Dealing With Digital Threats

EY’s MENA cyber-security centre in Muscat is the first of its kind in the region, serving clients across the Middle East and North Africa. It will protect regional companies against emerging digital threats. Oommen John P reports

- Oommen John P

EY has opened a multimillion MENA Digital Security Operations Centre (DSOC) in Muscat. Using EY’s latest award-winning cyber analytics platform, the 24-hour facility offers cyber-security monitoring services focused around threat detection and threat hunting of the entire digital ecosystem – covering information technology (IT), operational technology (OT) and the internet of things (IoT).

The facility was inaugurated by HE Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Salem Al- Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications recently. The launch is in response to the increased demand for cyber-security services, and to solve the most complex cyber problems using machine-learning technology.

Ahmed Amor Al-Esry, Oman Managing Partner, EY, says, “The security centre in Muscat is the first of its kind in the region, serving clients across the Middle East and North Africa. Oman plays a key strategic role in the Middle East as the GCC Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), which also encompasses wider CERT responsibilities for Middle East and Africa. Similar to other GCC countries, Oman is significantly investing in cyber talent through education and training, which allows EY to hire the right foundational level security professionals into its digital security functions. The facility is an excellent way for EY to contribute to GCC national talent development by utilising the skills of Omani cyber professionals in the country.”