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'Cyber Academy' comes to Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi - CIAS team members are conducting the workshop at Khalifa University.

Raytheon, the international defense and technology solutions provider, has partnered with Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi on a program to build cyber skills in the UAE.
The four-day cyber security workshop on the Khalifa University campus was launched on Monday, marking the launch of Raytheon's global 'Cyber Academy' designed to train cyber-skilled workforces for the future.
In the program, participating students learn the latest cyber security methods and techniques, finishing off with a capstone exercise in which they use their new skills to protect systems.
"Raytheon has a special relationship with the UAE and this partnership further represents our shared interests in global security," said Dave Wajsgras, president of Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services. "We are excited to share Raytheon's 30 years of cybersecurity expertise and essentially merge these competencies with the advanced research and innovation at Khalifa University as we partner to help build cybersecurity knowledge and skills in the Emirates." 
Raytheon's experts are working with those of another long-established team member, the University of Texas-San Antonio's Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS). CIAS team members are conducting the workshop at Khalifa University.
"It is very important for the UAE to continue to develop its cybersecurity infrastructure and talent. Cyber threats have no borders and, as a nation, we must have the capabilities to defend ourselves from threats in the cyber domain. This workshop marks the start of a new push to nurture and expand these skills," said Dr. Mohammed Al Mualla, Senior Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies at Khalifa University. 
CIAS Director Dwayne Williams, for his part, said that it is vital for budding generations of cyber security experts to keep pace with cyber criminals and other threat actors. 
"Teaching cybersecurity is challenging, because it's a moving target," said CIAS director Dwayne Williams. "There's not one institution that has the complete curriculum on cybersecurity. Technology and the methods of attack change so quickly. Skills needed 10 years ago are obsolete today." 
"We're always playing catchup with the bad guys, so universities need to evolve constantly to keep up," he added. 
reporters@khaleejtimes.com