ABU DHABI // A senior official at a cyber-security firm visited the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait this week to advise governments on the latest cyber security trends and policies.
“I’ve seen dramatic evolution in a positive way here. It’s important to bear in mind that, in places like the UAE, the Government has been pioneering initiatives and we’ve seen a big take-up of technology,” said Ilias Chantzos, Symantec’s senior director of government relations and public affairs programme in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
But this technology drive is linked to an increase in cyber risk.
“Security is changing, so is technology,” Mr Chantzos said. “The focus must stop being on the device and [more] on information protection from the moment it’s captured to the moment it’s deleted.”
He said the regulatory landscape in the UAE would have to be addressed. “We’re not there yet,” he said. “In Europe, they say we will probably finish it by the end of 2015. It all boils down to how quickly the industry will adapt here.”
Mr Chantzos met government officials in the UAE to discuss data protection, critical infrastructure and smart grid initiatives.
“We’re working with many governments of the region,” said Amer Chebaro, Symantec’s regional manager in the Gulf and Levant.
“Especially big players in oil and gas, aviation, transportation [and] telecoms, and they’ve been named in some of the attacks, so we want to share with them what are the latest trends. What we’re doing in Europe and around the world to protect ourselves from cyber attacks.”
Mr Chantzos’ visit came as governments in the GCC have taken steps towards securing their country’s critical infrastructure.
Although the UAE’s internet security profile improved from a world rank of 41 in 2012 to 47 last year, targeted attacks increased globally by 91 per cent. The shift from 41 to 47 indicates a lower number of security threats across all categories, with the exception of spam.
“GCC nations contain infrastructure challenges ranging from oil and gas, electrical grids, power industries and communications networks, along with some of the most significant military networks in the world,” said Doug Raaberg, the chief executive of Northrop Grumman in the UAE. “The landscape of the cyber threat in the region has grown from the days of lone hackers defacing websites to advanced, persistent threat tools utilised by ‘cyber brigades’ as part of a broader campaign of disruption or even military operations.
He said sharing threat information was key. “Cyber security must be built in to the enterprise at its inception, not bolted on after the fact,” Mr Raaberg said.
Tim Allen, the general manager of QinetiQ in the UAE, said a legal framework was needed to manage such issues. “I think most governments are wrestling with the fact that, historically, some of these issues have been dealt with in isolation by government departments.
“But suddenly here, they’re trying to get government initiatives going and it’s a very important step in providing policy, regulation and technical advice.”
He said collaboration was crucial. “There’s no one-stop shop for the problem,” he said. “But collaboration is the only way that you can mitigate some of these problems.”
cmalek@thenational.ae
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How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
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• For more information visit the library network's website.
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Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
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Specs
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Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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Company Profile
Company name: Hoopla
Date started: March 2023
Founder: Jacqueline Perrottet
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Investment required: $500,000
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
The biog
Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.
Favourite car: Lamborghini
ALRAWABI SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
Creator: Tima Shomali
Starring: Tara Abboud, Kira Yaghnam, Tara Atalla
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Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
The biog
Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives.
The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast.
As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau
He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker.
If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah
COMPANY PROFILE
Company: Eco Way
Started: December 2023
Founder: Ivan Kroshnyi
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Electric vehicles
Investors: Bootstrapped with undisclosed funding. Looking to raise funds from outside