Global cooperation key for UAE cybersecurity strategy

While the UAE has set up its own policies, cybercriminals are evolving ever more quickly.

ABU DHABI // Global partnerships and collaboration between society, businesses and governments are necessary to ensure a successful national cybersecurity strategy, experts say.

The UAE can learn a great deal from countries such as the United States, Britain and Australia because of the borderless nature of cybercrime.

The head of Sharjah's police said the internet and technological developments had given rise to electronic crimes that have become more dangerous to social security.

Maj Gen Mohammed Al Hadidi said although the UAE had set up rules to fight cybercrimes, criminals were much faster in developing their own cyber arsenal.

He called for a national cybersecurity strategy to bolster the UAE’s ability to protect itself.

Prof Carsten Maple from the University of Bedfordshire said it was vital to learn from the experiences of others around the world in fighting cybercrimes.

“If we want a strategy to be effective, it can’t be just a policy,” said the director of the university’s national centre for cyberstalking research.

“What we need is engagement of businesses, people, government and international partners.”

Once a policy was developed, it had to be communicated and that could prove difficult, he said.

“It’s not just about educating people or awareness,” he said.

“We know that if you provide people with knowledge, for some, they’ll change their actions and behaviour. But you have to train a culture where people are working for the greater good.”

Prof Maple said international collaboration was necessary.

“Cybercrime is without borders but we also need to learn from other countries that have developed these strategies,” he said. “If we want to work in a global environment, it’s not just about protecting our system but helping our partners internationally.”

Technologies should be used to advance economies and societies, and security could ensure the management of that growth in an effective and secure way, said the professor.

“We found that GCC countries largely shared sensitive information because they’re very community based,” he said.

“You must live by the strategy you create and develop, for partnerships internationally and intra-nationally.

“There’s a great recognition of the importance of education and research and development.

“Security is always about choices. People are dealing with information that can be life and business-critical, so those in charge of it must be professional.”