Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The UAE Cyber Security Council and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) hosted the “CyberQ: Security in the Quantum Era” summit, which concluded at ADNEC on November 13.
At the event, which brought together global experts, executives, and policymakers to address emerging cybersecurity threats posed by quantum computing, Cherif Morcos, Chief Business Officer at CyberGate Defense, spoke with Aletihad about the company’s leadership in cybersecurity.
CyberGate Defense - an IHC company based in Abu Dhabi leverages cutting-edge technologies to deliver comprehensive cybersecurity services, specialising in end-to-end support and risk posture assessment and enhancement for organisations of all sizes.
With over seven years of experience and training over 500 Emirati resources, the company empowers organisations by enhancing their cybersecurity capabilities, especially as quantum computing advances.
Morcos highlighted the significance of the CyberQ summit, stressing its focus on next-generation cyber defence platforms essential for securing systems in the era of quantum computing - a time of exciting advancements but also heightened security risks.
He explained that a quantum computer has the potential to disrupt and crack traditional encryption by using a public key - something that’s usually safe to share - to figure out the private key linked to it. This would allow the quantum computer to access any data protected by that encryption, even without the owner’s permission.
Alongside this quantum threat, Morcos also pointed to the growing frequency and scale of ransomware attacks and the use of AI by cybercriminals to create increasingly sophisticated attack algorithms.
“Our role, like that of all cyber and defence organisations, is to develop solutions - such as cryptographic algorithms and AI-driven systems - that can counter growing threats like quantum decryption and AI-based cyber threats,” he said.
He also praised the UAE’s Cybersecurity Council for its proactive approach, stating that they are conducting research and development to prepare for quantum computing threats.
Morcos discussed collaborative efforts with the council and global players such as Google Cloud Security to create frameworks and governance in this regard.
Noting breakthroughs in quantum-safe cryptography, Morcos discussed the potential of a quantum-ready XDR (Extended Detection and Response) platform, a comprehensive solution designed to protect enterprises from cyber attacks.
“We are researching ways to develop platforms that can fully harness quantum computing capabilities, enabling real-time cybersecurity intelligence analysis and defence,” he said.
CyberGate’s alignment with the UAE’s cybersecurity goals is evident in its work with numerous public sector organisations, adhering to regulations and governance set by the cybersecurity council.
Morcos explained that one of the main focuses of CyberGate is to build quantum-ready encryption systems that can withstand the decryption power of future quantum computers.
On how companies like CyberGate can balance the rapid development of quantum technology and its security implications, Morcos pointed to ongoing research and development.
“We are partnering with Google Cloud Security and researching ways to avail quantum technology to support our XDR platforms and services offerings,” he said.
He stressed that quantum technology is now in use, and it is crucial to be prepared for not only its rapid development, but also its security implications.
“While not yet publicly available, the technology is already here,” he said.
