The Emirates Institution for Advanced Science & Technology (EIAST) and the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) have signed a MoU to work together, to ensure a more secure cyber environment.

As per the MoU, EIAST will provide UAE Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT) with its information technology infrastructure data. In turn, aeCERT will accord the highest priority to the confidentiality of such data and provide EIAST with any threat or vulnerability alert data.

The aeCERT will also provide EIAST with guidance, education and awareness services, counselling, monitoring and response, and research and analysis services.

Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori, director general, EIAST, and Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, TRA director general, signed the MoU on the sidelines of Gitex 2009, the premier information technology expo being held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

“The MoU comes in line with EIAST’s objective to position Dubai and the UAE as a science and technology development hub and comply with Dubai government’s strategic plan to build a knowledge-based economy,” said Al Mansoori.

“This MoU is considered as a means to ensure that Emirates Institute for Advanced Science & Technology will acquire all the services to protect the confidentiality and security of information. The aeCERT team will provide EIAST with the analysis related to national and international cyberspace security threats, in addition to coordination, consultancy, and educational & awareness services related to cyberspace security,” added Al Ghanim.

“This MoU is the main task in implementing TRA’s strategy to ensure a safe cyberspace in the UAE, especially after aeCERT has been accredited by the Ministerial Council for Services Direct Number (5/89) for 2008 as the National CERT of the UAE,” added Al Ghanim.-TradeArabia News Service