Huawei & UAE join forces to establish cyber security hub

Huawei is working with the United Arab Emirates to create a “globally trusted digital oasis” that is protected from cyber-attacks.

The Chief Security Officer for Huawei UAE, Aloysius Cheang recently announced that Huawei is working with the United Arab Emirates to create a “globally trusted digital oasis” that is protected from cyber-attacks. According to an interview with The National, Huawei is supporting the UAE in a number of projects including the creation of smart cities and e-government services.

The Chinese multinational technology company is also training local cybersecurity workers and engaging in public-private partnerships to establish a solid security ecosystem. The growing number of connected devices is leading to concerns around cyber threats targeting these products, as criminals are aware of the vulnerabilities of these devices.

“As the country accelerates its digital transformation journey, we have come up with infallible solutions and safe designs to ensure the confidentiality of data and safety of critical infrastructure,” Cheang told The National.

“The cyber threat landscape is continuously changing … it knows no borders. Every day is a new challenge, it will hit you without you even knowing it … like what happened with [the] SolarWinds and Colonial Pipeline breaches,” he adds.

Cheang’s role as Chief Security Officer for Huawei UAE was newly created in October 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic in a bid to safeguard vital infrastructure. Building out the experience of cybersecurity professionals is a key aim of both Huawei and the UAE, with Huawei working to a strategy that is specific to the needs of the country’s unique requirements.

Like other high-income nations around the world, malicious cybercriminals regularly target individuals, companies and government agencies in the UAE. Expensive data breaches and cyber-attacks are some of the central reasons for the drive to secure the data ecosystem in the UAE.