COVER STORY data from anywhere , any time , meaning optimal operational efficiency and our objectives realised at record speed .
Can you tell us about some of the cybersecurity trends you ’ re seeing across the region and how this impacts your strategic approach ?
With citizens , governments and businesses becoming more dependent than ever on digital connectivity , one of the most pressing sectoral issues for this decade is cybersecurity . In recent months we ’ ve seen an unprecedented policy focus on the threat of cyberattacks and digital resilience though prominence in WEF ’ s Global Risk Report for 2022 , and the G7 communique that saw a formal agreement for governments ‘ to work together to share expertise and minimise cyber-risks ’. It ’ s now more important than ever that public sector infrastructure empowers business resilience to help identify , protect , detect , respond and recover from a cyberattack and enable a rapid return to fully functioning operations . Even with strong cyberdefences in place , it is impossible for companies to avoid all cyber disasters and their resultant , adverse impacts upon data , privacy and trust .
Therefore , the key objective should be developing a cyber-resilience strategy that can anticipate and quickly recover from significant disruption . The real test should be how quickly and seamlessly organisations can return to ‘ business as usual ’. As such , sophisticated data backup , replication , recovery and cloudready platforms are key priorities we see across the regional landscape . These capabilities are even more important as the pandemic propelled new ways of working and opened new virtual computing environments .
As a leading government department , how important is data protection and how stringent does your cybersecurity protocol need to be ?
Our role as a global leader in customs administration is to provide the national economy with valued services and facilitate the improvement of their businesses . We see data protection as an essential building block as we keep pace with Dubai ’ s continuous progress and Smart City ambitions . In accordance with this , the most stringent
With citizens , governments and businesses becoming more dependent than ever on digital connectivity , one of the most pressing sectoral issues for this decade is cybersecurity . levels of data protection must be upheld . The data protection platforms we have recently deployed underline our commitment to data management compliance and protecting vital data .
How does having a robust and secure digital infrastructure allow Dubai Customs to continue facilitating global trade ?
The design of our digital infrastructure takes into consideration our objectives as facilitators of global trade and the increasing volume of data that is now a critical part of our operations . We have deployed cutting-edge technologies that have proven enormously beneficial to our employees and our customers . In this case , integrated data protection solutions from Dell Technologies helps simplify the work of Dubai Customs ’ employees by facilitating access to data from anywhere , while also streamlining customer services that drive our own operational efficiencies . By advancing the automation process , simplifying our daily operations through smart infrastructure and keeping pace with the latest technologies while ensuring the highest safety standards , we strengthen our role in keeping pace with Dubai ’ s continuous progress and Smart City ambitions . With cost savings amounting to AED1.816 million from 2019 until the first half of 2022 , we ’ ve consolidated our high rank in customs administrations around the world , a result of increased efficiency in backup and recovery activities and continuous development of our technology capabilities .
What long-term capabilities will the safeguarding of critical data provide you with ?
Dubai has been a global front runner in the area of Digital Transformation and building systems infrastructure in all sectors , including the customs sector . The achievements in the advancement of customs work , including the safeguarding of critical data , propel us towards the next phase of growth in line with the five-year plan , which seeks to boost Dubai ’ s foreign trade to AED 2 trillion by 2026 . u www . intelligentciso . com
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