Manama :The National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) and the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) organised a joint specialised cyber security awareness event for professionals in the financial services sector, titled “Securing Financial Services Data in the AI Era.” The event was held as part of the ongoing collaboration between the two entities to raise awareness and enhance cyber security readiness in the sector, thereby promoting secure practices and effectively addressing growing cyber security risks and challenges.
Jawaher Jasim Al Khaja, Director of Cyber Awareness and Training at NCSC, said in her opening remarks that the NCSC remains committed to supporting initiatives that enhance cyber awareness and readiness across vital sectors, including financial services, given its pivotal role in the national system. She noted that coordination with the CBB underscores the importance of integrating national efforts and developing further awareness initiatives that consider the nature and environment of each sector and address the associated cyber challenges and risks.
She added that rapid advances in artificial intelligence technologies and evolving cyber threats highlight the need to enhance awareness and promote responsible use of emerging technologies.
Amina Yousef Al Madani, Director of Communications and International Relations at the CBB, said that the CBB places great importance on enhancing cyber awareness across the financial services sector, particularly amid the continued evolution of digital services and technologies and the emerging risks and challenges associated with them.
She said the CBB’s collaboration with the NCSC reflects its commitment to strengthening knowledge of cyber risks and secure practices, as well as enhancing preparedness among employees across all roles and levels in the sector to address technological changes efficiently and responsibly.
She added that continued cooperation and expertise sharing among national entities strengthens cybersecurity readiness and enhances confidence in the digital financial ecosystem.
The event focused on raising awareness of the most significant cybersecurity risks and challenges associated with the nature of the financial services sector and its digital environment, in light of the rapid advancement of modern technologies and artificial intelligence, as well as supporting the adoption of secure cybersecurity practices and strengthening the role of the human element in protecting data and systems.
The event included two specialised awareness-raising lectures. The first addressed the role of the human element in strengthening cyber security in the digital era and was presented by Ali Beshara, a cyber security consultant, while the second focused on the role of artificial intelligence and related modern trends in the field of cyber security, presented by Ameen Altajer, CEO of Infiniteware.
This initiative underscores the importance of coordinated efforts between national entities and the financial services sector in establishing a sustainable cyber security culture and fostering shared responsibility in addressing evolving digital challenges, thereby supporting the continuity and development of the sector in the Kingdom within a more secure and trusted digital environment.
