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Muscat Daily
a day ago
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Muscat Daily conference explores innovation in cyber landscape
Muscat – The second edition of the Muscat Daily Cybersecurity and Cloud Conference and Awards assembled leading experts and professionals on Wednesday to deliberate on emerging challenges and opportunities within the cybersecurity landscape, with a particular focus on the implications of quantum computing. Held under the patronage of Hon Dr Salim Sultan al Ruzaiqi, Member of the State Council and Chairman of the Oman Information Technology Society, the event took place at IntercityHotel Muscat. Organised by Interactive Apex – a Concept Initiative, the conference brought together more than 200 delegates, including policymakers, cybersecurity specialists, cloud solutions providers, IT consultants, compliance officers, and innovation leaders from across sectors. Themed 'Cybersecurity in the Quantum Era: Challenges and Opportunities', the event focused on how quantum technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and cross-sector innovation are redefining digital defence and governance in the region. Delivering the welcome address, Saleh Zakwani, Executive Chairman of Apex Media, set the tone for the day's discussions with a focus on digital trust and collective resilience in an increasingly complex threat environment. 'In a world where data moves faster than ever and threats evolve silently, cybersecurity is no longer just a safeguard—it is the foundation of trust and resilience,' he said. Zakwani welcomed participants from across Oman's digital ecosystem, including government institutions, the energy and finance sectors, academia, and the broader technology and innovation community. Saleh Zakwani and Hon Dr Salim Sultan al Ruzaiqi He also thanked Hon Dr Salim for gracing the event and welcomed the presence of students, describing it as a sign of Oman's growing cybersecurity talent pipeline. 'Oman is ready. Let us build something meaningful -together,' he urged. Industry and regulatory insights Delivering the opening industry keynote, Mohamed al Aufi, Deputy General Manager at Specialised Data Systems (Midis Group), underscored the central role of scalable data infrastructure in effective cybersecurity. Aufi added that data is both an asset and a potential liability. 'As your organisation grows, so does your data – and with that, the risks,' he said. Protecting this data, he noted, requires a strong and structured approach, beginning with a clearly defined roadmap aligned with data growth and security needs. Highlighting the growing complexity of cyber threats, Aufi urged organisations to adopt zero-trust architecture and align infrastructure decisions – whether on-premises, cloud or hybrid – with evolving data volumes. 'Security and scalability must go hand in hand,' he said. Dr Mohammed Musallam al Rawahi, Head of AI Projects at the National Center for Space, Advanced Technologies and AI, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, delivered the regulatory keynote. He outlined Oman's National Programme for AI and Advanced Digital Technologies, which aims to align with Oman Vision 2040 and His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik's call to build a knowledge-based economy. 'Artificial intelligence is not a distant future – it is a present imperative,' Dr Rawahi said. Citing projections from PwC and McKinsey, he noted that AI could add up to US$15.7tn to the global economy by 2030, with generative AI alone accounting for up to US$4.4tn annually. Technical presentations Five technical presentations offered the audience an insightful journey into the cybersecurity and ICT industries. Venke Sharma, Founding Partner, Narrative & Strategy at Vidopix, delivered a session titled 'Brand Firewall: Testing Your Narrative Before the World Does', explaining how AI tools can pre-test brand narratives and content before public release to avoid reputational risks. Sharma also announced the launch of Vidopix in Oman, demonstrating the cutting-edge AI-driven video analytics platform specifically designed for cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and risk mitigation innovation. Dinesh Varma, Manager of Business and Strategy for MEA and US, Threatcop Inc, spoke on the 'Critical Role of Cybersecurity Culture Awareness in Safeguarding Organisations'. He stressed the value of building internal awareness to reduce attack surfaces and human error across enterprises. Highlighting national efforts to strengthen digital resilience and protect critical infrastructure in line with global frameworks, Amur al Manji from ISC² presented 'Towards Cybersecurity Resilience of Oman'. An exploration of 'Fintech Evolution and Innovation' was provided by Rakesh Makkar, Deputy CEO at National Finance, outlining how emerging technologies are being integrated into financial services to drive inclusion and operational efficiency. Meenal Madavi, Head of Business, Khimji Ramdas ICT Division, presented a session on 'Outstanding Contribution to Digital Infrastructure Security', recognising the company's achievements in fortifying Oman's digital backbone through managed security services and infrastructure solutions. Panel discussions The conference featured four dynamic panel discussions, bringing together leading