Protecting The ‘Digital Aqueducts' Of Society

Leo Cole explains the role of cyber resilience in safeguarding the pillars of modern society.

- Leo Cole

In August this year, authorities in the UAE announced the deployment of an advanced cyber security network to 35 federal entities with the aim of protecting government institutions from advanced persistent threats (APTs).

Officially named as the Federal Network (FEDNet), the sweeping upgrade was introduced by the UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) and is designed to serve as a common infrastructure for federal entities. The network allows interconnection and data exchange between all local and federal government entities, verifying the pattern of any e-content, be it an email or a website. The system then assesses any suspicious patterns in how the data is dealt with, helping protect against zero day attacks.

This latest government-led cyber security initiative follows the launch of a cyber security strategy by Dubai earlier this year, aimed at strengthening the city’s position as a world leader in innovation, safety and security and managing cyber security risks.

The strategy focuses on five main domains; the first being the cyber smart nation, which aims to raise public awareness on the importance of cyber security and ensure the development of a society that is fully aware of the potential dangers of cyber crime. The goal of this directive is also to invest in the skills and capabilities necessary to manage cyber security risks among government and private institutions and individuals in Dubai.

The second domain relates to innovation in the field of cyber security and the establishment of safe and secure cyber space, so as to encourage further innovation in Dubai.

The objective of the third domain is to secure cyber space by establishing controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity, availability and privacy of data.

The fourth domain focuses on establishing and maintaining cyber resilience, ensuring the continuity and availability of IT systems in a digital environment.