The UAE wants to introduce three new policies to strengthen the country’s existing cybersecurity framework.
by Emirates News AgencyThe proposed policies pertain to the areas of cloud computing, data security, IoT security and cyber security operations centres.
It is not yet known how these rules will work, but judging from the overall picture, it is safe to assume that technological advances will be one of the key principles behind the new political regulations. These rules will also improve the UAE’s status by making it a hub for technological innovation by encouraging the creation and adoption of new types of equipment. The technology-driven focus of these rules is likely to be one of the core premises on which the new regulations are based.
In addition to these policies, Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwait, chairman of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, confirmed that the UAE’s future encryption law, which will establish standards for data transmission security through quantum systems, is due to be finalized by the end of the year.
The UAE Cybersecurity Council has taken a proactive stance to secure the country’s digital realm. Al Kuwaiti stressed the need for an effective cybersecurity system as possible attacks cannot be predicted. Moreover, with the evolution of AI and new solutions that can identify online weaknesses, the state must make every effort to protect its citizens from adverse effects and cyber threats.
These measures are urgently needed, as the number of cyberattacks targeting key sectors in the UAE, including financial services, continues to rise. In 2021, a UAE bank manager was tricked by fraudsters using deepfake technology, resulting in the theft of $35 million. Al Kuwait has said that AI-enabled attacks could exploit weaknesses in the infrastructure of UAE companies.
But the bill aims to create a strong cybersecurity system in the UAE that can prevent such attacks and deal with hackers at the world’s highest standards. Al Kuwait said the main reason the UAE’s approach is effective is because the country “serves as an inspiring model for many countries around the world looking to develop their cybersecurity systems.”
As the UAE undergoes digital transformation at an unprecedented pace, there is no doubt that cybersecurity measures must be at their strongest. The effectiveness of the new policy and encryption law will go a long way towards creating a secure digital environment. There is no reason to believe that these regulations come with ambitious technology goals that current policies cannot support, or that UAE citizens and businesses will not be protected from turn-of-the-century cyber threats.
Cybersecurity is a top priority in the UAE’s digital agenda. As such, the country is not only looking to advance in terms of rapid technological innovation. In the current context, effective solutions that support the role of cybersecurity as a fully-fledged national security tool will present a benchmark model for other countries moving towards the digital modernization of their economies and infrastructure.
See also: European organizations call for fair EU cybersecurity practices from big tech companies
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