Tribune News Network
Doha
In a remarkable display of expertise and preparedness, students from the Community College of Qatar (CCQ) participated in the 11th edition of the National Cyber Drill 2024 .
The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) organised the event titled ‘Zero Day Survival’, drawing participation from more than 170 entities across the country, including leading universities and educational institutions. The drill aimed to bolster institutional readiness against escalating cyber threats and to assess cybersecurity preparedness across three crucial aspects: human, technological, and operational capacities.
A group of 12 students from Community’s Information Technology Department, within the Science and Technology Division, took part in the ‘Zero Day Survival’ exercise.
These students displayed exceptional professionalism and analytical thinking through different phases of the exercise, which centred on simulating realistic cyber threats and testing entity responses to ‘Zero Day’ vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities, unknown and unannounced, can be exploited by attackers without the knowledge of the entity.
This exercise provided students and faculty an invaluable opportunity to translate their theoretical knowledge into practical scenarios, enhancing their skills in cyber attack management, crisis handling, and strategy development for risk mitigation.
The participation highlighted the importance of swift and effective response strategies, while equipping the students with vital skills necessary to navigate the complexities of contemporary cybersecurity.
Dr Abdullah Al Ghushami, head of the Information Technology Department at CCQ, emphasised the significance of this participation.
He said, "Our engagement in the Cyber Drill underscores college’s commitment to nurturing our students’ technical competencies and providing them with cutting-edge skills in cybersecurity. It also reinforces our role as a pivotal institution for cultivating professionals who can adeptly handle the digital age’s challenges.
"Our objective is to merge academic learning with real-world experience; this prepares our students to bolster information security in Qatar. We are immensely proud of our students who have proven their prowess in this event, and we remain dedicated to supporting initiatives that foster a secure, thriving technical community.”
Mohammed Al Asfar, a student participant in the exercise, commented on the experience, noting that such events skilfully blend excitement with the rigours of applied science, elevating both the knowledge and practical abilities of
participants.
He expressed his appreciation for the college and the National Cyber Security Agency for offering such enriching opportunities that are vital for skill development and capacity building in cybersecurity.
The drill is part of ongoing national efforts aimed at enhancing cybersecurity, raising awareness about the importance of safeguarding digital infrastructure, and improving the cyber competence of participating entities through vulnerability assessment and enhancement.