Essam Al Shiha, CEO, Saudi Business Machines

Saudi focuses on cybersecurity and emerging technologies to protect private data

Global Platform

In this Global Platform video, Essam Al Shiha, CEO of Saudi Business Machines, discusses the increasing demand for cloud services and importance of emerging technologies when it comes to addressing cybersecurity. In 2017 the Saudi government established a National Cybersecurity Authority which encourages government agencies to upgrade cybersecurity and protect private data against cyber attacks. In 2019 Saudi was ranked 13th globally for its commitment to cybersecurity. Saudi Business Machines has established its own information security operation centre that serves customers 24/7, and works with the government to boost local content, encouraging start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises to enter the market.

Everybody is interested in moving into cloud computing. It's needed within the government sectors along with the commercial or private sectors. There is an increase in demand for cloud services. Vendors help the customers to redesign and to migrate their in-house applications to cloud, and leverage emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, blockchain and robotics. But there is the private data and the public data. The public data we have no issue with. The private data is the main assets here in Saudi to protect. We understand that cybersecurity is mandatory. It's a huge risk that we're facing, and most of the countries are not well prepared for it. There is a challenge and there is the action and the reaction between the cyber attacks and trying to defend your own assets. In 2017 the government issued a royal decree to establish a National Cybersecurity Authority. It started to work in 2018. Most of the government agencies now are upgrading their cybersecurity to protect their local data, their processes, their servers, and their storages in order to mitigate all the issues that might happen before and after the cyber attacks. In 2019 Saudi Arabia has been ranked the top Arab nation and 13th in the world for its commitment to cybersecurity. Saudi Business Machines proudly contributed to the achievement of Saudi Arabia. We have established our own information security operation centre. Which is the 80-PC advanced threat protection centre where we really serve our customers 24/7. New technologies can be used to create digital twin, where two digital replicas of the virtual and actual physical assets work together. For example, processes, people, systems, devices, can really be utilized. The Internet of Things, the IoTs help to collect data from the internet and then all this data can be analysed through the artificial intelligence. All these new technologies require this infrastructure that requires the 5G. We are in the first few steps of the 5G to be implemented here in Saudi. The new start-ups, these small and medium companies are interested in working with local content. But unfortunately, sometimes they don't have the right encouragement. There is a big challenge in front of the government and the private sector together to help these start-ups and the content incubators. We can also help them by forming certain consortiums. These teams of consortiums should be a combination of business consultants, system integrators, public sector organisations, and definitely investors for digital transformation. This would help the local content and help start-ups to really bring their own content into the market.

Watch/Listen Next

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Licence or Product Purchase Required

Essam Al Shiha, CEO, Saudi Business Machines

In Saudi Arabia

In Economy

Latest

“High-Level Discussions are Under Way to Identify How We Can Restructure Funding For Health Care Services”

Related Content