Delegation from the General Authority of Civil Aviation - Saudi Arabia participates in the ICAO Cyber Summit and Exhibition in Dubai

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9 Rajab 1438
The General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia participated in the ICAO Cyber Summit and Exhibition that was hosted by the General Authority of Civil Aviation in Dubai from 4 to 6 April 2017. The delegation was headed by Captain Abdulhakim Al-Badr, the Authority's Assistant President for Safety, Security and Air Transport, in the presence of Sulaiman Al-Bassam, Head of Information Technology at GACA, Eng. Saud Hashem, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to ICAO, and Eng. Essam Raboui, Director of the Technical Library in the Safety, Security and Air Transport.
 
The three-day event discussed aviation cyber security in light of the huge technological developments taking place today. Participants from around the world shared their expertise and experience in innovation and capacity development to address the next generation of cyber-attacks.
 
Through its participation the Authority showcased the experience of GACA’s technology sector in the field of cyber security and the ongoing transformation of infrastructure and business strategies over the past two years in preparation for the launch of the Saudi Company for Aviation Information Systems, and the company’s role in creating a system and a national framework for the Saudi civil aviation sector in order to enhance cyber security to face the next generation of cyber threats.
 
Head of the delegation Captain Abdulhakim Al-Badr, “Our participation is an extension of the unlimited support of His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Sulaiman Al-Hamdan, for the continuous work of upgrading aviation sector strategies and making the Saudi civil aviation sector one of the most prominent in the region and the world thus contributing to Saudi Vision 2030.”
 
“We at the Authority are keen to be actively present at international events in order to be informed about the latest technology in our fields of work. This event is doubly important for its role in preparing everyone to deal with the challenges emanating from digital evolution especially in the era of Big Data and the Internet of Things and their increasing importance as a strategic element in civil aviation operations,” said Sulaiman Al-Bassam, Head of Information Technology at GACA.
 
“This summit highlighted the magnitude of the risks resulting from any lack of cyber security globally. Global statistics reveal that cyber-attacks account for more than US$ One trillion in global losses per year, thus requiring an intensification of efforts in the region and the world. Among the strategic points suggested by the participants is the quest to create an Aviation Cyber Security Community, as well as the important role of comprehensive and sustainable multi-level awareness programs in cyber security, whether they are workers or users of the systems, in reducing risks and losses,” he explained.
 
“It is important that we build cyber security strategies which are compatible with the Era of Artificial Intelligence in order to activate Threat Intelligence Management, and provide cyber security policies and measures that meet the best global standards and update them regularly,” he added.