NCSA Organizes the Fifth Annual Cyber Governance and Assurance Conference

Under the Patronage of HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs, the National Cyber Security Agency organized today, Monday, 5 October 2026, the fifth edition of the Annual Cyber Governance and Assurance Conference under the theme “Securing the Digital Future in an Era of Convergence,” in the presence of HE Mohammed bin Ali bin Mohammed Al Mannai, and HE Eng. Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Farahid Al Malki, President of the National Cyber Security Agency, alongside senior officials and representatives of government entities and private organizations in Qatar.

The conference witnessed the launch of the National and Enterprise Information Security Risk Management Framework, in addition to the announcement of a number of strategic initiatives aimed at further strengthening Qatar’s cybersecurity ecosystem.

In his opening remarks, HE. Eng. Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Farahid Al Malki, President of the National Cyber Security Agency, emphasized that securing the digital future is a strategic responsibility that extends beyond protecting systems to strengthening trust, ensuring continuity, and building the ability to adapt to an evolving threat landscape.

His Excellency added, “This requires adopting a proactive approach to cybersecurity underpinned by innovation, the exchange of information and expertise, the development of national capabilities, enhanced public-private cooperation, and sustained preparedness for emerging cyber threats.”

He further affirmed that strengthening cyber resilience contributes to a secure and sustainable digital future that enables innovation and growth, while safeguarding confidence in digital services and technologies across society and economy.

His Excellency also underscored the National Cyber Security Agency’s continued efforts to strengthen the national cyber resilience ecosystem, and enhance its capacity to anticipate, respond to, and recover from evolving cyber threats, while maintaining the continuity of services and critical infrastructure.

For her part, Eng. Dana Yousif Al Abdulla, Director of Policy Affairs at the National Cyber Security Agency, emphasized that “Securing the digital future represents a key enabler of Qatar’s development and digital transformation journey under the Qatar National Vision 2030. Cybersecurity extends beyond the protection of systems and data to encompass service continuity, infrastructure protection, support for the digital economy, and the strengthening of trust in the digital environment.”

She added that, with the growing cybersecurity challenges facing critical sectors, it is no longer possible to address them in isolation. Instead, convergence between regulatory entities, critical sectors, and technology providers has become essential to strengthening cyber resilience readiness.

During her remarks, Al Abdulla announced a new collaboration with the Qatar Financial Markets Authority, including the launch of a dedicated compliance program for entities regulated by the Qatar Financial Markets Authority and the adoption of supplementary controls to the National Cybersecurity Standards. The initiative aims to further strengthens integration between cybersecurity requirements and sectoral regulation.

She also announced a number of projects and initiatives addressing the evolving cybersecurity landscape, including preparations for the post-quantum computing era and the development of a roadmap for implementing the Operational Technology Cybersecurity Assessment Program developed by the International Society of Automation. These efforts will contribute to enhancing the security of critical sectors, and supporting new opportunities for cybersecurity companies and service providers.

The conference also featured the honoring of a number of companies and institutions that obtained accreditation certificates and compliance certificates for the National Information Assurance (NIA) Standard and the Qatar Common Criteria Scheme Certificate. In addition, the National Cyber Security Agency and CREST International, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation, raise cybersecurity standards, and support mutual recognition of requirements for accredited penetration testing service providers.

The conference featured a series of panel discussions and presentations addressing key areas of cybersecurity, with the participation of a distinguished group of cybersecurity experts. The first session was titled “Digital Sovereignty in a Converging World: Future Directions for Achieving Sovereignty.” The second session was titled “Quantum Computing & The Road Ahead. The third session was titled “Public-Private Sector Convergence in Cybersecurity Governance: Data Governance, Artificial Intelligence and Supply Chains.” The fourth session was titled “Risks Associated with the Use of AI in Operational Technology.” The sessions concluded with a presentation titled “Who Owns Cyber Risk When Everything Is Connected?”

On the sidelines of the conference, four workshops were held on “An Overview of the National and Enterprise Information Cyber Risk Management Framework”, Unlocking New Business Opportunities and Improving Assurance through Penetration Testing Accreditation”, NIA Certification for Financial Market Participants”, and “The Evolving Data Privacy Landscape: Trends, Risks and Challenges.”

The conference served as a platform for exchanging knowledge and expertise, showcasing leading regional and international practices, and fostering collaboration among relevant entities and experts in the field.

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