TRAINING TO COUNTER THREAT

The UAE is intent on training and equipping the next generation of cyber students and engineers with the tools to counter cyber security threats.

Institutes such as the American University of Sharjah have introduced programmes for students to be able to tackle all aspects of a threat, including technology and business. They say focusing on cyber security alone is no longer enough.

“We need a cyber security awareness mindset and culture,” said Dr Fadi Aloul, head of computer science and engineering at AUS. “The cyber security game is going much faster than cyber laws or processes are being developed – it’s a cat-and-mouse game, but we need to push it much faster to be protected.”

With technological threats evolving on a daily basis, local organisations are adapting accordingly. “Our goal is for students to have a multi-disciplinary view from the management, business and cyber security point of view,” he said. “We need to have the new cyber security generation that can speak the languages of business, data science and technology and security.”

Learning about the business side of cyber security is vital.

“I started my career in computer engineering then moved to information security and now I’m in business, banking and finance,” said Thabet Khamis, head of information security at the UAE Central Bank. “Now I’m looking to go into a PhD in the business aspects of cyber security.”