Latest news with #sirar
Gulf Business
12 hours ago
- Business
- Gulf Business
Building a resilient digital economy: How stc group is advancing cybersecurity for businesses and people
Image: Getty Images As the world embraces rapid technological advancements, the digital landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Innovations like cloud computing, IoT, AI, and blockchain are reshaping industries, but they also bring growing cyber threats. With cybercrime projected to cost the global economy trillions annually, cybersecurity has become cornerstone of digital resilience and economic stability. In Saudi Arabia, stc group is leading the charge, advancing cybersecurity to protect businesses, individuals, and the kingdom's digital future. With a cybersecurity index (CS Index) rating of 89.88 per cent and a capability maturity level of 4.51 surpassing the global telecom average of 65.7 per cent Innovative cybersecurity solutions for a secure ecosystem To address the growing sophistication of cyber threats across industries — from healthcare and finance to logistics — stc group has developed a robust cybersecurity framework designed to safeguard businesses, government institutions, and individuals from evolving threats, ensuring a secure digital ecosystem for all stakeholders. At the heart of this strategy is sirar by stc, recognised as one of the top managed security service providers (MSSP) in MENA. Its Threat Intelligence service leverages AI-powered analytics and big data insights to identify, analyse and neutralise cyber threats before they escalate, providing organisations with a proactive defense mechanism. During Black Hat 2024 in Riyadh – the world's fastest- growing cybersecurity event, sirar by stc launched a groundbreaking service called 'Athar', a Saudi-developed solution designed to protect sensitive data from leaks and enhance organisational resilience against cyberthreats. Strengthened by sirar by stc's advanced security solutions, stc's Security Operations Center (SOC) provides real-time monitoring and rapid incident response capabilities, enabling proactive threat detection and mitigation to minimise the impact of cyberattacks for both the public and private sectors. In addition to delivering cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions, stc group is committed to fostering a secure ecosystem through its Security Pass Program. This initiative requires partners to obtain compliance certification from authorised audit firms, ensuring that all entities within stc's network adheres to the highest cybersecurity standards. Strengthening cybersecurity through global collaboration stc group's ecosystem spans telecommunications, cloud computing, IoT, AI, and digital infrastructure, all secured by advanced cybersecurity measures. These efforts are further amplified through strategic collaborations with both local and global partners. At the national level, stc works closely with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Saudi National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) to strengthen the kingdom's digital infrastructure. These partnerships not only enhance technical capabilities but also foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness and innovation across the country. On the global stage, stc has forged major partnerships with leading technology and cybersecurity providers to elevate its offerings. In 2024, the group announced its partnership with Oracle to enhance cloud security and data sovereignty, ensuring compliance with regional regulations while bolstering infrastructure resilience. Through sirar by stc, the group partnered with Google Cloud Security to deploy AI-driven cybersecurity solutions tailored to regional needs. Additionally, sirar expanded its long-standing collaboration with Group-IB, advancing risk and attack management capabilities. As stc continues to expand its global footprint, cybersecurity remains at the core of its growth strategy, ensuring that every new technology and service is built on a secure, resilient foundation. Read:
Trade Arabia
19-05-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
PwC, sirar by stc certify first cohort of CISO500 leaders
PwC Middle East has announced that it has joined forces with sirar by stc to successfully conclude the first cohort of training for the CISO500 programme, an exclusive initiative designed to strengthen Saudi Arabia's cybersecurity capabilities. This five-day intensive training marks a significant milestone in the programme's mission to support the kingdom's efforts in enhancing cybersecurity leadership and developing executive-level cyber talent. Launched at LEAP 2025, it reflects a shared commitment to advancing Vision 2030 through cyber leadership. Participants, drawn from key sectors including tourism and hospitality, technology, defence, banking, entertainment and culture, infrastructure and energy, education, health, and real estate, felt that the programme was both highly valuable and closely aligned with their professional needs, said PwC Middle East in a statement. The programme aims to develop 500 highly skilled Saudi CISOs over five years, strengthening the Kingdom's cyber defences and advancing workforce nationalisation, it stated. Participants receive internationally recognised certification from PwC Middle East, along with advanced technical training and strategic leadership development, aligned with the National Cybersecurity Strategy. The cohorts, consisting of 19 Saudi nationals selected from over 1,000 applicants, included cybersecurity professionals from some of the Kingdom's most strategically significant organisations, it stated. Their involvement in these critical industries shows how the skills and knowledge gained will support a wide range of the Kingdom's initiatives and sectors, driving forward its long-term transformation agenda, it added. PwC Middle East said over five days, participants engaged in immersive workshops and hands-on scenarios covering strategy, compliance, digital transformations, AI and emerging technology, cyber resilience, risk management, and strategic governance among others. The programme highlighted the CISO's evolving role from a cybersecurity leader to a business enabler powering the national agenda. Leveraging practical, real-world experience from senior leadership, who contributed over 100 hours of training and insights. In addition, Directors and Senior Managers provided 150 hours, while Managers and Senior Consultants added over 300 hours. This hands-on guidance ensured the content was not only highly relevant but also rooted in the real-world challenges faced by these professionals. Samer Omar, Cybersecurity & Digital Trust Leader at PwC Middle East, said: "Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical issue, it's central to national progress. As Saudi Arabia transforms, the CISO500 programme is enabling a new generation of leaders to manage risk, drive resilience, and protect value. This is about building trusted leadership at the heart of the Kingdom's digital future." The initiative supports cross-organisational knowledge exchange and positions cybersecurity professionals as key enablers of national and business resilience, stated Omar. The curriculum blends theory with application, empowering participants to protect infrastructure and drive innovation across sectors, he added. Yasser Alswailem, CEO of sirar by stc, said: "Through this initiative, we contribute to strengthening the kingdom's leadership in a secure digital future and support the goals of Vision 2030 in building national capabilities." "Our collaboration with PwC Middle East reflects our commitment to advancing cybersecurity standards by empowering leaders and sharing knowledge in line with global best practices," he added. Each graduate will mentor future cohorts, creating a self-sustaining leadership network that enhances cyber maturity across the Kingdom. By directly addressing the national talent gap, where demand for cyber leaders continues to grow, the programme helps build the leadership capacity needed for a secure digital future.
