In Part 2 of this series, we’ll examine the short‑term outlook in more depth and break down what the next several weeks are likely to look like from a cyber risk perspective across the Gulf. We’ll translate that outlook into concrete, prioritized actions you can take immediately so your organization can stay ahead of fast‑moving threats rather than reacting to them after the fact.
If you haven’t already, start with Part 1, The Gulf Cyber Threat Surge: What Leaders Need to Know, for a strategic overview of how the threat landscape is evolving in the region and what we're seeing across the network. This context will help you get the most value from the guidance and practical strategies we cover in Part 2.
The Near-Term Outlook
The situation on the ground and online is shifting day by day, but several patterns are already clear. Over the next two to six weeks, organizations in the Gulf should plan for elevated, sustained cyber activity.
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More of the same (for now).
Expect continued DDoS waves plus opportunistic intrusions against exposed web/apps/APIs and edge devices, with staged data releases used to shape perception and apply pressure [1].
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Then more coordination as connectivity normalizes.
As Iran’s internal communications recover and external proxies synchronize, the likelihood of more coordinated operations rises, especially against critical infrastructure, finance, and government [2][3].
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Government guidance hasn’t changed—because it works.
Authorities continue to stress fundamentals that blunt common Iran‑nexus TTPs: reduce internet‑facing exposure, patch edge devices, enforce phishing‑resistant MFA, and keep OT/ICS off the public internet [4].
Playbook for Organizations
To be prepared for what’s happening now and what’s coming next, basic DDoS mitigation alone is no longer sufficient. Organizations need advanced, layered defenses that combine volumetric protection with web application firewalls to detect and block attempts to exploit known and emerging vulnerabilities. Here are practical steps to take today to strengthen your defenses.
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Be DDoS‑ready at both layers.
Confirm upstream scrubbing for volumetric attacks and WAAP/WAF coverage for application‑layer floods. Rehearse playbooks for pulse (short‑burst) and carpet‑bombing patterns with 24×7 vendor contacts at hand [5][6].
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Treat your web, apps, and APIs like crown jewels.
Turn on virtual patching in your WAF/WAAP. Rate‑limit where sensible. Watch for odd API probing from new ASNs/regions. Prioritize fixes for SQLi/RCE and auth/logic flaws [1].
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Lock down identities - especially VIPs:
Force phishing‑resistant MFA on executive, finance, admin, and help‑desk accounts. Add session‑hijack detection on collaboration/messaging apps. Pre‑draft comms for potential VIP “hack‑and‑leak” scenarios [7][8][4].
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De‑expose your edges (IT and OT):
Audit what’s reachable from the internet and remove or gate it. Keep OT/ICS UIs off the public web; segment ruthlessly; rotate default credentials; monitor remote access paths [4].
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Run a “claims triage” process:
When your brand or sector is named by a hacktivist: log the claim, pull telemetry to confirm or refute, escalate only if indicators are present, and coordinate PR/legal to avoid amplifying rumors [9].
How Mastercard Cybersecurity Can Help
For years, Mastercard has helped build trust and secure the digital ecosystem, from global payments infrastructure to real‑time threat defenses that protect consumers and organizations at scale. That experience puts us in a strong position to help organizations across the Gulf withstand multi‑layer attacks, reduce exposure, and maintain customer confidence.
What you can expect from us:
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Multi‑layered protection, starting with Threat Protection. Our cloud-based solution combines DDoS and WAF coverage to stop both volumetric and application‑layer threats right in their tracks. By detecting attacks and malicious patterns in both network and application layers across our global sensors, we preemptively drop malicious IPs at the network layer (L3), stopping attacks before they are even initiated.
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Rapid onboarding, measured in hours. In situations like this, time is of the essence. Get protected in just a few hours with a streamlined setup that requires no implementation.
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High-confidence threat blocking. Our Global Sensor Network spans across 80+ countries, ingesting over 200 events per second. The honeypots proactively block IPs involved in attacks against our customers, stopping threats before they reach your network.
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Near real-time intelligence. Benefit from dynamic, continuously refreshed global threat data to stay ahead of the latest threats.
Limited-time offer for organizations in the Gulf:
We’re providing 30-day complimentary access to Threat Protection to qualifying organizations to help you strengthen defenses during this period of elevated activity. Our team will coordinate rapid onboarding and support to keep your business secure and operational. Sign up below:
Sources
[1] Check Point Research – “What Defenders Need to Know about Iran’s Cyber Capabilities” (Mar 1, 2026): https://blog.checkpoint.com/research/what-defenders-need-to-know-about-irans-cyber-capabilities/
[2] The Register – “Iran’s cyberwar has begun” (Mar 2, 2026): https://www.theregister.com/2026/03/02/cyber_warfighters_iran/
[3] CNBC – “Iran’s internet blackout enters fourth day amid reports of cyberattacks” (Mar 2–3, 2026): https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/02/irans-internet-down-amid-reports-of-us-israel-cyberattacks.html
[4] CISA/NSA/FBI/DC3 – “Iranian Cyber Actors May Target Vulnerable U.S. Networks and Entities of Interest” (Jun 30, 2025): https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/iranian-cyber-actors-may-target-vulnerable-us-networks-and-entities-interest
[5] NSFOCUS – 2024 Global DDoS Landscape (Jun 9, 2025): https://nsfocusglobal.com/nsfocus-releases-2024-global-ddos-landscape-report/
[6] NSFOCUS – “Modern DDoS Attacks and the Rise of DDoS Coalitions” (Apr 2, 2024): https://nsfocusglobal.com/modern-ddos-attacks-and-the-rise-of-ddos-coalitions/
[7] KELA – “The Handala Hack: Telegram account breaches of Israeli officials” (Jan 2026): https://www.kelacyber.com/blog/handala-hack-telegram-breach-israeli-officials/
[8] The Times of Israel – “Bennett admits Iranian hackers accessed his Telegram account, says phone not breached” (Dec 17, 2025): https://www.timesofisrael.com/bennett-denies-his-phone-was-hacked-after-iranian-group-claims-to-leak-its-contents/
[9] SecurityWeek – “Iran Cyber Front: Hacktivist Activity Rises, but State‑Sponsored Attacks Stay Low” (Mar 3, 2026): https://www.securityweek.com/iran-cyber-front-hacktivist-activity-rises-but-state-sponsored-attacks-stay-low/
