PM inaugurates Information Security Conference

The Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday inaugurated the third edition of Information Security Conference for the financial sector, which is organised by Qatar Central Bank (QCB).
Present at the high-profile conference were scores of dignitaries and excellencies, including the Minister of Transport and Communications, H E Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti; Minister of Finance H E Ali Sherif Al Emadi; and Governor of Qatar Central Bank (QCB), H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al Thani. 
Addressing the opening session, the Minister of Transport and Communications, noted that with the high level of Internet penetration, digitalization and dependency on information and communications technology has exposed the organisations to cyber crimes, but these potential threats, in a ways, have helped Qatar to developing measures to ensure security of vital information in the country.
Policy makers, top bank executives, and cyber security experts from the GCC region, and representatives from several international financial organizations, such as World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Arab Monetary Fund, and Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) discussed and exchanged ideas to finding effective ways to combat the ever-growing cyber attacks. 
The conference highlighted information security challenges facing banks in Qatar and abroad as well as solutions and infrastructure improvements in the financial sector. 
This year's edition of the conference takes place under the theme of electronic security and the importance of cooperation and proactiveness with a wide participation of regional and global experts and specialists in the financial sector and information security.
Also present were Director General and Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, Former Head of UK’s Metropolitan Police, Lord Stevens, UK’s Cyber Security Ambassador, Conrad Prince; Chief Security Advisors and CEOs of well-known companies, including Qatar National Bank, Commercial Bank and Doha Bank.
The Minister of Transport and Communications in his address highlighted that the Internet penetration in Qatar has reached its maximum in banking and financial services at 100 percent, noting that this would help businesses reach new markets. The Minister projected a future increase in the use of communications, information technology and Internet in the financial and banking services. He said that the benefits of information technology and communications have reached the biggest possible segment of people and economic institutions in the country. Minister Al Sulaiti said Qatar has benefited from such attacks in developing measures and planning flexible basics that facilitate dealing with such threats.