SFD opens Cyber Defense Center to enhance digital infrastructure

The Sharjah Finance Department (SFD) inaugurated the Cyber Defense Center this morning, Monday, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance its integrated information security system and protect its digital infrastructure and vital assets, leveraging the advanced technologies included in the center and its specialized expertise in cyber security.

His Excellency Sheikh Rashid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Director of Sharjah Finance Department, witnessed the inauguration ceremony of the new center, which is part of the Information Security Office and falls under the Network Security Group. His Excellency pressed the inauguration button to officially start the center’s operations, in the presence of Saqar Al Ali, Director of the Information Security Office at the SFD, several SFD directors, and a crowd of employees.

In this context, Sheikh Rashid bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Director of SFD clarified in his speech during the ceremony that the Cyber Defense Center, which started its experimental operations in 2023, officially launches today towards its promising goals to provide all kinds of support and assistance to the departments and offices affiliated with the department to confront the increasing cyber threats, achieve the highest levels of digital security in the SFD, and build a cyber system characterized by strength, robustness, and effectiveness. The center, through its services, will support the efforts and plans of government institutions in Sharjah in the field of governance of critical data, protection of sensitive information, electronic systems, and the customer base benefiting from these services, maintaining their personal rights and privacy against the increasing threats we face in the digital space amidst the rapid technological progress the world is witnessing and the increased reliance on digital systems and artificial intelligence programs and their associated applications and projects.

He noted that these growing risks necessitate us to pay more continuous effort and sustainable investment to develop our capabilities in the field of cyber and electronic security.

He added that the new Cyber Defense Center represents a pioneering vital project in this direction, with its advanced capabilities, sophisticated technologies, and specialized and qualified team ready and efficient to proactively deal with any potential cyber threats, monitor and analyze cyber threats instantly, and provide the necessary support to counteract and respond to them effectively.

This includes the swift handling of any incidents that may affect digital and electronic systems, according to the best practices, techniques, and global standards in the field of cybersecurity, with a clear plan to evaluate the center’s performance results and develop it in accordance with the changes in cybersecurity locally and globally.

Sheikh Rashid Al Qasimi pointed out that in addition to its role in providing cyber protection and support, the center will perform several other roles, including training to qualify national cadres specialized in this field. Additionally, the center will focus on educational and awareness aspects for individuals and institutions by continuously guiding them on the importance of cybersecurity and explaining the mechanisms followed to ensure the protection of information and data from all dangers. This contributes to the center’s ambitions to become a launching point for unifying efforts and building a shared security culture among all employees and members of the community.

Comprehensive Package: In turn, Saqar Al Ali, the Director of Information Security at the SFD, pointed to the unprecedented increase in cyberattacks that institutions and companies worldwide are experiencing. He noted this as one of the repercussions of rapid digital transformation projects and the increasing reliance on digital systems and services both in the country and globally. This necessitates updating cybersecurity strategies to keep pace with new threats and potential risks. He highlighted that investing in and developing the knowledge and expertise of national staff within the SFD enhances the self-capacities to deal with cyber threats more effectively.

Saqar Al Ali explained that the new center provides a comprehensive package of advanced services, including network monitoring, threat detection, technical consultations, and specialized training. It uses the latest threat intelligence technologies for proactive identification and adopts advanced platforms for big data analysis and artificial intelligence tools with the aim of early detection of cyberattacks and mitigating their impacts.