NEWS
KSA
SANS returns with cyber security
training in Khobar
Saudi Arabia has been the prime target
for many of the Middle East’s largest
cyber attacks according to researchers
at the National Centre for Cyber Security
at King Abdulaziz City for Science and
Technology.
in the recent past,” said Ned Baltagi,
Managing Director, Middle East and
Africa at SANS.
“It is therefore imperative for the
Kingdom to develop home-grown cyber
security experts who are professionally
trained and certified.”
According to their research, there are
an estimated average of more than
164,000 cyber attacks every day in
the Kingdom.
“Digitising the economy is a cornerstone
of Saudi Vision 2030, but with this
comes the need to protect against a
greatly increased attack surface area.
Core industry verticals such as oil and
gas, as well as Government entities,
have been repeatedly targeted with
some of the most complex techniques
The SANS Institute has held a cyber
security training event in Saudi Arabia,
taking place in Khobar from December 2
to December 7.
Ned Baltagi, Managing Director,
Middle East and Africa at SANS
SANS Khobar 2017 featured two of
the Institute’s most widely acclaimed
courses: tackling cyber security
essentials, and diving deep into
the protection of Industrial Control
Systems (ICS).
Saudi youth tackle challenge
of change
A global forum to enhance the technical skills of young people in Saudi Arabia
has taken place. The MISK 2017 Forum was held in Riyadh with the theme of
facing up to technological change. Saudi Telecom Company (STC) participated
as a technical sponsor and its group CEO, Dr Khaled Biyari said: “Our society,
where young people are a majority, is interacting with this change and
modernisation at an accelerated pace in all matters of life.”
A Memorandum of Co-operation between MISK Charity and STC included
the support of efforts to enable Saudi youth to obtain training with the
latest technology. Issues tackled included how young people can best
meet the challenge of change in 2017 and what the likely impact of
intelligent machines will be on working practices.
Abdulrahman Trabzoni, CEO and GM of STC Ventures Capital
Fund, gave a speech about the impact of artificial intelligence
in changing the world.
Speakers at the event included Bill Gates, co-founder of
Microsoft, and HM Queen Rania of Jordan. The two-day event
was designed to focus on a variety of formats, culture and
technology for young Saudis and Arab youth in partnership
with the brightest minds in the world.
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