Shehab Al Zarooni’s journey of excelling in Cybersecurity without an official university degree is incredible and inspiring for many. In this candid interview, Shehab shares his journey, the major milestones he achieved, and what inspired him to build his venture, mitigate the risks, and embrace the latest trends.
Armageddon Security, an Emirati Cybersecurity firm, approaches Cybersecurity from a business standpoint while ensuring digital security. As the CEO and Founder of this firm, Shehab is committed to offering the best security technology with a team of experts in different aspects. Shehab Al Zarooni’s insight on fostering innovation, mitigating risks, and advice for beginners offer invaluable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Factors Shaping The Journey
We started the interview by asking, “Can you share key milestones and turning points in your journey as an industry leader or entrepreneur?”
Shehab shared, “It was 2018 when I founded “Arm Secure” and initially started in the home sector. However, after a year, I was associated with certain aspects of the enterprise sector and worked for the same.
Later, I was recognized and awarded by his excellency Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim. This award was offered for being the first talented Emirati without a university degree to excel in this dynamic field. It is a crucial milestone and a huge recognition for me.”
Major Inspirations
We were curious about the significant factors that inspired Shehab Al Zarooni to start his venture. So, we asked, “What inspired you to start your own company or venture in this industry?”
“Anything related to Cybersecurity, particularly cracking into systems and securing them, amuses me. I keep attempting to break into my designs, later securing them. I find this entire process quite fascinating and strive to learn more.
Amidst this process, I realized that people with almost no idea and know-how of this field need to be more knowledgeable about Cybersecurity and are facing severe threats related to the same. To fill this gap and to offer a safe digital society, I came up with the idea of establishing Armageddon Security.” Shehab replied.
Fostering Innovation
We further asked, “How do you foster innovation within your company? Can you provide an example of a successful innovation initiative?”
He continued, “My team consists of over 7 employees, considered “Big Whales” in Cybersecurity. They primarily work for me on a contractual basis, so I pay them after finishing their assigned tasks and projects. This feature helps them work flexibly and meets their visions and requirements.”
Attracting The Right Talent
To learn more about how Shehab attracts the right talent in his team, we asked, “How do you attract and retain top talent in your organization?”
He replied, “I never restrained them or pressured them regarding the assigned tasks. Although they are associated with some of the top agencies in this field, they are equally loyal and committed to my company, primarily due to the vast 40% cut out in each of their contracts provided by our company.”
Gaining Knowledge
“How important has mentorship and networking been in your professional journey?”
“Mentorship has always been a crucial part of my journey, making it possible to where I stand today. I ensured to keep learning, and it all started with 3 Top Cisos, teaching me everything required in this field. 2 of them belong to the UAE region, and the other is from abroad. I learned the complexities and every know-how required to excel in Cybersecurity by offering them free work yet what I have noticed is always being friendly and smiling tends to let people support you in any way possible. I still prefer this, as it helps me stay updated with every market transition and trend.” Shehab replied.
Mastering Social Engineering: Awareness and Defense
Given the diverse array of talents Shehab possesses, we wanted to explore an aspect of cybersecurity that often operates beneath the radar but has significant implications: social engineering. We asked, “In the world of cybersecurity, how do you approach the challenge of social engineering, and how are you contributing to raising awareness about it?”
Shehab responded, “Social engineering taps into the human aspect of security, often considered the weakest link. It’s about understanding a huge part of the human psychology and how individuals can be manipulated into actions or divulging information. While it’s essential to know the technical side, understanding human behavior is crucial. At Armageddon Security, we not only identify vulnerabilities from a technical standpoint but also focus on educating clients about potential human-centric threats. I’ve conducted awareness lectures to underscore the importance of recognizing such tactics, ensuring that people are not just technically safe but are also mentally prepared to fend off manipulative attempts.”
Adapting To The Emerging Trends
We were intrigued to learn about the approaches adopted by Shehab Al Zarooni to adapt to the emerging industry transitions. We asked, “How do you adapt your business strategy to capitalize on emerging opportunities and industry shifts?”
He shared, “I prefer working with small contracts since most of my employees are offshore. Further, the small jobs for entities in the home sector give me more flexibility to work at my pace while assuring the clients of 100% privacy and best results. Also, it is always great to follow up the newest technologies so the easiest way to stay on top is to go to the source of the new technology and try to onboard some of the professional employees.”
Offering Unique Services
Starting in a similar field, I will find it inspiring to hear from an expert like Shehab Al Zarooni. So, we asked, “What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs in this industry? What key lessons have you learned along the way?”
“Speaking from my perspective, anyone can start in this field with the passion to go through all the thicks and thins and continuous learning. The major focus while starting should be being unique – think and figure out how you can craft your services and make them unique from your competitors. Focus on bridging the available gaps in the field and add value to the same.” Shehab shared.
Long-Term Plans We Asked Shehab Al Zarooni
Our last question was, “What are your long-term goals for your company? How do you plan to remain competitive in the evolving business landscape?”
“Currently, I am targeting fresh graduates without experience in this field. I train them and transfer knowledge and expertise since here in the UAE cybersecurity is emerging and needs many young local talents. I look forward to building a safe digital society, offering the best security technology.” Shehab concluded.
Connect with Shehab Al Zarooni on LinkedIn.
