RIYADH: There is a strong need to develop scientific research in the field of information security through transfer and localization of technology in the Kingdom, said Prince Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed, president of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), here on Tuesday.

He was speaking during the inauguration of the third Saudi international conference on information technology entitled “Cyber Security” at the KACST headquarters.

Organized by KACST under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the event was attended by Communications and IT Minister Mohammed Al-Suwaiyel.

The theme of the two-day conference was “Information security and protection to ensure a secure electronic culture.”

Prince Turki said the annual losses accruing from cybertattacks are estimated at $445 billion globally, and the volume of damage of such attacks is expected to rise in the future as a result of the expansion of electronic services and the entry of new technology concepts. “We have to build our own national capabilities through innovation to protect data.”

Moreover, he said, the KACST has been working in cooperation with the relevant authorities on the transfer and localization of latest technologies in the Kingdom through the establishment of a sophisticated infrastructure and national capability building in many scientific fields. “They include the transfer of information technology in general and cyber security technology in particular, in accordance with the vision of the leadership to pave the way for scientific research and technical development in various fields for sustainability.”

International experts are discussing cutting-edge technology on cyber security at the event. Also, the conference is addressing a number of key themes, notably: “The next ten years of the Internet: Threats and opportunities;” “Bridging the cyber security skills gap: UK experience;” “Malware Download Path Forensics and Mitigation” and “Toward Deployment of a Next-generation Secure Internet Architecture.”

The conference has targeted staff and students from higher education institutions, and encourages attendance of managers and officials of public and private sectors within and outside the Kingdom who are interested in electronic security management, the authors of the regulations and policies for information security and its innovation within and outside the Kingdom besides local and international experts and researchers in the field of information security technology.

The event will feature 11 lecturers who are specialized in the field of information security, such as Professor Taher Elgamal, Professor Radha Poovendran, Professor Mustaque Ahamad and Professor Bart Preneel.

The winners of the cyber security competition entitled “Capture the Flag Competition” were also honored on the occasion, with Dia Mohammed Diab, from the Dia to Diab Team, winning the first prize carrying a cash award of SR25,000.