Page 51 - SAMENA Trends - January 2020

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UAE Launches the National Cybersecurity Capacity Building Program

The General Authority for Regulating the Telecommunications
Sector TRA launched the National Cybersecurity Capacity Building
Program, a core program within the National Cybersecurity
Strategy. The Program aims to develop highly efficient national
capabilities in protecting the cyberspace and addressing relevant
risks. The Program also aims to develop the capabilities of youth
in Cybersecurity, whether professionals or those working in areas
related to IT and Computing, or students and amateurs, thus
contributing to enhancing the readiness of UAE to respond to
cyber incidents and supporting research and innovation, while
safeguarding the digital infrastructure of the country. Commenting
on this Program, H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, TRA Director
General, said: “As we steadily move towards shaping a digital
future that promotes community happiness, we take into account
the side effects of digital technologies, especially cyber risks
affecting infrastructures and information security. In this context,
the TRA has launched the National Cybersecurity Strategy with a
view to promoting and maintaining the rapid progress witnessed
in the UAE in areas of Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and the Fourth
Industrial Revolution, driven by the strong momentum generated
by a history of pioneering and key milestones. With the year 2020,
we started the actual implementation of this Strategy by launching
the National Cybersecurity Capacity Building Program, given that in selecting Cybersecurity employees by defining the tasks and
smart cities we aspire to in the future primarily need human cadres skills assigned to each post and training requirements for HR
capable of protecting such cities from cyber attacks. Therefore, development in the field of Cybersecurity. Academic support is the
the challenge ahead is not only to reach great achievements second focal point of the Program, through which it aims to educate
but also to be able to preserve these achievements.” H.E. Al school students about Cybersecurity in general and relevant
Mansoori stressed that youth are the cornerstone for achieving career opportunities through awareness workshops by the TRA,
the visions of the country and protecting its accomplishments, and through the Cybersecurity awareness page on its website.
adding: “Future wars will not rely on conventional weapons. Moreover, the Program will, in cooperation with relevant entities,
Rather, they would be wars of computers and experts capable of include cybersecurity in UAE school curricula and Cybersecurity
hacking into and destroying digital infrastructures with a push of majors and courses in universities, while encouraging universities
a button. Future destruction will not be physical destruction, but to include Cybersecurity in all disciplines related to information
rather a disruption of tasks and services and creation of chaos technology (e.g. programming, networking, etc.) to allow
and panic, and in order to protect our nation from such events, it graduates to obtain a sound grounding in Cybersecurity. Under
had become imperative to prepare youth who are able to counter its third pillar, the Program strengthens competencies through
cyber-attacks, and find weaknesses in our digital systems. Today, a number of initiatives and training programs to be launched
through this Program, which comes in response to the directives by the TRA in the near future, in collaboration with its strategic
of our wise leadership to strengthen the role of youth, we are partners. The Program will provide Cybersecurity training to three
striving to protect our gains in areas of Artificial Intelligence, categories: students and amateurs, Information Technology
Big Data and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.” In achieving its workers and Cybersecurity professionals. Under its fourth pillar,
goals, the National Cybersecurity Capacity Building Program the National Cybersecurity Capacity Building Program will
bases itself on four pillars, including: Competency framework, organize and support Cybersecurity conferences and events,
academic support, training courses and events. The Competency where a national Cybersecurity conference is planned to be held,
Framework defines Cybersecurity functions, tasks, information as well as supporting and participating in all Cybersecurity-
and skills that incumbents should have. The Framework also related events. The Program also includes simulation exercises to
identifies training courses that can be offered to Cybersecurity respond to cyber incidents for increased readiness of specialists
jobholders and other related jobs, to enhance their abilities and in addressing and redressing the same. The TRA has launched
competencies. The Competency Framework also seeks to bridge the UAE National Cybersecurity Strategy as the country is
the gap between educational outcomes and the labor market by entering the 5G era, where the TRA is developing and launching
helping universities develop educational programs to meet the the UAE 5G Strategy 2020-2025, making the UAE the first in the
requirements of the labor market. This Framework outlines the region to launch such strategy beyond 2020. The new National
basic skills that graduates must possess in order to be able to fill Cybersecurity Strategy strengthens the integrated Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity jobs. It also assists HR officers in UAE organizations system by implementing 60 initiatives across 5 themes.

51 JANUARY 2020