the world in average data breach costs, with $6 million per breach. It shows the need to adopt proper security systems for the efficient handling of data breaches. Hence, based on these aspects, the demand for zero-trust security is projected to increase astronomically across the Middle East.

Market Challenge

Financial constraints among SMEs to Hinder the Market Growth

The digital transformation continues to surge rapidly across all sectors. Every enterprise, irrespective of its size, is susceptible to cyberattacks. Hence, it must be well-prepared to fight these lurking cyber threats. Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are often more exposed to these threats due to a lack of knowledge, shortage of dedicated IT staff, and inadequate network security. The need for cybersecurity is rising dramatically and surpassing budgets planned to address them. Most SMEs lack the funding & IT expertise to enhance their security. Hence, these factors might hamper the market growth in the years to come.

Competitive Landscape

According to MarkNtel Advisors, the leading industry players in the Middle East Zero Trust Security market are Palo Alto Networks, Cisco, Illumio, Zscaler, IBM, Akamai, CyberKnight Technologies, Orange, Citrix, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., and Others.

Key Questions Answered in the Market Research Report:

1. What are the overall statistics or estimates (Overview, Size- by Value, Forecast Numbers, Segmentation & Shares) of the Middle East Zero Trust Security Market?
2. What are the country-wise industry size, growth drivers, and challenges?
3. What are the key innovations, opportunities, current & future trends, and regulations in the Middle East Zero Trust Security Market? 
4. Who are the key competitors, their key strengths & weaknesses, and how do they perform in the Middle East Zero Trust Security Market based on a competitive benchmarking matrix?
5. What are the key results derived from the surveys conducted during the Middle East Zero Trust Security Market study?

Market Outlook, Segmentation, and Statistics 

• Impact of COVID-19 on Middle East Zero Trust Security Market
• Market Size & Analysis
  • By Revenue
• Market Share & Analysis
  • By Solution
    • Network Security
    • Data Security
    • Endpoint Security
    • Security Orchestration Automation & Response (SOAR)
    • API Security
    • Security Analytics
    • Security Policy Management
  • By Authentication Type
    • Single-factor Authentication
    • Multi-factor Authentication
  • By Deployment
    • Cloud
    • On-Premise
    • Hybrid
  • By Enterprise Size
    • Small & Medium Enterprises(SMEs)
    • Large Enterprise
  • By End User
    • BFSI
    • IT & Telecom
    • Retail
    • Healthcare
    • Others (Transportation, Manufacturing Industry, Publishing, etc.)
  • By Country
    • UAE
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Qatar
    • Israel
    • Egypt
    • Kuwait
    • Others
  • By Competitors
    • Competition Characteristics
    • Market Share & Analysis
    • Competitive Metrix
• Middle East Zero Trust Security Market Hotspots & Opportunities
• Middle East Zero Trust Security Market Regulations & Policy
• Key Strategic Imperatives for Success and Growth
• Middle East Competition Outlook
  • Competition Matrix
  • Company Profile