tag

His Excellency President of the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) Eng Abdulrahman Ali Muhammad al-Farahid al-Malki affirmed that the First Arab Cyber Exercise embodies Qatar's steadfast commitment to strengthening the cybersecurity framework in the region. In his remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), His Excellency al-Malki stated that the first Arab Cyber Drill, hosted in Doha under the umbrella of the Council of Arab Cybersecurity Ministers, serves as a joint operational platform aimed at enhancing digital readiness, boosting cyber incident response capabilities, and developing coordination mechanisms among Arab states.He added that organizing this exercise reflects a strategic Arab vision to confront growing cyber threats, especially those that transcend borders, which require an advanced regional co-operation infrastructure, effective information sharing, and the use of cutting-edge tools and technologies in threat detection, digital forensics, and offensive and defensive testing.He emphasized that NCSA believes Qatar's cyberspace security is an integral part of the broader Arab cybersecurity system. He noted that the agency is committed to fostering strong partnerships with sister Arab nations to elevate the level of Arab cyber integration and to build national and regional capabilities capable of countering any digital threats or attacks targeting critical infrastructure or information domains.He explained that this exercise represents a pivotal step in enhancing joint Arab cybersecurity and contributes to solidifying Qatar's position as a leading regional hub in supporting digital protection initiatives and promoting cyber stability in the region.The Arab Cyber Exercise is being held for the first time with Qatar as host, as part of its initiatives within the Council of Arab Cybersecurity Ministers, in line with a strategic approach to bolster joint Arab cybersecurity.The exercise was held on the sidelines of the 12th edition of the National Cyber Drill, which began on November 16 under the theme "Cross-Border Attacks," with the participation of numerous national entities and institutions in a simulation exercise reflecting real-world challenges facing critical digital infrastructure.Through its annual cyber drills, NCSA aims to enhance the efficiency of national entities and institutions and raise their cyber readiness by identifying vulnerabilities, addressing them, and fortifying systems, thus contributing to the establishment of an advanced national cybersecurity framework.

AlRayan Bank announced that it has been awarded the National Information Assurance (NIA) Certification by the State of Qatar’s National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA). Achieved to a high standard within a short timeframe, this milestone reflects the bank’s sustained focus on strengthening information protection and cyber resilience in the face of rising global threats. The certification ceremony took place at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha.Unlike traditional security standards that sit mainly within IT, NIA is a strategic, Qatar-tailored assurance framework that integrates cybersecurity across the entire enterprise, governance, processes, and frontline business functions. For AlRayan Bank, the certification represents a major step forward in safeguarding information assets, elevating security practices across every department, and contributing to the State’s national information security strategy in line with international best practice. It also signals independent assurance of the Bank’s cybersecurity maturity, deeper protection for customers, staff, assets, and shareholders, greater confidence among partners, strengthened resilience against evolving cyber risks, support for compliance with national and global standards, and the continued cultivation of a pervasive, organisation-wide security culture.Commenting on the achievement, Omar al-Emadi, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer at AlRayan Bank, said: “We are proud to receive the NIA Certification, a clear reflection of AlRayan Bank’s relentless focus on information protection and cyber resilience. This is a pivotal step in our journey to safeguard information assets and embed robust security practices across the bank. It also affirms our active contribution to Qatar’s national information security strategy, in line with global best practice. Above all, it embodies our steadfast commitment to protecting our customers’ and partners’ data, strengthening our ability to anticipate and counter cyber risks, and ensuring greater resilience and secure business continuity.”Al-Emadi added that the Bank extends its appreciation to the National Cyber Security Agency for its leadership and guidance in enabling AlRayan Bank to meet the certification requirements. Building on this foundation, the bank will continue to deepen trust with customers and shareholders through credible, stable, and secure digital banking services, making AlRayan Bank their first choice.

