Engineering a safer cyberspace through talent development

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Cybersecurity is a fast-evolving field that urgently needs skilled and passionate experts — a challenge underscored at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in January, which warned of a global shortage of cybersecurity professionals.

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is helping address this gap for the Kingdom. KAUST alumnus Jameel Showail, who works in cybersecurity at a giga-project, exemplifies the kind of Saudi talent helping ensure the Kingdom’s digital security remains resilient and future-ready.  

“There’s a push to localize cybersecurity because of national security,” he said. “Right now, there aren’t enough qualified Saudis to meet demand. Some needs are met through international hires or consultants. But long term, the need is growing. As Saudi Arabia digitizes, especially in government services, there’s more need for cybersecurity.”  

Cybersecurity plays an important role in guarding against certain AI-related threats, particularly by upholding the core principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, he added. These protections help prevent both humans and machines from corrupting data or disabling critical systems, a matter of increasing concern in a digitizing nation.

Read the full story on KAUST News.