The Information Technology Authority (ITA), represented by the Oman Computer Emergency Readiness Team (OCERT), launched the Regional Cyber Security Center yesterday at ITA’s headquarters located at KOM3 in the Knowledge Oasis Muscat. OCERT has been designated to host the Center, as per an agreement signed in December 2012, between ITA and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Organization of IMPACT to be the first ITU Regional Cyber Security Center. The launch ceremony was held under the auspices of H.E. Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce & Industry and Chairman of the Information Technology Authority, along with the presence of some ITA Board Members, Dr. Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of ITA, Mr. Houlin Zhao, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and Datuk Mohammed Noor Amin, Chairman of IMPACT Organization.

Acknowledgment

In his speech, Dr. Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, ITA’s CEO, acknowledged ITU and IMPACT for appreciating OCERT’s efforts in the cyber security field in the Sultanate. Al Ruzaiqi highlighted the Sultanate’s overall efforts in enhancing ICT sector in Oman, saying: “The Oman Government welcomes hosting the Regional Center in the Sultanate, as we believe in the importance of this vital area in facing today’s challenges and its importance in strengthening the country’s digital economy. The Government trusts that this step will contribute in enhancing the eGovernment initiatives, in line with the vision and strategies adopted by the government, outlined in the e.oman strategy.”

Recognizing the Arab Region’s benefits from the Regional Center, Al Ruzaiqi added: “The Regional Cyber Security Center will open opportunities to the Arab countries to benefit from the combined knowledge of the Sultanate and ITU/IMPACT’s technical or procedural services and valuable expertise in the cyber security field. The Center will provide assistance for Arab countries to establish national cyber security centers and help them gain international recognition, and give them the opportunity to benefit from the services provided by the Regional Center, in cooperation with ITU and IMPACT.”

Recognition

Recognizing ITA’s achievements in the ICT sector, Mr. Houlin Zhao, Deputy Secretary-General of the ITU, said: “This is a landmark achievement for the ITU and its Member States, and we are very grateful to Oman for making available its expertise and its internationally-recognized competence to create this Center together with ITU, under the framework of the ITU-IMPACT endeavor. The Regional Cyber Security Centre will become a vital hub of expertise in the region and will constitute an important node of the multi-stakeholder network that must be built to protect government, industry and citizens, ensuring that the full benefits of ICTs can be brought to all peoples and all nations.” Datuk Mohammed Noor Amin, Chairman of IMPACT Organization, pointed out the ITU-IMPACT initiative citing examples of the services provided and the benefits that countries gain in developing the ICT sector around the world and strengthening the communication and partnership with them.

Why OCERT

Commenting on OCERT’s solid participation and contribution in the regional and international cyber security issues, resulting in its designation as the Regional Cyber Security Center, Eng. Badar Al Salehi, Director of OCERT, said: “Prior to signing the agreement between ITU-IMPACT and ITA, OCERT participated in the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva, in 2003 and also in Tunis, in 2005, as well as participating in the Connect Arab Summit, 2012 in Qatar, in which building confidence and security in the use of ICT was emphasized.” Al Salehi highlighted the Center’s objectives and services, adding that: “While the current scope of the Regional Center is the Arabic countries, we might go further in the future. Several security aspects will be covered by the Center and provided to the Arab countries including: cyber security capacity building, child online protection, information sharing, CERT establishment, workshops & conferences, cyber drills, incident response, and ITU partners’ services.”