Under the patronage of His Excellency Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, the National Cybersecurity Agency (NCSA) on Monday inaugurated the 4th Annual Cyber Governance and Assurance Conference, in the presence of several of Their Excellencies the ministers, senior officials, and representatives of government entities, private companies, and cybersecurity service providers. The two-day conference is held under the theme "Navigating the Cyber Horizon: Resilience through Preparedness and Innovation." During the opening, NCSA launched the National Cyber Crisis Management Framework and the National Institutional Framework for Cyber Crisis Management, aimed at enhancing the security and resilience of Qatar's cyber ecosystem. The frameworks are designed to manage cyber crises at the national level in coordination with relevant authorities, mitigate their impact, ensure rapid response and recovery, and guarantee the continuity of vital services. These initiatives reflect NCSA's commitment to implementing projects under the Third National Strategy and the National Cybersecurity Strategy 2024-2030. His Excellency NCSA President Eng. Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Farahid Al Malki said the conference provides a rich platform for exchanging expertise and exploring the latest global trends in specialized cybersecurity fields. His Excellency announced the signing of a Professorship Chair agreement between NCSA and Doha University of Science and Technology (UDST), aimed at promoting knowledge transfer, advancing education and research, and adopting best practices in cybersecurity, particularly in protecting critical technological infrastructure and operational technology. HE Al Malki also announced NCSA's accession to the Security Compliance Institute of the International Society for Automation (ISA), which will strengthen international cooperation in the field of cybersecurity. He stressed that the Agency recognized early on that achieving strategic objectives depends on capacity building, developing national competencies, and empowering them with specialized training and knowledge tools. This, he said, ensures the sustainability of Qatar's cybersecurity system and enhances its readiness to confront emerging threats. His Excellency emphasized that analyzing challenges and opportunities, and anticipating the future of cyberspace, requires building national capabilities that enhance resilience and stability in the digital environment, investing in innovation and training, and fostering strong partnerships between the public and private sectors. This, he added, ensures the protection of vital assets, reinforces confidence in technological infrastructure, and supports Qatar's leadership in a secure and reliable cyberspace. For her part, Eng. Dana Yousef Al Abdullah, Director of Policy Affairs at NCSA, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the cybersecurity landscape in Qatar, highlighting key current realities and future trends shaping the sector. Mohammed Murshid Al Mannai, Director of the Cyber Resilience, Risk, and Insurance Department, presented on the National Cyber Crisis Management Framework and the National Institutional Framework for Cyber Crisis Management, outlining their role in strengthening national readiness and resilience. During the conference, His Excellency the NCSA President honored several entities that obtained accreditation and compliance certificates for the National Information Assurance Standard. In addition, Duncan Hill, British Deputy Ambassador to Qatar, honored companies graduating from the CREST Development Program, which aims to accelerate the maturity of companies in delivering cybersecurity services. The conference also witnessed the signing of a Professorship Chair agreement in cybersecurity between NCSA and Doha University of Science and Technology (UDST). This strategic cooperation forms part of national efforts to promote scientific research and academic innovation, and to develop national competencies capable of addressing the growing challenges of cyberspace. The agreement includes the allocation of a Professorship Chair within UDST's College of Computing and Information Technology, sponsored by NCSA and managed by the university. The Professorship Chair will encompass teaching a cybersecurity course, supervising research projects, and delivering research seminars for industry partners and the wider community.The first day featured four panel sessions covering the institutional framework for cyber crisis management, certified technologies and supply chain advantages for enterprises, the cybersecurity "trilogy" of government, industry, and community partnerships, and compliance and assurance certifications for cloud computing.It also included three workshops on national strategy collaboration and open dialogue, adoption of the National Information Assurance Standard for cybersecurity officers in government agencies, and the AI-powered "Capture the Flag" challenge in partnership with Scale AI.On the second day, the National Cyber Security Agency, in cooperation with Qatar Development Bank, will launch the Cyber Prerequisites Program for SMEs. The initiative aims to support Qatari small and medium enterprises in enhancing their compliance with basic cybersecurity controls, tailored to the nature and scope of their operations. It forms part of NCSA's wider efforts to strengthen the cybersecurity capabilities of local businesses.The program will be accompanied by three panel sessions addressing the challenges and opportunities of the Cyber Prerequisites Program for SMEs, the intersection of artificial intelligence, industrial security, and privacy in the post-quantum era, with a focus on the role of policies and regulations, and the integration of the National Cyber Crisis Management Framework with the National Incident Management Framework.In addition, two technical presentations will be delivered on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) security and the use of artificial intelligence to enhance cyber resilience. A debate will also examine the integration of cybersecurity with information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT).The program will conclude with four specialized workshops covering a range of advanced cybersecurity topics.