The Electronic Government Authority (EGA) provides centralized services to the government departments in Ras Al Khaimah in the following areas: Technical project management, technical services management, training programs, and e-services. The EGA is also keen to develop an IT strategy for the Government of Ras Al Khaimah, and implement it in cooperation with government departments in the emirate, and to promote information security through the application of international security standards in the Government of Ras Al Khaimah Information Centre. The EGA obtained the ISO 27001:2013 certification in the field of information security systems management, the ISO 9001:2008 certification in the field of Quality Management System and the ISO 22301:2012 certification in the field of Business continuity Management to ensure the security and confidentiality of data in the government of Ras Al Khaimah in general, and to increase the confidence of its customers in all sectors of their infrastructure, technology and the procedures adopted by it for the privacy, security and protection of their data and transactions, especially the electronic transactions, in order to achieve their customers satisfaction. The EGA is focused on the development of its e-services in line with customers’ requirements and to improve the properties of these services and raise the level of their performance.

About the award: We are proud to have this award to be added to our achievements.

Oman National Computer Emergency Readiness Team (OCERT) was officially launched in April 2010 to analyze risks and security threats that may occur in the cyberspace and to raise awareness about such threats and ways of protection among internet users and public or private institutions. OCERT added a sense of security to help build trust while using government eServices. With the current emphasis on expanding and positioning the Official eGovernment Services Portal as the point of contact using government electronic services, thereby making users feel confident while interacting with these services. The OCERT hosts, manages, and operates the ITU- Arab Regional Cybersecurity Centre since its launch on March 3, 2013.

About the award: The CISO MAG Award was a great opportunity to honor cybersecurity programs at different sectors

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), is the leading international financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region and a global number eight international financial centre. The DIFC provides a world-class platform connecting the region’s markets with the economies of Europe, Asia and the Americas, and facilitates global trade and investment, shaping the future of finance. The Centre is home to the region’s largest financial ecosystem of more than 24,000 professionals working across over 2,300 active registered companies – making up the largest and most diverse pool of industry talent in the region. DIFC offers one of the region’s most comprehensive FinTech and venture capital environments. In addition, DIFC continues to be one of Dubai’s most sought-after business and lifestyle destinations, comprising a variety of world-renowned retail and dining venues, a dynamic art and culture scene, residential apartments, hotels and public spaces.

About the award: We were awarded the “Most Innovative Solution by a Government Body” by EC-Council CISO MAG Awards. This accolade reflects DIFC’s achievements as a global hub for innovation and excellence and further cements the Centre’s reputation as one of the world’s most dynamic financial centres

Dubai Municipality is one of the largest government organizations in the Middle East region leveraging innovation in Information Technology. In its efforts toward pioneering a sustainable and Smart City by embracing the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Dubai Municipality is also responsible for protecting data of several organizations and caters to 300+ complex services and three million users.

About the award: The experience was unique, the panel discussions were fruitful, and the fact that we saw participants from different industries and countries across the Middle-East was another key highlight. Another part we were impressed with was that the CISO MAG staff members were well-informed and supportive.

Financial technology has recently become a promising and emerging industry across the globe that uses technology and innovation to broaden the frontiers of financial activities. Due to the development in information technology, communication, and innovative financial applications and solutions, it enables businesses to use the essential tools to enhance the efficiency of financial services and accordingly boost the Egyptian economy. From this point, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has developed its FinTech Strategy – as a part of its role as a catalyst for change. The CBE believes in the importance of keeping up with rapid developments in financial technology to serve the banking and financial sector in Egypt; in this regards, CBE has launched a regulatory sandbox for financial technology applications, aiming to pave the way for faster and easier access to new financial solutions and embed compliance within the FinTech ecosystem at an early stage. CBE has also established FinTech Hub with a vision to become a globally recognized FinTech hub in the Arab world and Africa, home to next generation financial services, talent, and innovative development. This hub is a unified platform driven by innovation and technology to foster and connect all Fintech ecosystem stakeholders, including FinTech startups, financial institutions, regulators, service providers, mentors, and investors.

Arijana is a certified multilingual information/ cybersecurity leader with 13 years of experience, including from Big 4 organizations in different industries across Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. She holds a PhD in Information Security from University of Tor Vergata, Rome. She has deep experience in designing, planning, leading and executing information/cybersecurity engagements of varying complexity for customers across the globe. She has led information/cybersecurity programmes and compliance (e.g. ISO 27001, ISR, GDPR, NESA, NIST, SANS20 etc.) across the Middle East and has led global teams and significant engagements on Information Security, Regulatory, Audit issues surrounding Information technology, Information/Cyber Security engagements, IT/IS Audit, Data Governance and compliance/regulatory readiness. Along with these she has also Privacy Maturity Assessments, IS Risk Assessments, Board and Audit Committee reporting, various Technical Assessments, Data Protection, Data Governance and Security Services.

About the award: The event was extremely productive and successful. We had an opportunity to meet qualified and competent senior management and discuss about hot cybersecurity topics. We have exchanged the knowledge and have built a strong relationship.

