ITU-IMPACT’s First Regional Cyber Security Centre in the Arab World

According to ITU Secretary-General, Dr Hamadoun I. Touré, Oman was chosen as the location for the centre because ‘The Government of Oman is well known throughout the region for its strong commitment to cyber security.’³ Oman’s CERT (OCERT)⁴ has a solid reputation in cyber security awareness and training programmes, and has also been active in international (ITU-IMPACT) and regional organisations (e.g., Gulf Cooperation Council⁵ ).

The centre’s task will be to ‘localise ITU-IMPACT’s cyber security services in the Arab region’.⁶ Barriers such as language and culture are hoped to be overcome with the local impact of the centre. Moreover, the centre aims for a more efficient coordination of development and research, as well as for the frequent participation in exercises and initiatives that would enhance the region’s capabilities to deal with cyber threats.⁶

As the ITU-IMPACT coalition unites 144 countries, it is a feasible platform for providing cyber security support and services to ITU’s Member States and other organisations within the UN system.³ Besides playing a role in the debates on the future of Internet Governance, ITU continues to enlarge its cyber security network and underlines the need to raise awareness in different regions worldwide.