The UAE National Cybersecurity Council (NCSC) has partnered with du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC) to promote the du Graduate Trainee Program to foster emerging industry talent in the cybersecurity industry in line with exacerbating cyber threats across the digital landscape. NCSC and du aim to ensure emerging cybersecurity professionals gain industry knowledge, expertise, and hands-on experience through valuable development platforms in which aspiring UAE nationals can excel in these areas. During the visit to the du stand at GITEX Technology Week 2021, representatives from both du and NCSC discussed further ways of collaborating and new initiatives that are aimed to develop dedicated initiatives for the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. NCSC has called for other companies in the IT sector to follow du’s model for developing UAE talent in the cybersecurity field.
H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, said: “With new cybersecurity threats continuing to manifest, streamlining incident detection, mobilising the necessary support, enabling coordinated responses, and maintaining world-class defensive capabilities are imperative actions. Success in these areas requires talent investment and positioning tomorrow’s workforce to flourish when countering cybercrimes. The Graduate Trainee Program of du is a prominent example others can gain inspiration from as it contributes to enhancing the skills of national graduates. This model is certainly a benchmark that organizations should aspire to emulate.”
Recent years have seen EITC’s cybersecurity team welcome many students from different colleges and majors to their internship programs. Students have accessed different security programs throughout their planned weeks, becoming acquainted with security technologies, tools, processes, procedures, and hands-on labs. Having completed various tasks and met key deliverables, they have ultimately become subject matter experts in the cybersecurity field, with the EITC security team subsequently recruiting high caliber performers based on their impressive internship efforts and evaluations. The success of du’s Graduate Trainee Program has also led to further collaboration initiatives being enacted between industry players and leading UAE universities.
Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO, EITC, added: “Now more than ever, creating robust cyber infrastructure is imperative for enabling citizens, empowering industries, and ensuring the UAE meets further digital transformation milestones. However, sustained success in every area depends on guiding the talent that will be responsible for upholding the cybersecurity agenda, and this is a vital mandate to which we are proud to contribute.”
NCSC aims to ensure every emerging cybersecurity professional who secures internship opportunities are accustomed to real-life situations, equipped with essential competencies, and familiar with specific demands and expectations within sector-specific positions. This aligns with the UAE’s National Cybersecurity Strategy, which aims to encourage professionals and students to pursue a career in cybersecurity, ensure they develop the necessary capabilities, and foster a vibrant ecosystem of cybersecurity solution providers.