GU-Q, CCQ in cybersecurity initiative

To address the cybersecurity challenges, Georgetown University in Qatar (GUQ) and the Community College of Qatar (CCQ) have partnered to co-found the Cyber Security Research Group (CSRG).
The CSRG will be launched at a public lecture sponsored by Commercial Bank, featuring a panel of experts discussing “Cybersecurity in a Small State: Protecting the Homeland” at 6pm on October 1, at the GU-Q.
The launch event will focus on the key cybersecurity issues faced by smaller nation states and will feature keynote speaker Wil Wilson, a cybersecurity industry expert based in Edinburgh, with over three decades of experience as a military officer and security consultant.
Dr Rory Miller, professor of government at the GU-Q and a CSRG co-organiser, said: “Cybersecurity isn’t an issue anyone can afford to ignore. Malicious system and network attacks and data theft are increasingly important when it comes to economic, political, and security challenges at both the national and international level.
“Individuals, businesses, and state institutions all have a critical and vested interest in understanding how and why these threats are devised, and most importantly, how to minimise the consequences.”
Wilson will be sharing his insights and perspectives gained while working at the highest levels in UK Defence Intelligence and through his current role at the Ahmed Bin Mohamed Military College Officer Training Institute in Doha, where he leads on global strategic trends, information warfare, and operational planning.
The expert panel will include the CSRG’s co-chairs, Miller and Dr Mohamed al-Dorani, the chair of the CCQ’s Information Technology Department.
“Cybersecurity is one of the defining issues of our time, which is why this partnership between the GU-Q and the CCQ is such an important initiative,” said al-Dorani, who is also a professor of cybersecurity at the CCQ.
“By bringing together our two institutions’ extensive expertise in the complex geopolitical and technical issues surrounding this field, we hope to have a substantive impact on the understanding of cyber risks and cyber strategies for Qatar, the GCC, and beyond,” he added.
The CSRG plans to host an international thought leader in the relevant field twice a year and also host regular Doha-based experts at smaller events.
Future speaking topics will expand to cover cybersecurity concerns across different sectors, including business, banking, and the military.
Outcomes of the research group include the commission, publication and distribution of key research findings to maximise the benefits to key stakeholders.