Cybersecurity is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades. AI is transforming how organisations operate across every industry, but it is also opening an entirely new category of risk, one that reaches beyond protecting infrastructure to governing how AI systems and autonomous agents behave. It is against this backdrop that Trend Micro, a global leader in cybersecurity, has evolved its enterprise cybersecurity business into TrendAI. With TrendAI’s official launch in Saudi Arabia, the evolution builds on nearly forty years of the company's global heritage and its established presence in the Kingdom, reflecting a renewed commitment to strengthening national cyber resilience as organisations adopt AI at scale. For Wasna Ben Gassem, the company's Managing Director for the Kingdom, the move represents far more than a change of name. "Long-term commitment is measured by a company's ability to evolve alongside the threats its customers face," she says. The evolution to TrendAI, she explains, is focused on addressing the emerging risks of the AI era, while remaining anchored to the mission that has always defined the company - helping organisations remain resilient against a threat landscape that never stops shifting.That evolution comes at a time when Saudi Arabia is positioning itself at the forefront of responsible AI adoption. Wasna points to national initiatives such as the Year of Artificial Intelligence, SDAIA's AI Adoption Framework, and the Kingdom's global leadership in cybersecurity as evidence of a country that understands innovation and security must advance together. "Saudi Arabia is creating a strong foundation for organisations to adopt AI responsibly," she says. TrendAI intends to build on that foundation through continued investment, stronger local partnerships and support for national cybersecurity priorities.A new chapter, built on trustFor Wasna, this stage is an opportunity to deepen the role the company has spent years building in the Kingdom. Strong relationships with customers, partners, government entities and the wider cybersecurity community form the basis of what comes next. "Leading this next chapter is about building on that trust while helping organisations stay ahead of an increasingly complex threat landscape," she says.Her focus extends well beyond technology. From delivering trusted cybersecurity expertise and developing local talent to supporting national priorities, the aim is to create a lasting impact across the Kingdom.From experimenting with AI to deploying it at scaleAI has transformed how organisations operate across every industry, and as adoption has accelerated over the past year, so too has security conversation. For Wasna, one shift that stands out in particular is the changing nature of the conversations she is having with customers. The focus has moved from individual security challenges to broader questions of managing cyber risk across the enterprise.Organisations are looking for ways to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated threats, reduce complexity for overburdened security teams, and make faster, better-informed decisions in an environment of constant change. Increasingly, they also want a partner that understands their business, not only their technology. "Customers want confidence that their cybersecurity strategy can keep pace with the speed of change, allowing them to innovate while managing risk effectively," she says.Investing in people and partnershipsMeeting that demand, Wasna argues, depends on having the right people, partnerships and capabilities in place. As demand for advanced cybersecurity grows, the company is expanding its local team, deepening its presence and strengthening its partner ecosystem across the Kingdom.Developing Saudi talent sits at the centre of that agenda. Through initiatives such as TrendAI CyberGATE, the company is helping equip the next generation of cybersecurity professionals with the technical skills and hands-on experience required to contribute to the Kingdom's digital future. "We remain committed to attracting, developing and empowering Saudi talent across our business as part of our broader Saudisation efforts," she says.Future Roadmap That pace of change is exactly what TrendAI has spent decades preparing for. Wasna stresses that innovation has always been at the core of the company. For nearly four decades it has continued to evolve in response to a changing threat landscape, and AI represents the next chapter in that journey. "Our evolution to TrendAI reflects a direction we have already been pursuing for years," she says.As AI continues to transform both cyber threats and cyber defence, Wasna’s message to customers in the Kingdom is one of continuity as much as change. She concludes by saying that “TrendAI will continue investing in its people, partnerships, threat intelligence and security capabilities to help Saudi organisations innovate with confidence while remaining resilient in an increasingly connected world.”
