Following the signing of several Memorandum of Understandings with various entities in the UAE on issues related to safeguarding the ICT infrastructure and early detection of potential online security threats, The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) and through its Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT) initiative started a nationwide awareness campaign to educate and train its constituents on enhancing the safety and security of their ICT systems. The campaign started yesterday with a three-day workshop with the Abu Dhabi General Services (Musanada) and will continue to cover all government entities and corporations whom signed similar MOUs with TRA.

The campaign comes in light of the commitment made by aeCERT to provide their constituents with the required support, guidance and consultancy to safeguard their internal ICT infrastructure and protecting their online data systems from possible threats.

According to HE Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, Director General of TRA “the objective is to create a safe and rewarding ICT environment in the UAE, allowing government entities and business alike to conduct their operations without worrying about threats to their IT infrastructure or online data and information. This awareness campaign is the second step towards instilling a culture of safe and secure online transactions, be it for business or governments. TRA and through aeCERT will continue providing such awareness and training programs to meet this objective.”

aeCERT awareness campaign takes the form of multi-dimensional panels within the specific disciplines in online security and safe cyber environment issues, the first campaign with Musanada, which signed an MOU with TRA last year, will include three days of extensive topics covering twelve different themes within cyber security. Main topics of the awareness campaign include: “You are a target, protecting your email account, protecting your mobile, protecting your personal computer, online browsing security, coding, ICT security, and the information’s security policy”. The campaign’s target group includes four employee types, categorized according to roles and responsibilities.

TRA signed an MOU with the Abu Dhabi General Services (Musanada) in December of last year with the objective of providing surveillance services and early response to possible threats to the IT infrastructure of Musanada, in addition to providing guidance and consultancy services regarding cyber security, research and analysis.

The aeCERET is one of TRA’s initiatives established to apply its strategy to support a safe cyberspace in the UAE, where the aeCERT was accredited by the Ministerial Council for Services Direct Number (5/89) for 2008 as the National CERT of the UAE, to facilitate the detection, prevention and response of cyber security incidents on the Internet.