Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation "Kahramaa" signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Cyber Security Agency to establish a framework of cooperation between the two parties and strengthen the work in the field of cybersecurity on Tuesday.
The MoU aims at following the best international standards and practices in both the electricity and water sectors to enhance operational technology, respond to cyberthreats, and to improve cybersecurity in general. It will include developing the corporation's framework, policies, and guidelines to increase its immunity, protect its interests, and ensure its proper functioning.
The MoU also includes cooperation between the two parties to increase the efficiency of cybersecurity and the flexibility of critical information infrastructure and operational technology in the electricity and water sectors. Moreover, it includes sharing knowledge and experience, developing the skills of cybersecurity workers in the electricity and water sectors, developing training programs to protect critical information infrastructure and operational technology, and monitoring and sharing private domestic and international risks.
The MoU also includes the design and implementation of programs and initiatives to develop cyber maturity levels for the electricity and water sectors, and the application of local and global standards in cybersecurity and operational technology. In addition to developing plans and frameworks to address challenges and threats, the MoU seeks to ensure cybersecurity in Kahramaa by setting recommendations to assess the national security and cybersecurity situation in the electricity and water sector, which the Agency has begun since 2021 and includes several power plants in Qatar.
HE President of Kahramaa Eng. Essa Bin Hilal Al Kuwari praised the efforts made by both sides: "In this regard, we aspire to further this cooperation, to address attacks and accidents that may affect the power grid's operational infrastructure, and to take proactive steps to assess risks that can undermine economic stability, cause damage, and affect public health and safety. Through this cooperation, we also aim at identifying threats and hastening responses, ensuring conformity with global standards, and using the latest software to prevent the disruption of services."
For his part, HE President of the National Cyber Security Agency Eng. Abdul Rahman bin Ali Al Farahid Al Maliki indicated that the Agency established and updated policies, governance mechanisms, and setting guidelines to enhance cybersecurity in coordination with relevant stakeholders; it also worked to disseminate these guidelines and policies, follow-up with relevant corporations, and upgrade cybersecurity in critical sectors. This agreement comes as part of the National Cyber Security Agency's solid efforts to assess the national cybersecurity situation in the electricity and water sectors in cooperation with Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation "Kahramaa" in addition to increasing the efficiency and readiness of critical functions and critical information infrastructure in the electricity and water sectors, noting that cooperation between the two sides has started since 2021. (QNA)
