Fortinet and DEWA Strengthen Cybersecurity Collaboration
Fortinet’s Founder and CEO, Ken Xie, recently met with His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). The meeting aimed to bolster cooperation in cybersecurity efforts and to accelerate digital transformation initiatives across Dubai and the wider UAE region. This partnership is particularly crucial as it addresses cybersecurity resilience for national infrastructure in the energy and utilities sector.
Strengthening National Infrastructure Security
The discussions centered around enhancing the cybersecurity framework essential for national infrastructure, especially within the energy and utilities sectors. Top executives from DEWA, including Marwan Bin Haidar, Executive Vice President of Innovation and the Future; Hussain Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission Power; and Mohammed Bin Sulaiman, CEO of Moro Hub, were also present. Their involvement signifies a unified commitment to ensuring that Dubai’s ambitious smart city projects incorporate robust cybersecurity measures.
Commitment to the Digital Future
During the meeting, His Excellency Al Tayer reaffirmed DEWA’s dedication to the UAE’s digital future, aligning its goals with the Dubai Cyber Security Strategy and the broader National Cyber Security Strategy. He highlighted DEWA’s integration of top-tier information security practices, agile governance, and proactive policies aimed at identifying and mitigating emerging cyber risks. This commitment underscores the importance of a multifaceted approach to cybersecurity in a digital age.
Innovative Cybersecurity Solutions
Both parties explored the latest cybersecurity advancements, focusing on AI-powered threat intelligence tools that are critical for protecting increasingly interconnected digital ecosystems. Fortinet’s Ken Xie praised DEWA’s forward-thinking approach to digital transformation and its leadership in cybersecurity. He expressed Fortinet’s enthusiasm for deepening their collaboration to enhance the cybersecurity landscape in the region.
Strategic Partnership Agreement
In a significant development, Fortinet announced the signing of a long-term partnership agreement with DEWA at the 27th Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX). This agreement is set to see DEWA implement Fortinet’s integrated Security Fabric platform, which offers comprehensive security across Operational Technology (OT), Information Technology (IT), private cloud systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) environments. It will utilize a Zero Trust security model to ensure optimal protection.
Enhancing Information Security Capabilities
As part of this collaboration, DEWA plans to upgrade its Information Security Centre with FortiGuard’s AI-driven threat intelligence and real-time analytics. This enhancement aims to provide quicker detection and response to cyber threats, thereby minimizing operational risks and elevating overall performance efficiency. Such improvements reflect a strong emphasis on maintaining secure and efficient operations amid the evolving landscape of cyber threats.
