business & finance club - Oman : The Omani Information Technology Authority (ITA) launched at Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) Oman National Computer Emergency Readiness Team (OCERT) today under the auspices of Lt. Gen Malik bin Sulaiman al Ma'mari, Inspector General of Police and Customs. The centre is one of e-Government's and E-Oman strategies.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Mohammed bin Nasser al Khusaibi, Secretary General of the National Economy Ministry and Chairman of ITA, Dr. Salim bin Sultan al Ruzaiki, CEO of ITA, members of the board, officials of the Government's institutions and the private establishments.

In a statement to reporters, Lt. Gen al Ma'mari said that CERT will be a focal point for reporting information and cyber security incidents within the Sultanate in the light of the increasing Cyber crimes. The centre is part of plans and strategies aimed at securing secrecy of information, particularly the e-transactions, he added.

"Royal Oman Police (ROP) will provide full support to CERT in terms of raising awareness in establishments and among individuals. The Sultanate has been a leading country in implementing plans and strategies that contribute to establishing a solid database," he furthered.

In his message, Dr. Salim bin Sultan al Ruzaiki, CEO of ITA, stressed that the centre will serve a wide range of information and communications technology sectors, especially the national infrastructural establishments, the major industries, citizens and residents alike by availing a wide range of information-based services. Launching of CERT symbolizes E-Oman's continuous initiatives aimed at establishing E-Oman Society and ensuring a safer environment for E-transactions in the Sultanate, he added.

Eng. Badr bin Ali al Salhi, Director of CERT gave a briefing on the centre's role describing it as one of E-Oman's initiatives being implemented by ITA to process and analysis information security incidents in the Internet, raise awareness on security of information among various sectors. "CERT will provide services that work between proactive services, security incidents, which will involve the announcement, advisory services that CERT is going to providing in terms of latest cyber threats, as well as, the online checking of the Government websites in case of any threats, in addition, to networks and applications," said al Salhi.

The other aspect of CERT is the reactive services which get kicked-off when an incident is reported to the Centre. The centre will study the incident, go through investigations and analysis to mitigate the risk and damage that was caused by the incident, as well as, tracing the criminal behind the attack, al Salhi added.

As part of CERT's services is training and awareness where they have a national programme to address the entire groups of children, teenagers and adults as each of these groups use of ICT technology. They have been conducting various workshops and seminars targeting each group.

A documentary was screened on CERT's objectives, the services it provides and the targeted categories.

Lt. Gen al Ma'amari, then launched CERT's Website www.cert. gov.oman signaling the start of a new era of safe and secured e-services in the Sultanate