SANS Institute to elevate Qatar’s cybersecurity capabilities as part of National Vision 2030

SANS Institute, the global leader in cybersecurity training and certification announces SANS Doha May 2024 from 18-23 May at the InterContinental Doha – the City. The training program offers three specialized courses that will equip participants with the skills required to secure OT/IoT systems, detect and remediate incidents, and build strong strategies for cloud and on-prem platforms.

In 2023, around 18% of Qatari businesses experienced a cybersecurity breach, with 5% enduring more than five incidents, each costing an estimated average of approximately US$4.94 million

“To combat these attacks and meet evolving industry demands, SANS Doha provides a foundational framework of standardized skills and knowledge tailored for industrial cybersecurity professionals. Designed to upskill the workforce tasked with safeguarding and maintaining vital operational control systems, it ensures they are equipped to uphold safety, security, and resilience against both existing and emerging cyber threats,” says Ned Baltagi, Managing Director, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, at SANS Institute. “We aim to empower professionals to develop dynamic incident response protocols, alongside advanced abilities to detect, counter, and recover from a diverse array of threats within enterprise networks. This includes adept handling of challenges posed by APT nation-state adversaries, organized crime syndicates, and hacktivists.”

SANS Doha May 2024 will offer three specialized courses through both in-person training and simultaneous live online sessions: SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, and Incident Handling; FOR508: Advanced Incident Response, Threat Hunting, and Digital Forensics and ICS410: ICS/SCADA Security Essentials.

SEC504 covers the necessary expertise for conducting thorough incident response investigations, by developing dynamic response methodologies, threat intelligence, and defensive tactics applicable to both cloud-based and on-premises platforms.

For professionals interested in advancing their skills in threat hunting and forensic analysis, FOR508 explores investigative techniques and tools. Whether grappling with a data breach, malware incursion, or any other cyber threat, a well-defined incident response plan is indispensable. Participants will learn how to effectively hunt, detect, and contain various adversaries, while also learning strategies for incident remediation.

ICS410 stands as a critical course spotlighting industrial control systems (ICS) and SCADA security, both pivotal components of modern digital infrastructure. Participants will acquire cyber-secure-aware engineering practices and how to provide real-time support for control system IT/OT operations.