Doha, Qatar: The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) yesterday organised a specialised training session and tabletop exercise involving more than 300 representatives from over 90 public and private sector entities as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen Qatar’s national cyber resilience and enhance preparedness for managing cyber crises.
The initiative was designed to support the implementation of the ‘Enterprise Cyber Crisis Management Framework (ECCMF)’, a national framework that aims to improve coordination and response capabilities across critical sectors in the event of cyber incidents.
The participants represented a broad range of strategic industries, reflecting the country’s commitment to fostering a unified and coordinated approach to cybersecurity.
According to NCSA, the training session focused on enhancing participants’ understanding of the ‘Enterprise Cyber Crisis Management Framework’ while providing detailed guidance on the responsibilities and coordination mechanisms required before, during, and after cyber crises.
The programme emphasised the importance of collaboration among government institutions and private organisations in responding effectively to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
As part of the programme, participants took part in a comprehensive tabletop exercise that simulated realistic cyber crisis scenarios. The exercise enabled ‘Enterprise Cyber Crisis Management Teams (ECMTs)’ to apply the framework’s procedures in a controlled environment, allowing them to assess response strategies, strengthen communication channels, and improve decision-making under pressure.
The simulated scenarios were designed to test participants’ readiness to identify, assess, and respond to cyber incidents while ensuring continuity of operations across essential services.
Through interactive discussions and coordinated decision-making exercises, participants gained valuable practical experience in managing complex cyber emergencies and addressing challenges that may arise during real-world incidents.
NCSA highlighted that the exercise also served as an opportunity to reinforce coordination between public and private sector organisations, recognising that effective cyber crisis management depends on timely information sharing, clearly defined responsibilities, and unified response efforts.
The successful completion of the training session and tabletop exercise marks another milestone in Qatar’s broader efforts to build a resilient national cybersecurity ecosystem.
As cyber threats continue to evolve globally, enhancing organisational preparedness and ensuring that crisis management teams are equipped with the necessary knowledge and practical experience remain key priorities.
NCSA stated that the exercise successfully achieved its objectives by improving participants’ understanding of the framework, reinforcing cooperation among participating organisations, and supporting the continued development of a more resilient and efficient national cyber crisis management ecosystem.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to advancing cybersecurity readiness through continuous training, collaboration, and capacity-building initiatives.
The training initiative reflects Qatar’s ongoing investment in cybersecurity as a strategic national priority, reinforcing the country’s ability to anticipate, manage, and recover from cyber crises while promoting a culture of preparedness and resilience across all critical sectors.
