Page 50 - SAMENA Trends - August 2019

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

iGA Bahrain Circulates Latest Cyber Security System

The Information and eGovernment potential cyber security threats. Shaikh addressing the increasing levels of cyber
Authority (iGA) presented an overview of Salman explained that the meeting is threats faced by the Kingdom, adding that
an Advanced Endpoint Protection Solution part of iGA’s plan to implement robust iGA constantly seeks to further enhance
at the Fourth Cyber Hawks Meeting. More standards that will enhance the level of the security levels of the government’s IT
than 70 IT specialists representing 51 security in the government network by infrastructure.
governmental and semi-governmental
entities attended the event, which was
organized by the iGA, represented by the
Information Security Services Directorate.
iGA Vice Chief Executive for Operations
and Governance, Shaikh Salman bin
Mohammed Al Khalifa, said that the
meeting is in response to directives by
the Supreme Committee for Information
and Communication Technology
(SCICT), chaired by His Highness Shaikh
Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy
Prime Minister. The aim is to institute the
use of modern technologies in addressing

ITA Forum Explores Trends in Emerging Technologies

The Information Technology Authority (ITA) a number of IT officials and professionals Fida al Lawati, Director General of the
Oman organized the 4.0 Digital Trends from government and private entities. Digital Society Development Division at
Forum at the Public Authority of Civil Held under the theme ‘Internet of Things ITA in his speech, said, “IoT provides a
Aviation (PACA) in Salalah. The forum was (IoT)’, the forum aimed to explore the powerful drive to digitalization, connecting
held under the patronage of Eng. Ahmed emerging technologies produced by the devices to the Internet. It provides an
bin Hassan al Dheeb, Undersecretary in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, mainly IoT, enormous opportunity for innovation
Ministry of Commerce and Industry and and encourage their adoption in different and transformation.” He added, “IoT
Deputy Chairman of ITA Board of Directors, work sectors in the sultanate, as well as growth is projected to grow rapidly
in the presence of Omar Salim al Shanfari, establishing a discussion platform for over the years. Estimates of installed
ITA’s Deputy CEO for Operations along with enthusiasts and IT professionals. Hassan IoT devices worldwide vary widely. We
can expect an increase of 20bn devices
by 2020 to be installed globally.” Jane
Zavalishina, Co-Founder of Mechanica AI
and an international speaker, presented
a paper on IoT and governments’ role in
using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other
technologies to utilize data in building
smarter cities. Salim Abid, Developer
Ecosystem, Region Lead (Middle-East and
North Africa) at Google, highlighted in his
paper the future technology trends of AI
and provided solutions for the challenges
facing IoT. Mohammed al Yahyaee, General
Manager, Customer Services at Diam
presented a paper on Diam’s experience in
incorporating IoT for smart metering.

50 AUGUST 2019