SANS Institute, the global leader in cybersecurity training, has been named Best Cybersecurity Training Provider of the Year at The Cyber Strategists Summit & Awards 2025, hosted by CXO Insight Middle East and Insight Media & Publishing. The award recognizes SANS Institute’s commitment to building world-class cyber capabilities through hands-on, practitioner-led training.
Held alongside GISEC 2025, the premier cybersecurity exhibition in the region, the summit celebrated the most influential cybersecurity leaders and solution providers driving digital resilience in the Middle East. With digital threats becoming more advanced and widespread, the summit served as a timely platform to address the critical need for cyber resilience, intelligence, and innovation across sectors.
“As digital risk intensifies across all industries, our goal is to equip professionals with the practical skills and knowledge they need to detect, respond to, and mitigate threats in real time,” said Ned Baltagi, Managing Director, Middle East, Turkey and Africa, at SANS Institute. “We’ve entered an era where AI is both a powerful tool and a potential threat, introducing new layers of complexity into the cybersecurity landscape. It’s now more important than ever to equip professionals with the expertise to secure AI systems, detect AI-driven attacks, and build resilient defenses against evolving adversaries.”
He added, “At SANS, we’re not only preparing today’s security teams for current challenges, but also helping them anticipate what’s next. Our goal is to support the Middle East’s vision for a digitally advanced, secure future by empowering cyber professionals with the practical skills, strategies, and community support they need to succeed. This award is an incredible honor and a testament to our commitment to the region.”
As one of the world’s most trusted and largest cybersecurity training providers, SANS Institute remains dedicated to advancing cyber readiness through education. With over 85 hands-on courses covering every domain of cybersecurity, from foundational awareness to specialized tracks in cloud security, digital forensics, offensive operations, and AI-focused threat detection, SANS continues to empower professionals with the practical skills needed to defend against today’s most pressing digital risks.
