RIYADH: Domestic and international cooperation are crucial components of the global cybersecurity agenda, according to Doreen Bogdan-Martin, secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union.

Speaking at the panel discussion titled “Navigating the future: Advancing international cooperation to build confidence in cyberspace” during the Global Cybersecurity Forum in Riyadh, she emphasized the urgent need for enhanced global efforts to combat cyber threats.

Bogdan-Martin noted that international collaboration is vital for addressing the transnational nature of these threats. Such cooperation allows for the sharing of best practices, intelligence, and resources, which strengthens collective cyber resilience.

In 2023, cyberattacks impacted over 343 million victims, and data breaches rose by 72 percent between 2021 and 2023, breaking previous records, according to Forbes Advisor.

“There’s still some gap that’s remaining. I think we are progressing on the right track, but we need to do more; we need to go faster; we need to go deeper,” she said.  

“We have a global cybersecurity agenda that we laid out back in 2007, and I actually think it’s still very relevant today,” Bogdan-Martin. 

She highlighted the importance of establishing a robust legal and regulatory framework, operational preparedness, and capacity building as critical components in addressing cyber challenges, adding that “cooperation, both domestically and internationally,” is vital. 

Bogdan-Martin noted that the landscape has become increasingly complex, particularly with the emergence of artificial intelligence. “Look at just the past year and a half and how generative AI has sort of swept the planet. I don’t think we understood how quickly the technology would evolve, but we knew that we had to be building safety by design back in the day,” she said. 

In a separate panel, titled “Crime Inc: The institutionalization of organized cybercrime,” Deputy Assistant Attorney General Josh Goldfoot from the US Department of Justice shed light on the structured nature of cybercrime. 

“The message I wanted to convey about how cybercrime is organized is that it is dispersed and centered around specialization,” Goldfoot explained. “One attack on a company requires several different components: malware, reconnaissance, penetration, and, finally, economic exploitation.” 

Goldfoot elaborated that cybercriminals often specialize in specific aspects of an attack and advertise their services to others in online forums. 

Experts from technology, public policy, defense, and other sectors gathered in Riyadh for the two-day Global Cybersecurity Forum, focusing on the theme “Advancing Collective Action in Cyberspace.” 

The event was aimed at enhancing multi-stakeholder engagement and driving joint initiatives on key strategic priorities, featuring five core sub-themes that address critical aspects of cybersecurity. 

RIYADH: Aramco Digital is at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s shift toward a technology-driven economy, implementing key initiatives in cybersecurity, 5G infrastructure, and artificial intelligence.

In alignment with Vision 2030, the company is developing an industrial 5G network and a major AI-driven data center, positioning the Kingdom as a global tech leader and driving economic growth through digital innovation.

In an interview with Arab News at the Global Cybersecurity Forum in Riyadh, Margarete Schramboeck, a board member of Aramco Digital, highlighted the firm’s crucial role in Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation, particularly in cybersecurity and its industrial applications.

“Cybersecurity plays an important role not only for our private lives but especially for the business lives,” Schramboeck said, highlighting the importance of Aramco Digital and its subsidiary, Cyberani, in safeguarding companies, industrial sectors, and government authorities. 

Their priority is to create safer and more productive environments. “It’s one of our focuses,” she added.

As a comprehensive information and communication technology company, Aramco Digital is working to enhance Saudi Arabia’s online infrastructure. 

The firm has secured a license to develop an industrial private 5G network, which will soon be deployed across the country. This network will serve as a foundation for industrial companies and government entities. 

Schramboeck also shared that Aramco Digital is collaborating with US artificial intelligence company Groq to build a major data center designed for storage and AI-focused processing. 

“Most importantly, it (the data center) is Saudi, and it is important that we see that this is an important aspect,” she added.

This facility aims to become one of the largest in the Middle East, potentially the world, driving the Kingdom’s ambition to be a global hub for AI and digital innovation.

The company’s commitment aligns with Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s blueprint for economic diversification. “Helping Saudi Arabia and the region in this digital transformation is key for us,” Schramboeck said, emphasizing the local origin of the data center and its role in shaping the Kingdom’s future.

Schramboeck also discussed the critical role of cybersecurity in enabling broader digital transformation. “We cannot do anything today without cybersecurity,” she stressed, linking it to the resilience of economies worldwide. 

She praised the Global Cybersecurity Forum for spotlighting the skills and innovative potential within the sector, underscoring its importance in building economic resilience.

Reflecting on the Kingdom’s digital progress, Schramboeck expressed admiration for the country’s advancements, particularly in the public sector, highlighting that “Saudi Arabia and the government sector is ahead of a lot of European countries.” 

While she acknowledged the potential for cooperation between the Kingdom and Europe, particularly in industrial automation, she emphasized that Saudi Arabia has been making remarkable strides in achieving its goals through investment in both funding and manpower.

Schramboeck concluded by expressing her desire to help bridge the gap between the Kingdom and mid-sized European companies specializing in industrial automation. 

“There are a lot of mid-sized European specialized companies in this field. Sometimes they don’t know about Saudi Arabia, they don’t dare to come here,” she said, expressing her commitment to fostering collaboration and growth in this field.