Adeel Shaikh Muhammad Interview
With over 15 years in Cybersecurity and IT, Adeel Shaikh Muhammad emphasizes that continuous learning, real-world engagement, and adaptability are critical to staying ahead in an evolving threat landscape. Through consulting, writing, and training, he champions a thoughtful, value-driven integration of AI and automation, helping organizations build intelligent, resilient security strategies while navigating digital transformation. His approach bridges theory and real-world execution, ensuring clients not only stay protected but also grow with confidence.
Adapting to Change
We started the interview by asking, “With over 15 years of experience in Cybersecurity and IT, how has your continuous learning journey—including certifications, keynote speaking, authoring books, delivering trainings, and now pursuing a DBA—helped you stay ahead of change and deliver meaningful value to clients in today’s evolving threat landscape?”
Adeel Shaikh Muhammad replied, “Over the past 15 years in cybersecurity and IT, one thing has become crystal clear: this industry changes in the blink of an eye. Especially with the rise of AI, the pace of innovation—and the complexity of threats—has skyrocketed. What worked a few years ago might not hold up today, and that’s why continuous learning has always been at the heart of how I work.
For me, it’s not just about collecting certifications or ticking boxes. It’s about staying genuinely curious and connected—through speaking, training, and learning from real conversations with professionals in the field. Those interactions help me stay grounded and make sure the advice I give is relevant, practical, and aligned with what clients are actually facing.
Now, as I’m pursuing my DBA, I’m taking a deeper look at how AI is influencing not just security tools, but decision-making, risk management, and even leadership models—especially across the Gulf region. That broader perspective helps me connect the dots between strategy and implementation in a way that supports long-term resilience, not just quick fixes.
At the end of the day, I don’t claim to have all the answers. But I do believe in showing up, staying open, and helping clients navigate the uncertainty with clarity and confidence.”
Empowering SOCs with AI
You’re currently pursuing a DBA focused on AI’s impact on SOCs. Why is this research important in today’s cybersecurity landscape?
Adeel Shaikh Muhammad replied, “My DBA research on the impact of AI on Security Operations Centers (SOCs) in the Gulf region is driven by a very practical need—SOC environments are evolving rapidly, and traditional methods can’t keep up with modern cyber threats. AI brings automation, speed, and predictive capabilities that help analysts focus on what really matters. In high-threat regions and critical sectors, SOCs must become more proactive, and AI is the key to that shift. This research is not just academic; it directly informs how we can optimize resources, reduce fatigue among analysts, and detect threats earlier. Understanding the cultural, operational, and technical dynamics of SOCs in this region adds depth to the study. Ultimately, my goal is to bridge theory and practice—bringing AI-powered efficiency to real-world SOC operations, which can significantly enhance national and organizational security.”
Authorship with Impact
You’ve authored books on AI in Cybersecurity and AI and Ethics. What inspired you to write, and how do these books serve the industry?
Adeel Shaikh Muhammad replied, “Writing, teaching, training, and speaking have always been my way to reflect on my experiences and give back to the community. With the increasing intersection of AI and Cybersecurity, I felt a strong need to share insights that weren’t widely discussed yet. My first book, “AI-Driven Transformation of Security Operations Center (SOC)”, was inspired by observing the limitations of traditional SOCs and imagining how AI could redefine their capabilities. I later released a second edition titled “AI-Driven Transformation of the SOC and SecOps”, which dives deeper into day-to-day operations and offers a practical approach to solving challenges using AI-first and AI-native solutions. This second edition became #1 under New Releases on Amazon—thanks for the love and support.
The second book, “AI and Us: The Ethical Choices”, explores the moral dimensions of using AI in security and beyond. These books are not just technical manuals—they’re designed to provoke thought, spark conversations, and guide decision-makers, practitioners, and students alike. I wanted to bring clarity to a fast-evolving space and help readers navigate both the opportunities and risks of AI integration. It’s my way of helping shape the future of cybersecurity with knowledge and context.”
Applying AI and Automation
How have you integrated AI and automation into cybersecurity consulting for clients across the MEA region?
Adeel Shaikh Muhammad replied, “AI and automation have definitely become central to how I approach cybersecurity consulting—especially across the MEA region, where organizations face a mix of fast-evolving threats, tight compliance frameworks, and resource limitations.
But let me say this upfront: AI isn’t a sticker you slap on a product and call it next-gen. Unfortunately, that’s what we’re seeing from many vendors lately. Real AI integration needs to be thoughtful and aligned with actual business needs.
When I work with clients, the focus is on practical value. We explore where automation can truly help—whether that’s reducing the noise from false positives, speeding up detection, or giving analysts better visibility into what’s really happening in their environment. Most SOCs are flooded with alerts, and AI can help filter out the clutter so teams can act on what really matters.
It’s never a one-size-fits-all approach. Every organization is at a different stage in their maturity, especially with cloud and hybrid environments becoming the norm. The key is to balance innovation with compliance—whether it’s NCA ECC, SAMA CSF, ISO 27001, or other local regulations—and to make sure the tools we implement actually support the team, not just look good on paper.
At the end of the day, it’s about helping clients build a security posture that’s not just reactive, but intelligent, scalable, and genuinely resilient.”
Strategic AI Integration
Lastly we asked, “How do you help organizations integrate AI into their cybersecurity strategy while navigating digital transformation?”
“I think a lot of organizations get excited about digital transformation—and rightfully so—but often security gets left behind or added too late in the process. For me, it’s important to start by really understanding where the business is headed and then looking at how we can build security into that journey, not bolt it on afterward.
When AI enters the picture, it opens up a lot of opportunities—faster detection, smarter decision-making, and better visibility across complex environments. But it also comes with new risks and responsibilities. I help teams figure out where AI genuinely adds value to their cybersecurity strategy, whether it’s in automating threat detection, enhancing SOC operations, or improving identity controls.
I try to keep the approach practical. We start with a clear assessment of where things stand—what’s working, what’s vulnerable—and then lay out both short-term wins and longer-term steps. I always emphasize getting the basics right: secure architecture, proper access control, and making sure people are trained and aware. The tech only works if the people and processes support it.
And with AI specifically, I also encourage a healthy balance—yes, automate what you can, but make sure there’s always human oversight, especially in critical decision-making areas.
What’s helped me is having experience across the board—from pre-sales to hands-on implementation—so I can connect the strategy with what actually works on the ground. At the end of the day, it’s not just about staying secure. It’s about helping organizations grow confidently, knowing they’re building on a secure foundation.” Adeel Shaikh Muhammad Concluded
Connect with Adeel Shaikh Muhammad on LinkedIn
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