The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) represented by the UAE Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT) –a TRA initiative- today signed an MOU with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade with the aim to enhance the levels of cyber security of the ministry by implementing the latest aeCERT proven measures and practices for cyber security.

The MOU was signed by H.E. Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, Director General on behalf of the TRA, and H.E. Abdulla Bin Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Trade. The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry headquarters, and was attended by high ranked officials from the two governmental entities, in addition to a number of media representatives who covered the event.

Commenting on the event, H.E. Al Ghanim said: “The TRA continues its endeavor to expand its portfolio of governmental entities that signed MOUs to promote their cyber security. The TRA, by doing so, aims to promote this kind of security of governmental entities in a way that protects their data and operations from any possible attacks, hence achieving cyber security in the UAE.”

The MOU stipulates that aeCERT will work towards enhancing security levels at the ministry, in addition to bridging all gaps and weak points that might be used by hackers to infiltrate the ministry’s data and damage or steal it. The MOU also determines the scope of cooperation, joint actions between the two governmental entities, coordination mechanisms for information exchange, and providing the ministry with warnings related to cyberspace risks including attacks, viruses, and intrusion in addition to providing response services to cyber security incidents by aeCERT.

“The UAE is a global commercial hub and destination; therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Trade is one of the country’s main interfaces. Enhancing its cyber security is a step towards maintaining the UAE image with respect to international business. We are pleased to sign this agreement today, and we are ready to provide all the necessary expertise we have in order to achieve our goal in protecting our governmental headquarters from cyberspace risks,” Al Ghanim added.

Meanwhile, H.E. Al Saleh commented on the MOU: “The Ministry of Foreign Trade is concerned with formulating an effective foreign trade policy and protecting the country’s commercial interests abroad, in addition to promoting its commercial standing and strengthening its competitiveness. Within the framework of accomplishing these goals, the Ministry saw it necessary to increase its institutional effectiveness and competency through adopting a number of measures, which it was quick to apply.
Most importantly, the Ministry made sure to align its information technology strategy with its own strategy. The Ministry did this through applying a number of IT initiatives that were centered on instilling the practice of integrating IT into its business requirements in order to translate them into effective services.

Information security and information technology security were both given priority in these initiatives considering their direct connection to ensuring work continuation and risk management.  

This was done through the application of a comprehensive information security program that is in adherence and compliance with the most advanced of global and federal standards. Within this framework, the Ministry worked with the UAE Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT) in order ensure its compliance with all of the standards and procedures that were set by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the UAE”.

The UAE Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT) is a TRA initiative accredited by the UAE Ministerial Council for Services, under Direct number (89/5) for 2008, as the national CERT of the UAE. It was established in 2008 to facilitate the detection, prevention and response of cyber security incidents on the Internet; hence, providing implementation mechanisms for TRA’s strategy in supporting a cyber-safe environment for the residents of the UAE.