ENSURING DIGITAL SECURITY AT A NATIONAL LEVEL
UNDERSTANDING NESA COMPLIANCE AND CYBER SECURITY IN UAE
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With the proliferation of technology, the incidence of cybercrime has increased considerably, posing a serious risk of critical data loss. The National Electronic Security Authority (NESA) is the responsible authority for raising cyber awareness and advancing the UAE’s cyber security to ensure the protection of information assets. NESA compliance is critical to ensuring the mitigation of identified information security risks for all government entities in the country. There are 136 mandatory sub-controls in the NESA UAE IAS compliance requirements, which comprise 564 sub-controls, depending on risk assessment. Each sub-control is based on priority type in implementation – beginning from P1 to the lowest P4. The IAS standards are based on ISO 27001:2005, with specific requirements for each control. Organizations must comply with the IAS standards and report progress on compliance to sector regulators or NESA partners, which are responsible for reporting to the National Electronic Security Authority.
What is NESA?
The UAE’s federal authority operates under the Supreme Council for National Security. With a focus on creating a secure collaborative culture at the national and sectoral level, The National Electronic Security Authority (NESA) in Dubai is working towards expanding cyber education and increasing cyber security awareness. NESA compliance is mandatory for all participating entities, including cyber security companies in the UAE and others that deal with critical national information. Sophisticated hackers do not confine themselves to a specific section of an organization and can attack any part of the business. As a result, organizations with control deficiencies are highly vulnerable to hacking and malware attempts. Therefore, NESA compliance for organizations dealing with critical information can help mitigate the risk and address the lack of security control. Without any defined scope for implementation, CII controllers can effortlessly ensure organization-wide NESA compliance. Its use of the latest technology and cyber security strategies enables NESA to implement four levels of monitoring to manage NESA partner compliance across the framework.How Does NESA Function ?
The security authority is tasked with safeguarding the nation’s critical information infrastructure and improving cyber security. In this regard, the National Electronic Security Authority (NESA) has come up with a set of standards and guidance for critical sectors, including business entities and government and semi-government organizations. Its mission is to create a cyber-secure environment so the nation can enjoy unimpeded progress. The level of risk posed by your organization to the information infrastructure in UAE determines the way NESA will work with you. The risk is determined based on your present security controls and the inherent risk posed to your sector.- In the case of a self-assessment report, NESA Abu Dhabi may request specific evidence from companies and stakeholders for auditing purposes. This ensures entities remain compliant.
- NESA Dubai can require stakeholders to undergo tests of information security.
- NESA can directly intervene if it suspects activities of an entity that threaten national security.