Qatar associates with Italy based Leonardo for ensuring digital resilience
Qatar was very much in fame after winning the bid for 2022 FIFA World Cup, which lead to a smear campaign of jealousy by its neighbouring countries. This certainly made the country a potential target for regional cyberattacks as the country does not have an independent cyber protection system.
Hence, wining the bid made Qatar more prone to cyberattacks which leads to a need for enhancing its cyber capabilities by associating with foreign cyber experts. After taking assistance from Turkey, US and Israeli firms, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, which established the QCRI, recently associated with Italy based Leonardo.
The firm will be providing a cyber range and training system to support security operations to Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) for strengthening the resilience of digital infrastructure against potential cyberattacks. Moreover, it will also help Qatar in various other fields including air traffic management, helicopters, naval and air surveillance and for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Earlier also, Qatar hired Israeli based cybersecurity firm “Sdema Group” for providing security at the 2022 World Cup soccer championship in Qatar for a several dozen million-euro contract.
As with any international sporting event, there are multiple layers of security necessary to guarantee the safety not only of the athletes and spectators, but of the infrastructure (buildings, communications, logistics, etc.) as well.
Incidents from the past also suggest that Qatar is taking help from multiple foreign partners throwing an extra caution apparently as a cover for expanding its offensive cyber capabilities as well. For instance, Qatar associated with Turkey in a bilateral agreement to boost its cyber capabilities.
The rising tensions in the Gulf has made key actors cautious including Qatar. However, since almost all actors lack cyber capabilities foreign firms are getting new markets areas to expand on admist the rising tensions.
