Minister of Communications and Information Technology H E Mohammed bin Ali bin Mohammed Al-Mannai and NCSA President H E Eng. Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Farahid Al-Malki with other officials during the Annual Cyber Governance and Assurance Conference yesterday. PIC: Rajan Vadakkemuriyil/ The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) convened its fifth Annual Cyber Governance and Assurance Conference, centred on the theme ‘Securing the Digital Future in an Era of Convergence,’ reaffirming its commitment to digital resilience and innovation.
The event was attended by the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, H E Mohammed bin Ali bin Mohammed Al-Mannai, NCSA President H E Eng. Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Farahid Al-Malki, along with other senior officials and representatives from government bodies and private sector organisations across Qatar.
The conference, held under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, saw the introduction of the National and Enterprise Information Security Risk Management Framework and unveiled new strategic initiatives to enhance Qatar’s cybersecurity landscape.
Delivering his opening statements, NCSA President H E Eng. Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Farahid Al-Malki highlighted that safeguarding the digital future is a vital strategic duty.
He said, “This requires adopting a proactive approach to cybersecurity underpinned by innovation, the exchange of information and expertise, the development of national capabilities, enhanced public-private cooperation, and sustained preparedness for emerging cyber threats.”
Director of Policy Affairs at the National Cyber Security Agency, Eng. Dana Yousif Al-Abdulla said that “Securing the digital future represents a key enabler of Qatar’s development and digital transformation journey under the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Cybersecurity extends beyond the protection of systems and data to encompass service continuity, infrastructure protection, support for the digital economy, and the strengthening of trust in the digital environment.”
She also announced several initiatives to address emerging cybersecurity challenges, such as preparing for the post-quantum era and planning the rollout of the Operational Technology Cybersecurity Assessment Program.
Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the conference, the Director of the Cyber Strategies and Policy Department at NCSA, Abdulrahman Al-Shafi, said, “At the National Cyber Security Agency, our mission is to provide a trusted platform for cybersecurity experts and public servants across Qatar to stay ahead of evolving threats.” During the event, a number of entities were recognised and received accreditation and compliance certificates for the National Information Assurance (NIA) Standard and the Qatar Common Criteria Scheme.
“By offering certifications and accreditations, we empower both organisations and service providers to build trust and resilience in our digital landscape,” Al-Shafi added.
Additionally, NCSA and CREST International formalised their collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at advancing cybersecurity standards, fostering greater cooperation, and promoting mutual recognition of accredited penetration testing service providers.
