Israeli technology is dominating Persian Gulf cyber: XM Cyber joins the storm
Israel is well-versed with both offensive and defensive cyber warfare capabilities. Apart from developing itself in various fields, Israel has gained much recognition for cyber technology and its outsourcing to both eastern and western countries. Israel’s hacking software is getting much recognition from all over the world for their special functionalities much needed by countries.
The recent turn of events displayed that Israeli cybersecurity firm XM Cyber is entering the Persian Gulf for the first time. The start-up was co-founded by former Mossad Chief Tamir Pardo. It is expected to sell its products to protect the region’s gas, oil and financial infrastructures.
XM Cyber has signed a cooperation agreement with Dubai-based Spire Solutions. It will also be cooperating with Rafael Advanced Defence Systems and a new consortium incorporated to sign contracts with organisations working within gas and oil infrastructures in the Gulf. The consortium’s aim is to promote cooperation deal between Israeli companies and UAE government companies to avoid individual negotiations.
Spire Solutions, headed by an Indian Engineer — Sanjeev Walia, will be helping XM Cyber to work with the UAE and Bahrain; the only two countries in the Gulf that signed the Abraham Accords last year. The aim was to normalise relations between the UAE, Bahrain, and Israel.
Israel has long realised that even amid the regional political struggles, it can benefit by partnering with other nations in context of cybersecurity. Today, Israeli technologies’ offshoot networks are spread across the world, even with the nations that are not geopolitically aligned with Israel.
For instance, Israel-made spying tools were bought for Bangladesh’s Intelligence Service, even when the South Asian country has neither been recognised by Israel nor has a geopolitical alignment with it.
Qatar also shares covert relations with Israel especially when it comes to cyberspace. Last year, director of Israel’s Mossad — Yossi Cohen made a secret visit to Qatar where he met with the head of Qatari intelligence. Some believe that both the parties discussed about the cyber intelligence that Qatar needs.
In the past, Qatar also hired Israel-based cybersecurity firm “Sdema Group” for providing security at the FIFA World Cup 2022 for a several dozen million-euro contract.
Israeli firm “Quadream” has sold cyber-espionage tech services to Saudi Arabia in order to hack smartphones of dissidents and opponents of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) and spy on their communications.
As of today, Israeli firms hold second-largest number of cybersecurity deals globally as per CB Insights. Clearly, the country has established itself as a technological hub providing cyber surveillance tools across the world.
