"Defense": Cybersecurity... One of the Most Important Elements of National Security Amid Digital Transformation

The Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services at the Ministry of Defense, Dr. Wael Nasser Hamoud Al-Sabah, emphasized the commitment to supporting the cybersecurity framework in line with the vision of the State of Kuwait, ensuring the integrity of sensitive data and information, and maintaining operational continuity through the establishment of frameworks and policies and ensuring compliance with national standards, thereby making them more secure and advanced.

This statement was made by Dr. Wael Al-Sabah on Wednesday during the opening of the Seventh Gulf Conference and Exhibition on Cybersecurity Challenges, under the theme “Building Capabilities and Enhancing Readiness: Innovation and Governance.” The event, which lasts for two days, is sponsored by Minister of Defense Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah and is held in cooperation with the Public Authority for Communications and Information Technology (PACIT) and the Kuwait Banks Association.

He stated that cybersecurity is currently one of the most critical elements of national security, particularly in light of the digital transformation across various productive and service sectors. Protecting information infrastructure, technological systems, and critical facilities has become a primary requirement for safeguarding the security and stability of nations, necessitating the adoption of all necessary measures and means to protect these systems from cyber threats.

He noted that this conference represents a continuation of joint cooperation with relevant and specialized authorities to achieve greater successes and better prospects, underscoring the importance of strengthening this trust-based and secure collaboration while maintaining information confidentiality.

Furthermore, he pointed out that the conference focuses on researching and analyzing key cybersecurity strategies and highlights the latest research and advanced technologies in the field, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness about cybersecurity risks and building an informed society capable of facing future challenges.

For his part, Dr. Khaled Al-Zamil, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Communications and Information Technology, stressed in his speech that enhancing cybersecurity requires moving from formulating plans and policies to measuring the actual readiness of institutions through clear performance indicators that reflect their ability to confront and effectively handle cyber threats.

Al-Zamil noted that one of the world’s largest digital asset platforms recently suffered the theft of approximately $6 billion within hours in one of the largest breaches of its kind, which originated from a single employee’s device. He highlighted the importance of digital services backed by actual “Cyber Resilience” that can be tested and measured.

On the local level, Al-Zamil pointed out that government entities in the country have been subjected to similar attacks. He explained that the average cost of a data breach in the region reached $8 million this year, compared to approximately $5 million globally, and that one in four breaches is carried out using artificial intelligence (AI-enabled attacks).

He emphasized the importance of measuring the impact of cybersecurity investments through clear performance indicators that reflect institutional readiness. He stated that every plan should be tested through simulation exercises (Cyber Drills), every training session should develop actual capability, and every test should lead to clear remediation of identified shortcomings.

He noted that this readiness is of particular importance in the communications and information technology sector, as a single ransomware attack on a shared service provider could disrupt services for hundreds of entities simultaneously.

He clarified that this requires investing in national competencies and providing practical training for youth and specialists on the real challenges faced by institutions, noting that qualified teams are those that transform plans into effective incident response when needed.

Al-Zamil emphasized that the Authority underscores the importance of regulation in bolstering confidence in digital services and protecting users’ rights, noting the issuance of the Data Privacy Protection Regulation to govern the handling of personal data. He stressed that entities subject to the regulation must comply with its requirements, and that such compliance must be reflected in the design, operation, and data handling practices of their services.

For her part, Sheikhah Al-Eissa, Secretary-General of the Kuwait Banks Union, stated in her address that cybersecurity has become a fundamental element in ensuring economic stability, safeguarding institutions, and enhancing trust in digital services, particularly in the banking sector, which is among the most technology-dependent and targeted by cyberattacks.

Al-Eissa added that the Kuwait Banks Union is committed to strengthening the cybersecurity framework through investment in modern technologies, upgrading protection systems, and implementing global best practices in risk management and governance, thereby ensuring customer protection and maintaining the stability and integrity of the financial sector. She noted that the world is witnessing rapid expansion in the use of artificial intelligence technologies, which opens broad horizons for innovation and operational efficiency, but simultaneously poses new challenges, including evolving fraud methods, social engineering, and digital forgery. These challenges necessitate strengthening institutional capacities and adopting more advanced tools to detect and effectively manage such risks.

She pointed out that the focus is no longer limited to protection alone; it has become essential to enhance the concept of cyber resilience. True readiness is measured by an institution’s ability to respond swiftly and recover from any cyberattacks or incidents, while maintaining business continuity under all circumstances. She said that close cooperation among Kuwaiti banks, the Central Bank of Kuwait, and official authorities through the Central Chamber for Combating Financial and Cyber Fraud has contributed to enhancing preparedness and effective response to emerging risks, supporting the security and stability of Kuwait’s financial system. Furthermore, the Union continues, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Kuwait and Kuwaiti banks, to implement awareness and educational campaigns, foremost among them the “Let’s Be Aware” campaign, aimed at raising awareness of cyber risks and evolving fraud methods, and promoting a culture of safe usage of financial and digital services.

She affirmed that addressing cyber challenges requires collective effort integrating innovation, governance, technology, human resources, preparedness, and resilience, which, through such integration, contributes to building a more resilient and ready system capable of meeting future requirements and evolving challenges.

The conference was attended by ambassadors of friendly and allied countries, along with numerous leaders, representatives of government entities, and a sponsored exhibition featuring companies showcasing the latest technologies and solutions in the field of cybersecurity.