GCF 2022 to focus on reconsidering global cyber arrangements

RIYADH: The Global Cybersecurity Forum 2022, to be held Nov. 9-10 in Riyadh, will discuss accelerating geopolitical and strategic changes, and prospects for shaping the future of cybersecurity under the theme “Reconsidering the Global Cyber Arrangements.”  

Organized by the National Cybersecurity Authority under the patronage of King Salman, the forum is a leading global platform that opens horizons of knowledge on cybersecurity issues and builds the foundations of cooperation.

This year’s forum will witness the participation of elite decision-makers and executive officers, senior government officials and representatives of the most prominent international companies, non-governmental organizations and academic entities from around the world.

The presence of the GCF 2022 in Riyadh confirms the position of Saudi Arabia as a global leader in unifying international strategic discussions over issues related to cyberspace.

Sessions will cover a wide range of issues to promote development and enhance cooperation and partnerships between government and private entities around the world.

Five main discussions will be addressed in depth: "Prospects for Change in the Cyber Landscape,” which will deal with current and future cybersecurity threats; “Cyber Economies,” which will deal with areas benefiting from market forces, incentive programs and economic governance in shaping cyberspace; “Geo-Cyber Evolution,” which will deal with ever-changing global cyber arrangements; “Future of Cyber Work,” which will address ways to attract, develop and preserve talent; and “Cybersecurity — No One Left Behind,” which will deal with the search for practical solutions to bridge the cyber gap globally.

During the two-day forum, participants will look for solutions to all concerns in cybersecurity. The registration procedures for attending the GCF, as well as the names of local and international speakers, will be announced soon.

Abdulrahman Alquaari, a data science specialist, told Arab News: “Integration and use of software, technical solutions, and databases must be accompanied by relevant security measures

“Cybersecurity is an ever-growing industry. Notably, as technology evolves, artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of cybersecurity, which helps organizations of different sizes and industries to promote cybersecurity efficiency. Therefore, it is inevitable to use artificial intelligence techniques to enhance and support cybersecurity,” he said.

“AI is a critical asset for organizations that use automation to increase the productivity and effectiveness of their operations,” Alquaari added, confirming that cybersecurity is one of the applications benefiting most from AI.

With the massive spread of internet of things devices, the number and sophistication of data breaches is increasing, but AI can be a powerful protective tool against cyber-attacks, he added.

“Where many people feel fear about AI in automating cybersecurity for several reasons — the most important of which is reducing job opportunities — I see exactly the opposite, as AI may take job opportunities while providing others, and it also helps in providing protection for data and information, and making decisions that may be made too late (by humans),” he explained.