experts to delve into the most pressing issues and future directions of cybersecurity and technology in Oman. The first panel discussion, 'Consolidating Cybersecurity through Leadership & R&D', was moderated by Dr Haitham al Hajri, CISO – Oman Housing Bank. Panellists included Eng Naser al Nabhani – CEO, Tatweer Cybersecurity; Eng Mohamed al Aufi – Deputy GM, Specialised Data Systems (Midis Group); Eng Khamis al Barhi – CTO, Datamount; Khaled Younes – Regional Sales Director, CCDS; and Hani Khanfer – Senior Territory Account Executive, Cloudflare. The discussion centred on the need for sovereign capability, cross-sector collaboration, and localised threat intelligence to enhance national cyber resilience. The second panel, 'Role of Quantum Computing in Enhancing Critical Infrastructure Protection', was moderated by Amur al Manji – ISC² Oman. Speakers included Saqar al Maskari – CTO, Tatweer Cybersecurity; Abdul Hakeem al Alawi – Information Security Officer, Oman LNG; Ahmed al Bahdoor – Head of Cybersecurity, Oman Airports Management Company; Shri Hari Venkatesh Govindaraju – Sales Director, Securado; Hamed al Fanna al Araimi – Cybersecurity Manager, Nama Water Services; and Ahmed Sulaiman Ali al Ghatrifi – Director, Electronic Information Security Department, Ministry of Education. They discussed the transformative implications of quantum computing and post-quantum encryption readiness for national infrastructure. A third panel explored 'Fintech Industry Powering and Securing the e-Transformation Journey in Cyberspace', moderated by Eng Khalid al Amrani – IT Audit & Security, Central Bank of Oman. Panellists were Ali al Lawati – Founder & CTO, QPAY; Dr Haitham al Hajri – CISO, Oman Housing Bank; Basher al Balushi – Head of Information System Audit, Oman Arab Bank; and Rakesh Makkar – Deputy CEO, National Finance. The session explored how fintech players are securing financial innovation while managing regulatory and cyber risks. The final panel, 'Women Leadership in Technology Innovation – Digitalisation and Beyond', was moderated by Dr Khoula al Harthy – Head of Computer Science and Creative Technology, GCET. Speakers included Asma Habeeb – Senior Cybersecurity Consultant, Risk and Assurance, PDO; Dr Haifa al Nasseri – Senior Lecturer, Higher College of Technology; Dr Shaima al Amri – Head of Cybersecurity and Networking, UTAS; Samiha al Zadjali – Country Manager Oman, Cyberknight; and Anfal al Zadjali – IT Category Manager, Supply Chain, Ooredoo Oman. They highlighted the role of women in shaping Oman's digital future across sectors from energy to telecom, while addressing barriers to entry in STEM fields. CTF and Awards The conference also featured the launch of the Cyber Guardians CTF Challenge 2025—a 26-hour Capture-the-Flag (CTF) cybersecurity contest. Three young Omanis emerged winners. Concluding the day, 27 Oman-based companies and professionals were honoured for their contributions to cybersecurity and cloud services. Trophies were presented by Hon Dr Ruzaiqi and Saleh Zakwani. The event marked a significant step in Oman's cybersecurity journey, bridging national priorities with global developments, and showcasing the country's growing leadership in digital security and innovation. The conference was endorsed by the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology and supported by Oman Housing Bank, Vidopix, Securado, Bank Muscat, Datamount, Qpay, CCDS, Khimji Ramdas – ICT, BlackBox, ISC2 Oman, Hongqi, SDS, Academy of Research & Innovation, Cloudflare, Femena, Empowered Entrepreneur Magazine, and Tatweer Cyber security.
Muscat Daily
4 days ago
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Muscat Daily event explores AI, Quantum impact on cybersecurity
26 professionals and companies awarded for contributions to strengthening cybersecurity Muscat – Leading experts and professionals convened for the second edition of Muscat Daily Cybersecurity and Cloud Conference and Awards on Wednesday to address emerging challenges and opportunities in the cybersecurity landscape, with particular focus on the implications of quantum computing. Held under the patronage of Hon Dr Salim Sultan al Ruzaiqi, Member of State Council and Chairman of Oman Information Technology Society, the event took place at IntercityHotel Muscat. Organised by Interactive Apex, the conference brought together more than 200 delegates, including policymakers, cybersecurity specialists, cloud solutions providers, IT consultants, compliance officers, and innovation leaders from across sectors. Themed 'Cybersecurity in the Quantum Era: Challenges and Opportunities', the conference featured two keynote addresses, five technical presentations and four panel discussions. Sessions explored how technologies such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence are reshaping global cybersecurity frameworks, data protection practices and risk mitigation strategies. Discussions ranged from national cyber defence readiness and digital infrastructure protection to the future of fintech security, cloud innovation and women's leadership in cybersecurity. The event concluded with an awards ceremony recognising 26 Oman-based companies and professionals for their contributions to strengthening cybersecurity and advancing cloud-based services. Awards were presented by Hon Ruzaiqi and Saleh Zakwani, Executive Chairman of Apex Media.
