While the cybersecurity aspects of AI are receiving a lot of attention, evidence shows that the use of AI for and against cybersecurity is rapidly developing. Cybercriminals are using AI to carry out, as well as increase the scale of, a variety of attacks such as phishing, vishing and password hacking, while cybersecurity organizations also increasingly rely on AI to help flag suspicious data to detect or thwart attacks. fintechview presents in its cover story Panicos Georgiou, the Founder and CEO of eSafe Cyber Security, a leading provider of cyber security solutions and services, headquartered in Cyprus, with operations expanding into Greece, Italy, and Malta.
How did your journey in cybersecurity start?
Back in 2005, I made a life-changing decision. I left England and moved to Cyprus in search of a new chapter. At first, I took on a role as an IT Manager while trying to figure out where I truly wanted to go. My background was always rooted in IT, but around that time, cybersecurity was emerging as one of the most exciting and specialized fields. Something about it captured my imagination, the idea of protecting people, businesses, and their digital worlds. In 2007, driven by that passion, I founded eSafe with one clear mission: to dedicate myself entirely to cybersecurity. The early years were far from easy. I faced countless challenges, financial struggles, and moments where giving up would have been the simpler choice. But persistence is powerful. It took more than 12 years of hard work, setbacks, and lessons learned before eSafe began to truly thrive.
Today, that vision has grown beyond what I imagined in those early days. Our headquarters are in Limassol, and we now have offices in Greece, Italy, and Malta. Spain is already on the horizon for 2026, and we plan to continue expanding steadily across Europe. Looking further ahead, the UAE is also part of our future journey.
But eSafe is only part of the story. Under its umbrella, we launched RedLine, a company born out of the need to respond to the most pressing threats businesses face today. RedLine focuses on Digital Forensics & Incident Response, helping organizations mitigate risks, strengthen their defenses, and react swiftly when attacks occur. It represents the evolution of our mission — not just protecting, but also empowering our clients in the face of adversity.
Could you tell us about a significant learning experience you’ve had in your career, framing it as a case study, highlighting the challenges and lessons learned?
In the early years of eSafe, the market was extremely cutthroat. Larger companies dominated the scene, winning almost every big project. No matter how hard we tried, the “safe” choice for clients was always the big global names.
Instead of trying to compete head-to-head in the same crowded space, I decided to shift eSafe’s focus entirely. While our competitors were chasing what I call commodity projects — firewalls, proxies, web filtering — we deliberately went in a different direction. We chose to work only with best-of-breed vendors and to specialize in niche technologies that others overlooked.
We invested early in areas like DNS security, sandboxing, intrusion prevention, forensic tools, and other advanced solutions that were years ahead of the mainstream market. These were technologies most people had barely heard of at the time, but they represented the future. That strategic choice gave us a unique identity. We weren’t just another IT security reseller; we were the company clients turned to when they needed cutting-edge solutions.
But technology alone is never enough. From the beginning, we invested heavily in our people. I’ve always believed that having a strong, highly skilled, and motivated team is even more important than the technologies themselves. Our people became the cornerstone of our success — experts who could deliver on complex projects and inspire confidence in our clients. That decision to specialize and to back our people changed everything. Instead of fighting for the same commodity projects, we carved out our own space in the market. Over time, those early bets on niche technologies — combined with a world-class team — paid off, and clients began to recognize eSafe not only for expertise, but for vision and innovation. The lesson I took from that experience is clear: when the odds are stacked against you, don’t play the same game as everyone else. Differentiate, specialize, and invest in people. That strategy transformed eSafe from a small outsider into a trusted leader in the region.
AI is rapidly becoming central to the future of cybersecurity, acting as both a powerful tool for attackers and an indispensable defense mechanism for organizations. How do you see the near future with regards to AI and cybersecurity?
Artificial intelligence will play an increasingly significant role in cybersecurity, enhancing both offensive and defensive strategies. In the near future, we can expect a continual progression in this technological arms race, with AI-enabled threats becoming more sophisticated, tailored, and scalable. Simultaneously, AI-driven security solutions will become vital for real-time threat detection and automated response capabilities.
