Qatar’s investments in artificial intelligence (AI), smart infrastructure, and the digital economy have made cybersecurity both relevant and essential to the country’s long-term growth, an official of an Indonesia-based tech firm has said. “Qatar is particularly interesting because of its ambitious vision for technology, innovation, and digital transformation,” Patrick Dannacher, president director and CEO of ITSEC Asia, told Gulf Times in an exclusive interview. Dannacher said, “As the country continues to invest in AI, smart infrastructure, and the digital economy, cybersecurity becomes an essential enabler of trust and resilience.” He continued, “We believe there are tremendous opportunities ahead, and we are committed to supporting organisations across the region with world-class expertise, innovation and a long-term partnership approach. “Ultimately, our mission is very simple: to help businesses and governments innovate with confidence and provide something increasingly valuable in today’s digital economy, which is peace of mind.” According to Dannacher, the company started in Indonesia 16 years ago with seven people. It has since grown to more than 400 cybersecurity professionals across offices in Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. It is the only listed cybersecurity company on the Indonesian Stock Exchange, he noted. Dannacher said ITSEC Asia’s entry into the Gulf came through a Dubai base, established in 2017, from which it serves organisations across the GCC with services spanning advisory, managed security, penetration testing, security assessments, and cyber resilience programmes. He said the Middle East was a logical next step because it resembles what his teams saw in Southeast Asia years earlier. Dannacher said the Middle East and Southeast Asian regions are undergoing rapid digital transformation, embracing AI at scale and generating rising demand for cyber resilience. In both markets, organisations are searching for partners who can help them grow without making themselves more vulnerable in the process, he