National Cyber Security Agency Honors 9 Institutions, Employers

Doha, October 09 (QNA) - National Cyber Security Agency honored Sunday nine institutions and employers, the highest achievers among 91 entities that participated in the cybercrime prevention training program, and 25 trainees who got the highest evaluation within the advanced tracks of the training program, as part of the activities of the cybersecurity awareness month that it organizes under the slogan "for a safe cyberspace". The agency affirmed that it aimed, through this honor, to strengthen its partnership and cooperation with training specialists, and to enhance capabilities in state institutions to benefit from the training programs it provides, aimed at achieving its national strategic objectives, in addition to maintaining and regulating national cyber security, and promoting and protecting the vital interests of the state in the face of cyber threats. Director of Cyber Empowerment and Excellence Affairs, Khalid Al Hashmi expressed the agency’s appreciation for the efforts of the highest-achievers in their contribution to supporting the NCSA's vision, stressing that the protection of cyberspace is a shared responsibility, and that it will not be achieved without the concerted efforts of all concerned national parties such as the government, the public and private sectors and individuals as well as building relationships to transfer knowledge and technology, exchange experiences, and chart a common path toward the future through actual capabilities and skills. During his opening speech, Al Hashemi said that the NCSA signed many community partnerships, awareness initiatives, treaties and agreements with research institutions concerned with cybersecurity, and has been able to follow its progress towards its aspirations. He added that the Agency’s mission is to provide tools, knowledge, programs and initiatives that will help ensure the security of the State of Qatar, in cooperation with its local and international partners experienced in this field. National Cyber Excellence Department director and project manager of the cybercrime prevention training program Dalal Al Aqeed stressed that today's meeting between the agency and training and development managers in state institutions will be held periodically every year, hailing their contributions in supporting training programs aimed at empowering the workforce and raising the level of readiness in all sectors in the field of cybersecurity. She also hailed the Agency's assistance to implement ongoing activities in this field, and linking it to the beneficiary category in state institutions, which represents a great challenge, which would not have been achieved without the efforts of partner institutions and their sense of joint responsibility for the development of the cybersecurity system in the state, and continuing work to build this sector. Assistant Undersecretary for Shared Services Affairs Ali Abdullah Al Buainain hailed the agency’s constructive efforts and initiative in training the ministry’s employees to raise awareness and prevent cybercrime, pointing out that the ministry’s interest in training and increasing education in the field of cybersecurity comes in a framework to keep pace with technical developments in today's world, and in line with the state's interest in human development as one of the main pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030. President of Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA), Khalifa Al Salahi Al Yafei, said that progress in communication technologies and digital transformation tools highlights cybersecurity challenges and threats, which may result in catastrophic economic, security and societal effects if they occur, which requires taking all preparations and precautions to confront them. This is part of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that takes into account the acquisition of advanced technologies and applications, and the development of human competencies capable of addressing cyber-attacks. In the same context, Executive Director of Qatar research Institute Ahmed El Magarmid stressed the importance of cooperation between the institute and the agency, pointing out that the goal of the cybercrime prevention program is to support national cyber security and raise the efficiency of workers in this field for all vital institutions in the country, and to achieve the pillar of development. Human rights in Qatar National Vision 2030, indicating the institute's participation in training about 400 employees and technicians from 75 local entities. Regional Director of Cisco, Hassan Khan, said that the efforts made by the NCSA's Governance and Assurance Affairs aims to enable the country to reach the highest levels of maturity in terms of cybersecurity to ensure that the security needs to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 are completed through its comprehensiveness and through the establishment of the Qatar Cybersecurity Framework based on the highest standards and expertise, noting that the company was honored to provide its main inputs in formulating this framework. The cybercrime prevention training program benefits more than 75,000 government employees, 30,000 of whom have already graduated and received an NCSA-accredited certificate, and it still receives applications from state employees. (QNA)