Which regions are the most sophisticated and ahead, in comparison with others?
The most advanced regions in cybersecurity typically feature comprehensive national strategies, strong public-private partnerships, and considerable investment in research and development. According to the National Cyber Security Index (NCSI) and other international assessments, countries in Europe—particularly the United Kingdom, the Nordic nations such as Finland and Norway—as well as North America (Canada and the United States), and parts of the Asia-Pacific region (China, Singapore and South Korea) are recognized as leaders. These regions often demonstrate excellence in legal frameworks, educational initiatives, and the development of innovative technologies.
How can humans stay ahead in cybersecurity and keep pace with rapid advancements?
To remain at the forefront of rapid cybersecurity advancements, organizations should transition from reactive security approaches to proactive cyber resilience strategies. This comprehensive approach entails the integration of technological, educational, and procedural initiatives:
Continuous Education: Keep abreast of emerging attack methods, new technologies, and industry best practices through participation in conferences, review of relevant publications, and engagement in professional development opportunities.
Leveraging AI and Automation: Approach artificial intelligence as a strategic partner rather than a competitor. Develop expertise in data science and behavioural analytics to interpret AI-generated insights, enabling effective response to complex and strategic threats beyond AI’s current capabilities.
Implementing a Zero Trust Framework: Adopt a security model based on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” This involves continuous authentication and authorization of all users and devices, regardless of their location within the network.
Reinforcing Fundamental Security Practices: Maintain core security measures such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), regular data backups, and ongoing security awareness training for all personnel to reduce the risk of human error.
Is it true AI enhances threat detection?
AI significantly enhances threat detection capabilities. Traditional security systems primarily depend on signature-based methods, which are limited to identifying known threats. In contrast, AI employs machine learning algorithms to analyse extensive datasets, enabling the identification of patterns and anomalies that may indicate potential threats, including zero-day exploits and novel malware variants. This advancement is valuable in several areas:
-Anomaly Detection: Establishing a baseline of normal network and user behaviour to identify deviations that could represent security incidents.
– Predictive Analytics: Leveraging historical data to anticipate potential attack vectors and vulnerabilities, allowing for proactive security measures.
– False Positive Reduction: Improving accuracy to filter out benign activities that might otherwise be misclassified as threats, thereby allowing security teams to focus on genuine, high-risk alerts.
What’s AI’s role in defence and what’s its role in attack?
On the defense, it acts as a powerful protective layer. AI rapidly analyzes vast datasets, automating threat detection and response, and continuously adapts to new and emerging threats. This capability fuels technologies like SOAR platforms, enabling the automatic isolation of compromised systems or the blocking of malicious traffic, all without human intervention. However, on the attack side, malicious actors are increasingly leveraging AI to automate and amplify their operations. This includes creating highly personalized and convincing phishing campaigns, generating sophisticated deepfakes for social engineering and fraud, and developing adaptive malware that can evolve to evade detection. Ultimately, AI’s role in cybersecurity is a constant race, with advancements on both sides driving the need for continuous innovation and vigilance.
Read more in fintechview digital magazine issue #6
who is who
Panicos Georgiou is the Founder and CEO of eSafe Cyber Security, a leading provider of cyber security solutions and services, headquartered in Cyprus, with operations expanding into Greece, Italy, and Malta. Under his leadership, eSafe has become a strategic partner to major organizations across Europe, helping them strengthen resilience in the face of growing cyber threats. With more than two decades of experience in the cyber security industry, Panicos has built his reputation on combining deep technical knowledge with a sharp business vision. He has successfully led the launch of RedLine Incident Response, a specialized entity dedicated to digital forensics, penetration testing, and incident response. Passionate about innovation, Panicos is committed to bridging the gap between cyber security and fintech, ensuring that digital transformation is built on a foundation of trust, compliance, and security. His vision is to position eSafe Group and its entities at the forefront of Europe’s digital economy, enabling organizations to adopt cutting-edge technologies with confidence.
