From: Times of Oman

Muscat: Oman’s National Computer Emergency Readiness Team (OCERT) has been selected to serve as the regional centre of cyber security in the Arab region.

An agreement was signed on behalf of ITA by Dr Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of ITA, and on behalf of the ITU by Brahima Sanou, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Salim Al Ruzaiqi, ITA’s CEO, said: “Hosting this regional center here in Oman will enhance the level of e-security in the Sultanate, in addition to enhancing the prestige of the Sultanate globally in this vital area. He added: “The return on investment for the Sultanate is in the classification of the Sultanate as a major regional security hub in the Arab region.

“This agreement will also serve to enhance economic development in the Sultanate. As the cyber security hub within the region will drive more initiatives, projects and events within the host country and thus increase economic growth. Potentially, this will also attract key foreign investors who are looking to work with high value nations.”

On the reasons for choosing OCERT to manage the regional center for cyber security for the Arab region, Bader Ali Salehi, Director of Oman’s National CERT and head of the Regional Cyber Security Centre, said: “Positioning the Sultanate as the key cyber security hub within the Arab region, this MoU recognises the leading role that Oman’s National CERT has played in the region, with regard to combating cyber threats.”

Among the objectives for establishing this regional centre in the Sultanate are to localise cyber security services in the Arab region. Through localisation, the services will be able to be delivered based on a regional language, culture and other issues. It is also hoped that the regional centre will encourage deeper information sharing platform in the region.