DUBAI // Experts have called for more training in cyber security as the region moves further into the spotlight, making it a tempting target for hackers.
They say academic programmes, vocational training and incentives to attract youth are needed to tackle a growing problem in the region.
“We believe the cyber-security landscape in our region has changed dramatically over the last three to four years,” said Hani Nofal, executive director at Gulf Business Machines, a Middle East IT solutions provider.
“Criminals do what they can to reach their goals but the fact is that these attacks have become much more sophisticated, very well-funded and targeting a very complex environment.”
One of the main obstacles in tackling the problem is a severe lack of trained professionals.
“We’re trying as hard as we can regionally by introducing new academic programmes, new technical vocational training and incentives to attract young people to join the domain as well as certificates from other professional organisations,” said Ashraf Ali Ismael, of the Qatari ministry of information technology.
“But I think it’s not enough. We have a problem with sufficient trained personnel. When it comes to information security, we are a light year behind and we need to do more.”
At the Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference in Dubai on Tuesday, Mr Ismael said technology was moving so fast that surveys were constantly lagging.
“Therefore risks are moving so fast to the point that even surveys and studies can’t keep up with their pace.”
Mr Nofal said: “We all need to be aware that security incidents that happened in the past caused interruption of service, maybe loss of money but, in the future, with the dependencies of our lives on all these devices, people will die and this is what we need to be prepared for.”
cmalek@thenational.ae
