HE Chairman of the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) Eng. Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Malki said that these days are a dear memory for all of us, highlighting that it is the memory of the inspiration of the principles of steadfastness, strength, and determination from the founder of Qatar Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani.
He believed that the celebration of the Qatar National Day (QND) this year is different, it coincides with Qatar's hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the most important sports tournament in the world, to prove that Qatar can organise an exceptional version of the tournament and can direct the world's attention as a whole to the beloved country and its path of development and making great leaps in the path of development and giving.
His Excellency added in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the Qatari people's celebrations of this fragrant anniversary during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament constitute an opportunity for every Qatari citizen and resident on this good land to be ambassadors for our country with our morals, values, customs, and heritage that they are proud of, and this day constitutes a new opportunity to renew determination, continue the process of construction and development, and exert the most precious for the sake of the elevation and loftiness of this generous country.
Regarding the achievements of the NCSA and its future plans, HE Chairman of the NCSA Eng. Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Malki affirmed that with NCSA's various sectors and departments, it is aware of the size of the responsibilities and challenges it faces, as it is part of the government apparatus that works hard and sincerely, where it continuously works to provide the best protection systems to maintain cyber security in the country before, during, and after hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
He indicated that the agency has begun activating plans for sporting events in general and the World Cup in particular, for a prior and effective response to potential cyber threats and intrusions, as the agency's cadres and work teams are working diligently around the clock, to ensure the promotion and security of the cyberspace in the country, based on the cybersecurity framework and international best practices.
Al Malki said that the NCSA participated as the implementing agency for the Watan 2022 exercise in cooperation with the Security and Safety Operations Committee (SSOC) of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, where they applied two types of exercises: field and office, as these exercises aim to test the readiness of many bodies from various vital sectors in the country by presenting various expected and unexpected scenarios about cyber incidents related to the participants' systems, then the agency evaluates the participating parties and their readiness to respond to these scenarios.
He stressed that the NCSA has a large number of programs and training courses aimed at enhancing the capabilities of individuals and institutions in preserving and securing information, such as the Prevention of Cyber Crime Programme, where the NCSA has trained more than 30,000 employees in various sectors during the period from March 2021 until now, as it is working to train more individuals to preserve and secure information in order to reach a robust and secure cyber environment.
As part of its role in promoting and raising the level of international cooperation between it and the relevant organisations and official bodies in friendly and brotherly countries, Al Malki said that the NCSA has participated in several foreign conferences in several countries, which resulted in the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding with many relevant authorities in addition to that, the agency participated in the work of the GCC Ministerial Committee for Cybersecurity in its first meeting last Oct. to find innovative solutions to address cyber challenges and threats.
Al Malki affirmed at the conclusion of his statements to QNA that the NCSA is working continuously and diligently to provide the best protection systems to preserve the security of cyberspace in the country during its hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
