Doha: Under the patronage of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, the National Cybersecurity Agency (NCSA) inaugurated the 4th Annual Cyber Governance and Assurance Conference. This event took place with the attendance of several ministers, senior officials, and representatives from government entities, private companies, and cybersecurity service providers.
According to Qatar News Agency, the two-day conference is themed "Navigating the Cyber Horizon: Resilience through Preparedness and Innovation." During the opening, NCSA launched the National Cyber Crisis Management Framework and the National Institutional Framework for Cyber Crisis Management. These frameworks aim to enhance the security and resilience of Qatar's cyber ecosystem by managing cyber crises at the national level in coordination with relevant authorities, mitigating their impact, ensuring rapid response and recovery, and guaranteeing the continuity of vital services. This initiative is part of NCSA's commitment to implementing projects under the Third National Strategy and the National Cybersecurity Strategy 2024-2030.
HE NCSA President Eng. Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Farahid Al Malki highlighted that the conference serves as a platform for exchanging expertise and exploring the latest global trends in specialized cybersecurity fields. He announced the signing of a Professorship Chair agreement between NCSA and Doha University of Science and Technology (UDST) to advance education and research in cybersecurity, particularly in protecting critical technological infrastructure and operational technology.
Additionally, NCSA's accession to the Security Compliance Institute of the International Society for Automation (ISA) was announced, aiming to strengthen international cooperation in cybersecurity. HE Al Malki stressed the importance of capacity building and developing national competencies to ensure the sustainability of Qatar's cybersecurity system and enhance readiness against emerging threats.
Eng. Dana Yousef Al Abdullah, Director of Policy Affairs at NCSA, provided a comprehensive presentation on the current realities and future trends shaping Qatar's cybersecurity landscape. Mohammed Murshid Al Mannai, Director of the Cyber Resilience, Risk, and Insurance Department, elaborated on the role of the newly launched frameworks in strengthening national readiness and resilience.
During the event, HE the NCSA President honored entities receiving accreditation and compliance certificates for the National Information Assurance Standard. Duncan Hill, British Deputy Ambassador to Qatar, recognized companies graduating from the CREST Development Program aimed at enhancing cybersecurity service delivery maturity.
The conference also marked the signing of a Professorship Chair agreement in cybersecurity between NCSA and UDST, focusing on promoting scientific research and academic innovation. This includes a Professorship Chair within UDST's College of Computing and Information Technology to teach courses, supervise research projects, and conduct seminars.
On the first day, the conference featured panel sessions on topics such as cyber crisis management, technologies and supply chain advantages, cybersecurity partnerships, and certifications. Workshops were held on national strategy collaboration, adoption of cybersecurity standards, and AI-powered challenges.
On the second day, in collaboration with Qatar Development Bank, NCSA will launch the Cyber Prerequisites Program for SMEs, aiming to support local enterprises in enhancing compliance with cybersecurity controls. This program includes panel sessions on challenges and opportunities for SMEs, AI, industrial security, and policy roles in the post-quantum era, and the integration of national frameworks.
The event will conclude with technical presentations and specialized workshops on advanced cybersecurity topics.