Doha

Middle East and North Africa's (Mena) digital market value is expected to reach $35bn in 2015 and overall digitisation initiatives could add $820bn to regional economy, even as the region could be an “attractive” target for a wide array of cyber-threats, according to Strategy&.
In view of this, a central national cyber-security body (CNCB) should be initially established, and be in charge of defining the national cyber-security agenda, Strategy& suggested in its latest report.
The study looks into national cyber-security efforts by the region’s governments, and outlines strategic reforms to improve cyber-security through a three-pronged framework, and offers six practical applications specific to the Middle East.
Acting immediately on these imperatives governments will ensure that their nations will reap the full rewards of digitisation, the report said.
Highlighting that governments and large organisations in almost every vital sector of the region have already sustained damage from cyber-attacks, the report said every national government in the region is striving to create a secure digital environment, but often these efforts are fragmented, tactical and reactive and they do not include the participation of all essential stakeholders.
Consequently, government responses often lag behind the ever-evolving threat landscape, and defensive measures are circumvented or exploited, the report added.
“There is a growing gap between the capabilities of national stakeholders, both from the public and private sectors, and the capabilities of organisations and individuals sponsoring and executing cyber attacks. To close this gap, we believe that the governments of the Middle East need to take a strategic approach to rethink and revamp their national cyber-security efforts,” according to Walid Tohme, a partner at Strategy& (formerly Booz & Company).
The ‘CCC’ framework outlined by Strategy& bases its approach to an effective national cyber-security programme on being comprehensive in nature, intentionally collaborative, and capability-driven.
On the need for CNCB; Strategy& said this body remains independent to guarantee impartiality, as well as be empowered by the highest authorities to ensure credibility.
The CNCB should create a national cyber-security strategy (following the CCC framework) aligned with the country’s security priorities, and involving all key stakeholders, the report said.
“Governments of the Middle East are the only stakeholders with the power, reach and resources necessary to develop and drive a truly national cyber-security agenda...Once these nations equip themselves with solid cyber-security, capitalising the digital market becomes an inevitable and favourable step towards exponential growth,” Imad Harb, a senior associate with Strategy& said.