Technology has changed the face of the world. Whether it is individuals or nations, digital embrace now remains the key to success. The UAE is reaping the huge benefits of having recognised this fact early and taking all steps in the right direction.  

As Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, points out, Dubai has become a global leader in digital transformation over the last few years, guided by the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Sheikh Mohammed’s vision to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world has steered its transformation from e-government to Smart Government and eventually to a Smart City.

Raising the quality of electronic infrastructure also brings its own risks, and it is good that preparedness to deal with cyber risks is a strong focus for the emirate.

The recently launched Dubai Cyber Index seeks to raise the security and safety standards of Dubai’s electronic infrastructure by enhancing the readiness of government entities in dealing with cyber crises and emergency scenarios.

The initiative will use advanced Artificial Intelligence technologies and Big Data analysis to help organisations anticipate potential cyber threats.

Continuous cooperation between various authorities is critical to meet the goals of the strategy and achieve secure cyberspace not only for the government and private sectors but also for individuals.

Alertness holds the key. The National Computer Emergency Response Team, aeCERT, of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, TRA, for example, responded to approximately 103,408 cyber-attacks, during the month of June.

The TRA revealed that its monthly report on cybersecurity developments in the Federal Government of the UAE for the month of June 2020 showed that the cyber-attacks varied between malware (73 per cent), vulnerabilities (15 per cent) and phishing attacks (12 per cent).

The world has been witnessing a surge in cyberattacks following the outbreak of the pandemic and the growing dependence on digital infrastructures.

“Life After COVID-19: Cyber Security,” a report by the Dubai Future Research, an initiative by the Dubai Future Foundation, DFF, attributes the rise in cyberattacks amid the global outbreak, reported by countries worldwide, to the increased vulnerability of digital infrastructures to opportunistic hackers looking to exploit this digital dependency, even while IT departments and IT security teams continue to work remotely.

 In Sheikh Hamdan’s words: “Digital infrastructure and smart services are key pillars of our future. Strong cyber security is crucial to ensure we can deal with all threats and risks proactively and efficiently. In many ways, protecting our electronic borders is similar to protecting our maritime and land borders. Rapid technological advancement brings with it growing risks. As Dubai speeds up the pace of its digital transformation, reinforcing cyber security is vital to our sustained progress.”

“Dealing with challenges associated with cyber security is a common responsibility. To provide individuals and society a high degree of protection from cyber threats, we need to consolidate and synergise the efforts of various stakeholders. The Dubai Cyber Security Strategy and Dubai Cyber Index seek to create comprehensive protection from security risks, which is a critical element in bolstering Dubai’s leadership in the digital arena.”

His words are reassuring: “We will continue our journey of innovation and development to make Dubai the world’s safest city in the digital world.”