Ghada El Rassi, CEO of MEEZA, (left) and Faleh Al Naemi, Assistant Secretary General, Shared Services, Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, at a press conference yesterday.
DOHA: More than 350 delegates are expected to attend the GCC Digital Security Forum (GDSF 2014) on February 4-5 at the St Regis Hotel, organisers said yesterday.
The delegates represent government institutions, private companies, regulatory bodies and other organisations from Qatar, Gulf countries and other parts of the world.
Under the patronage of the Minister of Information and Communications Technology in Qatar H E Dr Hessa Sultan Al Jaber, the forum is organised by MEEZA in cooperation with Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group.
More than 25 speakers will cover topics including digital security realities today in the Gulf in terms of legislations, policies and pre-emptive measures governments are taking to protect their economies from digital attacks and crimes.
The forum will discuss digital security threats and available solutions. It will also talk about how organisations and companies are improving their understanding of digital security and developing strategies and plans to meet challenges.
It will also evaluate how regulatory authorities and CERTs (Computer Emergency Response Teams) can help enhance digital security and deal with incidents and breaches on the national level.
The forum will focus on promoting stronger ties between governments and the private sector to protect the digital economy in the Gulf by creating policies, standards, norms and measures that help reinforce a secure environment for networks and electronic transactions over these networks.
Faleh Al Naemi, Assistant Secretary General, Shared Services at the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, said: “Our support for the forum is in line with our mission to support the objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030 which encompass fostering economic and social development by providing a conducive environment for long-term growth and development of all aspects of the information and communications technology sector in Qatar.
“Our mission is to develop policies, regulate the market, supervise the enforcement of rules and design laws and regulations to provide the most conducive conditions necessary for the growth of the sector and its services and spread its benefits across all sectors of the economy and society,” Al Naemi said.
Chief Executive Officer of MEEZA, Ghada El Rassi, stressed the dangers facing digital security and digital attacks on companies, government institutions and individuals.
She said losses due to digital attacks and intrusions had reached $1trn dollars per year.
“The role of MEEZA is in not only providing products and services to enhance digital security but also providing knowledge and understanding and highly professional solutions to be able to effectively share benefits of the digital economy. Through the forum, MEEZA wants to raise GCC digital security discussions to higher levels,” said El Rassi.
She said the forum will be an annual event that will bring together regional and global experts and stakeholders to share ideas and discuss digital security challenges and solutions.
Deputy CEO of Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group, Faysal Abou Zaki, said: “We are at a time when we can no longer dismiss or ignore risks and damage digital attacks and intrusions are imposing on our economies and societies.
“We cannot but describe them as dangerous crimes threatening not only companies, and government institutions but also the entire social and economic security of countries around the world.”
The Peninsula