Taimur Ijlal - CISA, CISSP, ISO27001 Certified Implementer and Certified SCADA Security Architect (CSSA) is an experienced Information Security professional with over 17 years experience in cybersecurity and IT Risk Management. He is currently overlooking the Information Security and IT Risk portfolio for one of the largest payment solutions providers in the Middle East. He was formerly the Head of Information Security at Dubai Bank where his responsibility was strategic oversight of the Bank’s cyber-security framework and maintaining an Information Security Management System (ISMS) based on the best practices of ISO 27001:2005 and ISO 9001 Quality Management System. He has previously been responsible for single-handedly setting up IS audit and Information Security departments for some of the leading organizations in Pakistan like Bank Alfalah and Bank AlHabib. Additionally, he has spoken on various Information Security forums both locally and internationally and writes for the E-Security section for SPIDER; one of the leading technology magazines in Pakistan.

About the award: Extremely informative event. I had a great time listening to the speakers sharing their real-life experiences and everyday challenges of cybersecurity. The awards session showcased an extremely diverse range of individuals across the region and the panel had some great back and forth between the audience and the participants.

Abeer Khedr is the Information Security Director at the National Bank of Egypt with more than 20 years of experience in technology and information security fields. Abeer has been serving in her current role for eight years where she has established the information security strategy & program at the bank, developed information security policies and awareness programs, designed and certified an information security management system (ISMS) for the bank’s main data center & call center. She has also developed information security effectiveness measurement program to ensure continuous improvement and maturity in security processes in addition to being a member in both the enterprise change advisory board and the bank’s technology steering committee. Prior to joining NBE, Abeer has been leading the security consulting and IT audit service lines at Deloitte Egypt serving different industries. Abeer has a number of security & governance related certifications: C|CISO, CISM, CISA, CRISC, CGEIT, ISO 27001 and PECB certified Data Protection Officer.

About the award: CISO MAG awards to recognize excellence in contribution toward the cybersecurity is a very important initiative. It encourages healthy competition among leaders in the field and motivates aspiring new cybersecurity stars to exert effort and excel in their work. This program also benefits the industry as a whole by shedding the necessary light on important roles in cybersecurity such as CISO of the year, influencer figures who are role model to others as well as other roles. It also acknowledges the importance and edge diversity can bring to cybersecurity by having a special role dedicated to the “Superwoman of the Year”.

Dr. Erdal Ozkaya is a leading cybersecurity professional with business development, management, and academic skills who focuses on securing the cyberspace & sharing his real-life skills as a Security Advisor, Speaker, Lecturer, and Author. He also holds Global Instructor of the year awards from EC-Council & Microsoft. Erdal is also a part-time lecturer at Australian Charles Sturt University. Erdal has co-authored many cybersecurity books as well as security certification courseware and exams for different vendors. Erdal has the following qualifications: Doctor of Philosophy in Cybersecurity, Master of Computing Research, Master of Information Systems Security, Bachelor of Information Technology, Microsoft Certified Trainer, Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant, ISO27001 Auditor & Implementer, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Ethical Instructor & Licensed Penetration Tester.

About the award: It’s a great honor for me to be given accolades and the award for being part of EC Council Hall of Fame and CISO Magazine Cybersecurity influencer of the year. First of all, special thank you, to the jury for selecting me, to CISO Magazine for making this happen and EC-Council for valuing Individuals in the field for this honour and awarding me. I am grateful to everyone who has always been a part of my journey, from my family to friends, from boss to my team, my mentors and everyone who is supporting me in the journey. On the back end there are many hours of hard work, sleepless nights along with the great power of God who has enabled me to put in efforts and make me capable of getting this award. Each one of you has enabled me to bring the ideas into reality. My strength always increased in dealing with the challenges and overcoming them.

Surendra Shetty is the Group CIO of UAE Exchange and its associates. Suren has more than 28 years of experience under in the field of information security. He focuses on the pivotal role technology plays in enabling business success, improving operational efficiency and driving an exceptional customer experience by transforming and building scalable IT solutions. Suren is a well-known speaker and regularly shares his knowledge on strategies for next-gen and emerging technologies at various international tech eventsPrior to commencing his journey with UAE Exchange, Suren worked at YES Bank as Senior President and CIO. He has also served in several key roles at Cashtech Solutions, Credit Lyonnais and HDFC Bank.

About the award: This was a great experience and acknowledgement for the entire team who supported and worked towards the organization’s growth. Thanks to the CISO MAG team! Good teamwork, CISO MAG!

ATAR Labs’ mission is building umbrella solutions to simplify and streamline security operations for a safe and secure future. ATAR Labs’ flagship product ATAR is a leading Security Orchestration, Automation and Response Platform (SOAR) which combines orchestration of both technology and people, automation and incident management into a seamless experience. ATAR helps security teams improve their efficiency in responding to cyberattacks using various and diverse forms of automation, analyst augmentation, collaborative investigations with incident management service desk and security operations KPI management.

About the award: CISO MAG Summit and Awards is a medium that is followed by industry professionals. Working with CISO MAG is very important to gain recognition in the eyes of cybersecurity influencers, buyers and end-users.