The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) recently showcased its cybersecurity preparations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 during Omans Future Tech Summit and Expo, which was held via video conferencing in the Sultanate of Oman over two days.
The committee discussed the current challenges in the field of cybersecurity, and the achievements it has made in the preparation for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Other sessions saw the participation of a wide range of experts in fields such as cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), data protection, digital transformation, the Internet of Things, blockchain technologies, financial technology, and fifth-generation communication services.
During her presentation, the SCs IT Director Maryam Al Muftah highlighted the importance of cybersecurity preparations and the challenges that come with hosting a mega sporting event, such as the potential for cybercrime, data security breaches, and information systems failure.
Speaking about the lessons learned from other major sporting events, Al Muftah drew examples from recent FIFA World Cup tournaments and Olympic Games, when organizers were targeted by sophisticated online scams.
She said that these threats may amount to a complete cessation of enterprise activities in light of the current reliance on modern technical means and the rapid growth in the use of smart services such as the Internet of Things, cloud storage services, and others.
Al Muftah said: "It is likely our threats will expand as we draw nearer to the tournament, meaning it will be necessary to build our cybersecurity skillset, grow compliance and maintain all our current capabilities. We have developed strong partnerships with major cybersecurity partners and will continue to nurture these relationships. We all need to be vigilant and continue to expand our expertise to tackle all aspects of this issue."
She said that threats are not limited to large institutions only, but also extend to small and medium-sized companies and individuals alike, citing examples from the Beijing and London Olympics in 2008 and 2012, and the FIFA World Cups in Brazil and South Africa in 2010 and 2014, which include the cyber-attacks targeted organizers' websites, as well as the organized scams individuals were exposed to, and the lessons learned from them.
Al Muftah added: "Based on the experience of previous mega sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup and Olympics, we have to anticipate the same players and adversaries will look to target Qatar 2022."
Organized by Muscat Expo LLC and the White Paper Summits, the Future Tech Event aims to provide a live platform to discuss and spread awareness of the latest market trends along with educating and enlightening attendees about ways in which they can adapt to the demands of the digital and technological revolution. 
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