Ashraf Koheil is the driving force behind Group-IB as the Head of Sales META.
With a rich background spanning over 25 years, he has carved out leadership niches at tech giants such as FireEye, Microsoft, and Telstra, where he was pivotal in regional sales, cloud channel sales, and solutions development.
Koheil’s exceptional leadership skills have enabled him to mentor and elevate a cadre of talented professionals, guiding teams to deliver remarkable business results and cultivate deep, insightful partnerships.
A regular on the tech and telecom circuit, Koheil contributes as a thought leader at numerous commercialisation forums, and his insights energise both seasoned entrepreneurs and startups alike.
Beyond his business acumen, Koheil is recognised as a certified business coach. He is celebrated for his execution prowess and coaching sagacity, garnering multiple accolades in these arenas. His academic journey in business began at Ain Shams University, Egypt, where he graduated in 1989, laying the groundwork for a distinguished career that continues to influence the tech landscape.
In a conversation with edge/ Koheil talks about working in technology and in the space of cybersecurity.
Can you share more about your background and what initially piqued your interest in technology?
My journey into the world of technology began in the mid-1990s, marking nearly 30 years in this rapidly evolving field. The initial draw was technology’s transformative potential, particularly its ability to revolutionise industries and fundamentally impact societal structures.
However, my early focus on surveillance technologies, pivotal during that era due to their expanding capabilities and the rising need for security and data analysis in various sectors, laid a solid foundation for my later pursuits in cybersecurity. In this field, the stakes have become increasingly higher, and the challenges are more complex.
Reflecting on your career, especially around 2017, what were your primary focuses within the cybersecurity field?
By 2017, my career trajectory had steered me towards tackling advanced cybersecurity challenges, notably those involving last-mile cybersecurity defences and strategies against nation-state cyber terrorism.
This period was characterised by an increasingly organised and well-structured cybercrime industry, necessitating sophisticated cybersecurity frameworks. My role involved developing robust defences in an environment where cyber threats could have national repercussions and cause significant financial damage.
How have you seen the cyber threat landscape evolve over the years, and what are its implications today compared to two decades ago?
The cyber threat landscape has undergone profound changes. Initially, the industry dealt with simpler malware and basic phishing attacks. However, today, the sophistication of cyber threats has significantly increased. Modern threats involve highly coordinated attacks aimed at data theft and espionage.
These threats are immediately disruptive and carry long-term legal and financial repercussions. The potential damage now includes shuttering entire organisations, colossal financial losses, and severe reputational damage, which can be career-ending for those involved.
How has your approach to cybersecurity changed throughout your career in response to evolving technologies and threats?
My approach has evolved from focusing initially on basic surveillance to encompassing comprehensive cybersecurity measures as the threats expanded in complexity and potential damage. The integration of managed XDR systems marks a mature phase in my strategy, emphasising threat detection and an integrated response mechanism.
My current focus is on predictive analytics, threat intelligence, and leveraging artificial intelligence to anticipate and neutralise threats before they manifest into actual harm.
Considering the current technological advancements and changes in consumer behaviour, how are you planning to adjust your group’s intellectual property and cybersecurity strategies?
The intersection of rapidly advancing technology and a more informed consumer base has led us to adopt a proactive and informed approach.
We focus on creating robust yet user-friendly cybersecurity frameworks, emphasising educational initiatives and transparency in data handling.
This approach is designed to fortify trust and ensure our security measures empower rather than intimidate users. The goal is to remain dynamic and forward-thinking, staying ahead of potential threats in this ever-evolving landscape.
Given recent global disruptions, how do you plan to tackle the increased cyber-attack vulnerabilities?
The pandemic highlighted the need for scalable and robust cybersecurity solutions as the world increasingly turned to digital platforms.
We are enhancing our infrastructure to handle these new challenges better, with increased investments in cloud security and capabilities to counter sophisticated, AI-driven threats.
The pandemic has emphasised the importance of resilience planning—preparing for unexpected events that can reshape the threat landscape overnight.
Our strategy involves creating resilient systems that anticipate disruptions, mitigate their impacts, and recover swiftly, ensuring continuous protection for our clients in a post-pandemic world.
