The Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) has held the Cyber Defense Challenge, in partnership with cyber security solutions company Trend Micro.
The initiative, according to the ADDA, is aimed at strengthening the protection of Abu Dhabi organisations’ servers and hybrid cloud data centers.
The launch of this initiative follows the partnership between ADDA and Trend Micro, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to adopt the latest cybersecurity solutions and conduct a series of awareness workshops for IT government employees, providing them benefits from unique educational and professional paths in the functions of the cyber security.
ADDA implements a common security transformation framework for all Abu Dhabi government entities, which include continuing standard and detailed security audit and assessment, review and action plans. It also works to equip entities with proven and resilient security architecture, vet and test technologies, review all software developed during the digital transformation phase and continuously monitor and manage security operations.
The Cyber Defense Challenge seeks to support the technical infrastructure and cyber ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and the UAE. The one-day hands-on workshop led IT professionals to experience simulated cyberattacks and adopt a ‘think like a hacker’ approach to improve their capabilities on how to protect IT assets. Teams worked together to devise strategies aimed to block the attacks and competed to win the Challenge.
Mohamed Geyath, Executive Director- Information Security Operation Sector, ADDA, said, “In line Abu Dhabi’s vision to build a secure, globally competitive and sustainable knowledge-based economy, Abu Dhabi Digital Authority continues to engage in initiatives that increase the IT protection of the Emirate and the country’s digital infrastructure, systems and data. The Cyber Defense Challenge is one of the strategies that ADDA supports and promotes to help strengthen our security capabilities following innovative solutions and training, and thereby enhancing the skills of our human capital.”
The workshop saw a strong turnout during the event with major participation from the public sector, including chief information security officers, IT staff to security operations, security architects, infrastructure engineers, and DevOps.
Fabio Picoli, Managing Director-GCC, Trend Micro, said, “As the UAE’s digital footprint continues to expand, many organisations face increased risk of cyberattacks. Our partnership with ADDA on the Cyber Defense Challenge has been a success and has contributed to our efforts to increase the specialists’ awareness about hackers’ techniques and tools, and which technology solutions organisations can put in place to protect their environments. By exchanging best practices from global technology companies such as Trend Micro, the UAE is ideally-positioned to have the most advanced security systems and processes to enable the digital economy.”
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