MANAMA: A leading business urged all GCC countries to join efforts and counter systematic cyber attacks targeting petroleum companies’ infrastructure as well as the sectors of energy, water and banks, which represent the nerve of the economy.
NGN chief executive Yacoub Al Awadhi called for the establishment of a cyber preventives shield binding all GCC member states, in light of mounting regional tensions which turned the Internet and IT systems into open battlegrounds.
He said the failed Iranian cyber attack which targeted Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) represents a wake-up call, warning against the alarming increase in malicious online activities to hack data.
He also cited the recurrent data leads and cyber attacks which target vital sectors that include banks, financial institutions, health, energy and water strategic facilities.
“Government-run enterprises that oversee the infrastructure and public services sector, as well as banks and financial institutions, are the driving force for development and economic successes in GCC countries,” Mr Al Awadhi said, stressing the crucial importance of protecting the information security of these agencies and ensuring the stability of their performance.
This requires what he calls “cyber alertness”, as the fast digital shifts, which are overwhelming Bahrain and other GCC states, bring their toll of cyber threats and challenges.
He said that Saudi Arabia had already established the National Cybersecurity Authority, which is directly linked to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
“NGN launched the NGN Security Operation Centre (SOC) in co-operation with an international group to promote pre-emptive and proactive approach in monitoring, detection and elimination of any cyber attacks,” he said.
He underscored the importance of stepping up investment in cybersecurity solutions for different types of organisations, entities and institutions in the public and private sectors.
He underlined potential significant opportunities for investment in cybersecurity in Bahrain, noting that the volume of investment in this sector in the Middle East region will grow at a rate of 14.2 per cent annually over the next five years.
He said that a study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers focusing on Middle East Cybersecurity revealed that only 37pc of companies in the Mena region have a comprehensive security and training awareness programme compared with 53pc globally.
He pointed out that the cybersecurity sector provides qualitative opportunities for Bahrainis, with more than 900 annual graduates in ICT courses and a competitive workforce.
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