Over 145 national agencies participating in the Hajj pilgrimage in 2023 will benefit from the cyber operations room of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), according to a recent report from the Saudi Gazette. The cyber operations room has conducted more than 250 cyber assessments to identify potential risks to sensitive assets and systems and provide support for agencies to offer safe and reliable services to Hajj pilgrims. The room has a dedicated team working around the clock to monitor cyber threats, identify vital assets and services, and allocate cyber incident response teams.
Technical cyber assessments include reviewing security measures for entities’ technical infrastructure, network, web apps, and mobile apps. The assessments also check for compliance with cyber security controls issued by SDAIA. In May, the authority initiated a cybersecurity exercise in the Makkah region, which more than 100 national entities and 350 officials and specialists in cybersecurity participated in.
SDAIA is the governing authority for cybersecurity in Saudi Arabia and is the national reference for cybersecurity affairs in the country. The cyber operations room has put forth significant effort in ensuring that agencies participating in the Hajj pilgrimage have access to reliable and secure services, prioritizing cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and assets. The room’s dedicated team’s work provides a great service to pilgrims participating in the Hajj pilgrimage, ensuring their safety and security during their religious journey.
