Retail leader acknowledges important role of TRA’s Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT) and endorses future cooperation on security issues
In a move to support cooperation on issues of cyber security, aswaaq signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the UAE Telecommunication Regulatory Authority’s Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT) in a meeting at the authority’s office in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, December 20th. The MOU details the services and mission of aeCERT and acknowledges the important role of the organization’s advisory and monitoring services in ensuring a safer cyber-security environment for users in the UAE. As part of its function, aeCERT delivers analysis of global threats, acts as a central point of contact for reporting incidents, and delivers training to constituent organizations, amongst other things.
The MOU was signed by Mr. Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of aswaaq, and H.E. Mohammed Nasser Al Ghanim, / Director General of TRA. Al Ghanim discussed the work of aeCERT in promoting public awareness and said, “Through such agreements, we aim to achieve the goal we have set for the Computer Emergency Response Team , and thus the authority will be able to provide its partners, such as aswaaq, with a safe environment to protect its digital data and confidential information from possible attacks.”
Commenting on the partnership, Al Janahi said, “As the world depends more on digital business communication, it is imperative for companies to protect their data against the piracy of confidential information. We believe that our partnership with aeCERT will help us protect our valuable data, increase our digital activities and broaden the experience of our IT professionals.”
Many of today’s cyber attackers are able to quickly come up with new programs to evade standard security programs, moving away from mass emails to micro-distribution of millions of distinct threats. In a recent Emirates Business interview, it was reported that security forms only three to seven per cent of IT budgets in the Gulf compared to the global average of 10 per cent. Enrique Salem, President and CEO of Symantec, said that 90 per cent of all cyber threats today are created in an attempt to steal confidential information, not just crash your computer.
Mr. Jassim Sajwani, Director of IT & Administration at aswaaq, admitted that IT departments are facing a severe challenge to protect data and online information from piracy. “Protecting private information and data systems from possible hacking is a global concern,” said Sajwani. “We at aswaaq are well aware that partnering with aeCERT will aid us in preventing any trespassing to our files and information. The steps taken by TRA are essential in developing the skills and computer experience of UAE Nationals in order to play a major role in operating and protecting online systems and electronic data.”
To give aeCERT’s public-awareness campaign a more “human” face, earlier this year the organization launched the SALIM campaign across the UAE. The cartoon character SALIM was created by aeCERT to encourage a safer cyber culture by giving simple and easy-to-use tips to the public via an extensive mass media campaign and public appearances. The goal of the launch is to build a generation that has an extensive knowledge of information security, who can then spread this knowledge on to the entire community. SALIM interacts with various target audience through community workshops, presentations, and events at schools and universities.
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