The National Cyber Security Agency's (NCSA) 11th edition of the National Cyber Drill, titled "Zero-Day Survival", began on November 17. The event ends November 28. More than 170 critical entities from across the nation are taking part in the drill.
The cyber drill aims to assess the readiness of participating entities in responding to zero-day vulnerabilities, which are considered unknown security gaps that attackers exploit before they are identified or patched.
In addition, it will test preparedness across three core pillars of cybersecurity readiness: the human element, technological resilience, and operational capability.
Khaled al-Hashimi, Director of National Cyber Enablement and Excellence Affairs at the NCSA, said at a press conference: "Since its inception as a pioneering initiative in 2013, the National Cyber Drills have become an essential annual exercise. It plays a vital role in identifying vulnerabilities, enhancing response and recovery strategies, and ultimately safeguarding national stability."
Al-Hashemi emphasised that the drills are a key measure of institutional and individual readiness to combat cyber security risks. It contributes to strengthening economic and organisational growth while enhancing human capabilities, aligning with the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030.
Mohammed al-Mannai, Director of National Cyber Program Delivery Department, highlighted that this year's drill involves more than 1,600 participants from 12 different sectors. For the first time, entities from the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) joined alongside local cyber security service providers and students competing in the "Capture the Flag" exercise.
Al-Mannai elaborated on four tailored scenarios crafted for this year's drill. Each scenario aligns with the unique roles and responsibilities of the entities involved.
The first scenario targets local entities, the second engages student participants, the third provides a highly advanced scenario to test cyber security service providers who offer services that organisations rely on, while the fourth is specifically designed for GCC participants.
Through the National Cyber Drill, the NCSA aims to strengthen the cyber capabilities of critical entities, enhancing their cyber efficiency by identifying vulnerabilities and fortifying defences.
The agency's teams will conduct in-depth assessments of all participants, analyse results, and deliver comprehensive support to strengthen resilience, contributing to the development of the national cybersecurity system. (QNA)
