SANS Institute to Host SANS Riyadh Cyber Leaders August 2024

The SANS Institute, renowned globally for its cybersecurity training and certification, is set to return to Saudi Arabia with the SANS Riyadh Cyber Leaders event from August 18-22, 2024. This event will take place at the Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya and is geared towards security managers and SOC leaders seeking to enhance their leadership and technical skills through both in-person and live online training sessions.

Saudi Arabia has recently achieved the highest global ranking in the cybersecurity indicator, as noted in the 2024 World Competitiveness Yearbook by IMD. This achievement underscores the Kingdom’s leadership in international cybersecurity and aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Despite this progress, cyber-attacks continue to pose significant threats, emphasizing the need for continuous vigilance among governments, organizations, and individuals.

Ned Baltagi, Managing Director for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at SANS Institute, highlighted the necessity of balancing technical proficiency with leadership development to proactively address ongoing security threats. Baltagi stated, “Security professionals must possess both technical expertise and strong leadership abilities to effectively plan, manage, and execute security programs and initiatives.”

The event will feature key courses such as LDR512: Security Leadership Essentials for Managers and LDR551: Building and Leading Security Operations Centers. These courses aim to provide security leaders with critical technical knowledge and leadership skills necessary for managing security projects and high-performing teams. Topics covered include security frameworks, architecture, engineering, application security, DevSecOps, GenAI security, cryptography, and more.

In addition to the training sessions, SANS Institute will host a Community Night Talk on Tuesday, August 20, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM (AST). The talk, titled ‘Empowering a Modern SOC With AI: Practical Use Cases’, will address the challenges faced by traditional SOCs, such as alert fatigue and data overload. Certified Instructor Maxim Deweerdt will demonstrate the transformative role of AI in modern SOCs, focusing on its applications in improving threat detection, automating incident responses, and enabling predictive analytics for proactive defense strategies.

The SANS Institute is a leading organization in cybersecurity training and certification. Known for its comprehensive courses and expert instructors, SANS aims to equip professionals with the skills needed to protect their organizations against cyber threats.

SANS Institute is committed to sustainability and incorporates eco-friendly practices in its events. This includes reducing paper use through digital course materials, promoting energy-efficient operations, and encouraging participants to adopt sustainable practices. For more information on SANS Riyadh Cyber Leaders August 2024 and to register for the event, visit the [SANS Institute website](https://www.sans.org).