MENAISC 2020 goes virtual amid rise in cyberattacks during COVID-19
COVID-19 has seen a rise in cyberattacks with many employees working from home. During the first quarter of 2020, the Gulf countries recorded a total of 1,737 spam attacks, 1,114 malware threats and 216 URL attacks, of which Saudi Arabia alone reported 344 attacks, including 268 spam attacks, 59 malware threats, and 17 URL attacks. This is according to a recent report released by Trend Micro, a multinational cybersecurity software company.
According to the annual report issued by the Global Competitiveness Center in June, Saudi Arabia came second in the Global Cybersecurity Index, consisting of 63 of the world's most competitive countries. The Kingdom also climbed up from the 26th position to 24th position globally and from 38th to 36th on the infrastructure front.
The improved rankings are a direct result of the establishment of the National Cybersecurity Authority, which has contributed to creating a safe and reliable cyberspace, enhancing the strength and durability of the Saudi economy, developing cybersecurity performance indicators, and stimulating its growth locally.
The 8th Middle East and North Africa Information Security Conference (MENAISC) will be hosted virtually due to the virus, from Oct. 5th to 6th.
MENAISC 2020 will be held under the title “Evolving From Cyber Resistance to Resilience, in the Age of Smart Cities, Digital Economy and IoT,” with the participation of more than 26 international and regional experts. It will cover Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt and Jordan, and targets 15 pivotal sectors, including: Defense, financial and banking services, insurance, information technology, energy and industry, health and retail, education, building and construction, and government service sectors, in addition to airports, universities, and others. The conference also aims to support the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which include digital transformation through the implementation of digital infrastructure projects. You can register for the conference via the link: https://www.menaisc.com/register/
