Mariam Nihal
Saudi Gazette
American computer and network security company RSA Security is organizing the annual RSA Conference, an information security conference at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi this Tuesday.
The RSA conference — is the world’s leading information security conference and exposition that helps industry professionals connect and discover how to make their companies more secure while showcasing the most enterprising, influential and thought-provoking thinkers and leaders in security today.
Initially, RSA developed the conferences in 1991 as a forum for cryptographers to gather and share the latest knowledge and advancements in the area of Internet security. Saudi Gazette spoke to Linda Gray, general manager for RSA Conferences, about the upcoming event.
SG: What kind of role does Saudi Arabıa play, and how does it contrıbute to thıs partıcular event?
LG: The conference will cover in detail the increasing number of cyberattacks and threats that are happening globally, which are also potential threats to the nation. In addition, enhanced broadband penetration and a boom in technology has made the country an attractive target for cybercriminals. One of the speakers during the conference is Jerome Athias, a security specialist from Saudi Aramco, who will be delivering a keynote speech on the Nov. 4.
SG: Can you tell us the top 5 thıngs to look out for durıng the conference?
LG: • The conference will be attended by leaders, global experts and regional information security professionals, making it a premium platform where the crème de la crème in technology exchange knowledge.
• There will be 50 engaging sessions, across six session tracks that include critical infrastructure, cybercrime and threats, policy & strategy, security for a smart city, security operations and sponsor special topics. In addition, there are eight keynote speeches from industry visionaries and guest speakers and a total of 30 sponsors and exhibitors in the Vendor Showcase.
• The event has been designed to meet the needs of the region with relevant, thought provoking sessions, bringing in next generation technology and allowing high-level industry experts to share insights on cybersecurity issues and trends.
• RSA Conference 2015 Abu Dhabi will serve as a platform for Infosec professionals to tap into the power of a smart, forward-thinking global community who will share insights on developing advanced security strategies. It’s the ideal forum to discover a full breadth of new approaches, learn about the latest technologies and interact with security leaders.
• RSA Conference will also feature a Security Basics Seminar that takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 3, the day before the event. It is a full-day seminar, for up to 150 people and is designed for industry professionals with three years or less of information security experience. It lays a foundation of essential concepts that will enhance understanding of current advanced security issues, offering up-to-date perspectives on fundamental security topics.
SG: Is the Middle East a big target for cyberattacks?
LG: When it comes to cyber threats, no region is completely immune to the risk of being a victim to cyberattacks. The Middle East in particular remains an area where a high volume of such crimes are committed. The contributing factors vary from the gross domestic wealth available and the presence of major financial institutions, to the large scale of the oil and gas industry in the region. All of which have continuously proven to be attractive targets for cybercriminals.
SG: Why is the conference coming to the UAE?
LG: The Middle East has rapidly emerged as a significant market for information security. More than half of organizational leaders in the Middle East and North Africa region identify cybersecurity as a strategic priority. As part of our global event series, we are debuting in the Middle East with RSA Conference Abu Dhabi in partnership with the UAE National Electronic Security Authority (NESA). This reflects the growing importance of cybersecurity both locally and across the wider region.
SG: What are the main themes for this year’s conference?
LG: In the digital world in which we live, information is a highly valued commodity. Safeguarding that information, therefore, has become a top priority. RSA Conference’s mission is to provide the platform where people can connect and learn new insights that will empower them to stay ahead of cyber threats. The real value we bring is the content and our commitment to finding new industry voices and ways for the community to feel inspired and engaged. Topics that will be covered during the conference include smart city security, addressing the risks that oil and gas companies face, vulnerability management as well as combating cyber-criminal organizations.
SG: What are your expectations from the upcoming conference?
LG: With regional business leaders, global experts and information security professionals expected to attend from across Europe, Middle East and Africa, RSA Conference 2015 Abu Dhabi is about bringing together the crème de la crème of industry experts and ICT professionals under one roof. We are expecting800 professionals to register and attend the two-day conference.
SG: Why should IT professionals attend RSA conference?
LG: We encourage IT professionals to attend RSA Conference because it provides them with the perfect opportunity to network with some of the brightest minds in the industry, as well as gain new insights on the latest trends in cybersecurity.
SG: Who are the keynote speakers?
LG: This year’s conference features a line-up of speakers, sponsors and exhibitors from leading global and regional companies that include Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Petroleum Operations Ltd. (ADCO); Adobe; Akamai Technologies; Atlantic Council; BHC Laboratory OU; Cadence Design Systems; Cisco; CyberPoint International LLC; DarkMatter LLC; du; Digicert; Dow Jones & Co; Gemalto; Good Harbor Security Risk Management; Inspace Technologies Pvt Ltd; Institute of International and Civil Security (IICS); Leidos; Ministry of Labor; Microsoft; MWR InfoSecurity; NESA; New York University Abu Dhabi; Paladion; Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI); Qualys; Raytheon|Websense; Recorded Future; Rivetz Corp.; RSA; Sophos; Symantec; Tenable Network Security; The National Commercial Bank (NCB); Trend Micro; TruSTAR Technology; UAE Exchange Center; Venafi; Vodafone Qatar and Wheel Systems.
