Sheikh Hamdan unveils Dubai Cyber Index to promote online security

Progressive Dubai was introduced to yet another futuristic initiative by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.

Sheikh Hamdan revealed the Dubai Cyber Index, an initiative to improve cybersecurity standards at Dubai’s government entities. The first initiative of its kind in the world, the Index attempts to establish Dubai as the city with the safest cyberspace in the world.

The Dubai Cyber Index is expected to create a healthy competition among government entities in the field of cybersecurity and encourage the development of capabilities and excellence in this area.

The Index was developed by the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) as part of its mandate to implement a government information security policy that provides the highest benchmarks of cybersecurity in the emirate. The organization monitors government entities to ensure compliance with its Information Security requirements in order to ensure effective and secure communication networks and information systems.

One of the principal objectives of the newly launched Index is to improve the readiness of government entities to deal with cyber crises and emergency scenarios. DESC will empower entities in setting up specialized security operations centers and utilize advanced Artificial Intelligence technologies and Big Data analysis to anticipate potential cyber threats.

“Dubai continues to reinforce its leadership in the digital and cyber sector by consolidating the efforts of all government and private institutions and individuals to provide secure cyberspace. It also seeks to make Dubai the most electronically secure city in the world. The Index will measure the progress and readiness of the emirate’s government entities to assess cyber risks and deter threats. The Dubai Cyber Index will further raise the security and safety standards of Dubai’s electronic infrastructure. This is particularly important as the world we live in is characterized by a constantly evolving communication technology landscape and is increasingly dependent on advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things and Big Data. It is critical to creating a robust supportive framework to ensure the security and safety of information systems.”

Launched in 2017, the Dubai Cyber Security Strategy was formulated to ensure high levels of security commensurate with the technological advancements and smart transformation that has taken place in the emirate, which requires high levels of preparedness to deal with challenges and risks. The Strategy aims to provide integrated protection against cyber risks and support innovation in cyberspace.

The Dubai Electronic Security Centre works closely with government entities across the emirate to raise cybersecurity awareness and take all necessary precautions against cyber risks. The Centre is focused on ensuring that the security and compatibility of information systems and communications networks in the emirate are of the highest international standards.