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      Recent geopolitical developments across the Middle East have reinforced the importance of resilience across critical national infrastructure. As regional dynamics evolve, the intersection between physical operations and digital systems is becoming increasingly relevant for governments and operators alike. Across the Gulf, critical sectors including oil and gas, energy, water and desalination, healthcare, and transport continue to operate within highly interconnected environments. At the same time, increasing digitalization has introduced new dependencies on data, cloud infrastructure, and cyber-physical systems, with more than 60 percent of enterprise workloads in the Middle East now hosted on cloud environments, further amplifying reliance on digital platforms.

      In this context, the focus is shifting. The priority is no longer limited to managing isolated risks, but to ensuring that essential systems remain reliable, secure, and operational under a range of conditions.

      From awareness to action

      As digital and physical systems become more interconnected, organizations must take a practical and structured approach to resilience. Key considerations include -

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      To what extent are operational technology environments interconnected, and how visible are they to external exposure?

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      Do monitoring capabilities extend beyond IT systems to include visibility into industrial control system protocols and behaviors?

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      Are industrial control systems, including PLCs, adequately secured against direct or indirect internet exposure?

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      Can critical operations continue safely under degraded conditions, or do they depend on full system availability?



      Resilience across critical infrastructure is no longer about managing isolated risks, it is about ensuring systems remain secure and operational in an increasingly interconnected and digital environment.

      Hossain Alshedoki

      Partner, Cybersecurity, KPMG Middle East

      Global IoT and OT Security Lead, KPMG

      Hossain

      Resilience as defining capability for critical infrastructure

      By strengthening digital and operational resilience, governments and organizations can ensure the continued delivery of essential services while supporting long-term stability and growth. The focus now is clear: building systems that are secure, adaptive, and capable of operating under pressure.

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      Strengthening critical infrastructure resilience in the Middle East

      From interconnectivity to systemic stability

      Our people

      Tim Wood

      Partner, Digital Trust

      KPMG Middle East

      Hossain Alshedoki

      Partner, Global Internet of Things and Operational Technology Lead

      KPMG Middle East

      Hytham Elsohl

      Partner, Cybersecurity

      KPMG Middle East

      Trevor Niblock

      Partner, Digital Trust

      KPMG Middle East