SANS Boosts Middle East Cyber Defense

SANS Institute, a renowned global leader in cybersecurity training and certifications, has unveiled SANS Abu Dhabi February 2024. Scheduled to take place at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi from February 24 to 29, 2024, SANS Abu Dhabi will focus on enhancing the cybersecurity industry’s ability to secure critical infrastructure by providing advanced training in industrial control systems (ICS). The program aims to equip participants with advanced skills to detect, counter, and recover from a diverse range of threats within enterprise networks.

In 2023, the UAE strengthened its cybersecurity framework, successfully countering around 50,000 daily cyberattacks targeting key sectors such as banking, finance, health, and oil and gas. Despite achieving an impressive fifth position in the Global Cybersecurity Index, ongoing challenges persisted as cybercriminals continued to target vital sectors, emphasizing the need for continuous vigilance and adaptable security measures.

Ned Baltagi, Managing Director – Middle East, Turkey, and Africa at SANS Institute, anticipates a surge in ICS security challenges in the Middle East in 2024. He highlights the region’s strategic position in sectors crucial to digital resilience, such as oil and gas, and emphasizes the escalating sophistication and volume of attacks against critical infrastructure. The global rise in ransomware events against ICS environments poses risks beyond IT support services, potentially impacting ICS operations.

Baltagi underscores the importance of distinguishing between traditional IT security and industrial control system security. He emphasizes the necessity for critical infrastructure owners and operators to prioritize ICS-specific security training to fortify defenses against evolving threat groups. Ongoing training in threat hunting and incident response is crucial to ensure cybersecurity professionals remain adept at handling the evolving landscape of cyber threats.

SANS Abu Dhabi 2024 will feature two specialized courses offered through in-person training and simultaneous live online sessions: FOR508 (Advanced Incident Response, Threat Hunting, and Digital Forensics) and ICS410 (ICS/SCADA Security Essentials). FOR508 provides a deep dive into investigative techniques and tools for advanced threat hunting and forensic analysis. On the other hand, ICS410 focuses on industrial control systems and SCADA security, crucial for the modern world’s infrastructure.

Furthermore, SANS Instructor Christopher Robinson will host a SANS Community Night session on ‘OT Penetration Testing – Lessons Learned from Penetration Testing Operational Environments’ on February 26 from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm. The session will delve into lessons learned and challenges faced during penetration testing on ICS/OT environments, highlighting the differences from traditional IT penetration tests.

For more information and registration for SANS Abu Dhabi February 2024 (in-person or online), click here. To register for SANS Community Night Abu Dhabi, visit: https://www.sans.org/mlp/community-night-abu-dhabi-february-2024/.