SDHR holds cybersecurity forum in Sharjah

Holy Quran Academy in Sharjah hosted the forum, which was attended by Majid Hamad Al Marri, Director of the Sharjah Department of Human Resources, along with several senior officials and representatives from government agencies in the emirate.

Thorough awareness of information security

The forum is being held as part of the Sharjah Government's efforts to foster a comprehensive understanding of information security as an integrated system encompassing governance, management, and practices, starting with the security of facilities and installations, through the governance of roles and responsibilities, risk management, and service continuity, all the way to information and data protection. This will enhance the readiness of government agencies and raise their efficiency in the field of information security.

The forum included key sessions presented by Engineer Abdulnasser Obaid Bukhatir, Director of the Sharjah Cybersecurity Centre, who addressed four main themes that formed the general framework for the forum's discussions: governance of roles and responsibilities, governance of corporate risk management, governance of service continuity, and governance of information security and protection policies.

In each section, Bukhatir reviewed the organizational and practical dimensions of information security in the government work environment, explaining how governance contributes to clarity of tasks and reducing functional overlap. It also integrates risk management with strategic decisions, ensures the continuity of services during crises, enhances data and information protection, and raises the efficiency of the secure use of government information.

The sessions included distinguished contributions from forum guests Brigadier Obaid Balrasheed Al Ketbi, Director of the Digital Services Department at the Sharjah Police General Command, and Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Salem Al Tunaiji, Deputy Director of the Operations Department at the Sharjah Civil Defence Authority.

Digital systems efficiency

The guests addressed a number of aspects related to information security and its challenges in the government work environment. Brigadier Obaid Al Ketbi spoke about compliance with the policies, controls, and regulations issued by the Sharjah Cybersecurity Center, as a key element in enhancing information security and raising the efficiency of digital systems in government agencies.

On another note, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Al Tunaiji reviewed the readiness of work teams and facilities to implement evacuation plans within the framework of business continuity, focusing on employee safety, rapid response, and the role of information security in ensuring the continuity of vital services.

Abdullah Ibrahim Al Zaabi, Member of the Sharjah Executive Council and Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Human Resources, emphasized that "organizing this forum reflects Sharjah's future vision aimed at establishing an institutional culture based on governance, excellence, and conscious risk management, and enhancing information security within the government system, as it is a fundamental pillar for ensuring service continuity and data protection."

He pointed out that the forum constitutes a platform for exchanging experiences between leaders and competencies in government agencies, contributing to raising awareness and integration in implementing best practices related to information security, and building a shared understanding of the importance of data protection and service continuity, leading to increased readiness of national cadres and the development of a safe and sustainable digital work environment. He stressed that the Human Resources Department is continuing to implement initiatives and organize events that support the Sharjah Government's efforts towards smart transformation, enhancing the competitiveness of the government apparatus and achieving the emirate's comprehensive development vision.

For his part, Bukhatir emphasized the importance of this forum in unifying efforts and working together to raise cyber awareness and ensure operational protection across the government sector in the Emirate of Sharjah, thus consolidating the emirate's position as a leading and proactive digital government globally.

He said: "Governance is the core of any mature information security architecture. At the Sharjah Cybersecurity Center, we are committed to ensuring that all government entities operate within a unified and secure system, built on reliable and tested standards. This forum reflects the center's commitment to supporting national initiatives and efforts in this regard, stemming from our role as a strategic partner of the emirate's government in ensuring the continuity of government operations, protecting the digital infrastructure, and enhancing the emirate's cyber readiness."

The forum also featured Emirates Airlines, which presented gifts to attendees, reaffirming its support for national events that contribute to enhancing institutional awareness and spreading a culture of cybersecurity within the government work environment.

The forum concluded with an exchange of insights and recommendations that emphasized the importance of integrating government efforts to build a secure and sustainable digital system and enhancing the readiness of the information infrastructure to ensure data protection and the continuity and efficiency of government services in the Emirate of Sharjah.