Sharjah: The Sharjah Human Resources Department, in collaboration with the Sharjah Cybersecurity Centre, part of Digital Sharjah, organized the second forum on cybersecurity in Sharjah. The event was held at the Holy Quran Academy and saw participation from numerous senior officials and representatives from government agencies in the emirate.
According to Emirates News Agency, the forum aligns with the Sharjah Government’s initiatives to promote a comprehensive understanding of information security as a holistic system. This encompasses governance, management, and practices, starting from the security of facilities and installations, through the governance of roles and responsibilities, risk management, and service continuity, to information and data protection. The objective is to enhance government agencies’ readiness and efficiency in the realm of information security.
The forum featured key sessions led by Engineer Abdulnasser Bukhatir, Director of the Sharjah Cybersecurity Centre. He addressed four main themes that provided the framework for the forum’s discussions: governance of roles and responsibilities, corporate risk management, service continuity, and information security and protection policies.
Bukhatir elaborated on the organizational and practical aspects of information security within the government work environment. He explained how governance contributes to task clarity and minimizes functional overlap, integrates risk management with strategic decisions, ensures service continuity during crises, and enhances data and information protection, thereby increasing the efficiency of secure government information usage.
The forum also featured discussions on various aspects and challenges related to information security in the government work environment.
Abdullah Ibrahim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Human Resources, highlighted that organizing this forum reflects Sharjah’s vision of establishing an institutional culture centered on governance, excellence, and informed risk management. This vision aims to enhance information security within the government system, which is essential for ensuring service continuity and data protection.
Al Zaabi remarked that the forum serves as a platform for exchanging experiences among leaders and experts in government agencies. It contributes 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. This leads to increased readiness of national cadres and the development of a secure and sustainable digital work environment.
Engineer Bukhatir further emphasized the forum’s significance in unifying efforts to raise cyber awareness and ensure operational protection across Sharjah’s government sector, solidifying its position as a leading digital government globally.
He stated: ‘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, underscoring our role as a strategic partner in ensuring continuity of government operations, protecting digital infrastructure, and enhancing cyber readiness.’
The forum concluded with the exchange of insights and recommendations, emphasizing the importance of integrating government efforts to establish a secure and sustainable digital system, enhancing information infrastructure readiness to ensure data protection, and maintaining the continuity and efficiency of government services in Sharjah.