Global Competitiveness Yearbook 2022 Report: KSA Ranks Second Globally on Cybersecurity Index

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked second globally on the Cybersecurity Index according to the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2022 report, issued by the Global Competitiveness Center of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland. The report is considered one of the most comprehensive in the world, as it analyzes and ranks countries' ability to create, maintain and develop a supportive and stimulating competitive environment.

The National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) indicated that this achievement comes as a result of the support and empowerment given by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Highness the Crown Prince - may God protect them - to the cybersecurity sector, which has received a strong boost as the result of the implementation of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 strategy. The achievement highlights the global standing of the Saudi model of cybersecurity, which continues to make qualitative leaps in international digital indicators and is considered a leading model in the international arena.

The National Communications Authority (NCA) explained that Saudi Arabia’s cybersecurity system aims to enhance the competitiveness of the sector, enable sector opportunities and keep pace with the developments in a way that reflects the national ambition in this field. NCA pointed out that the prestigious global position in the cybersecurity index is the result of hard work that has resulted in successes such as the establishment of the National Academy of Cybersecurity, the implementation of advanced cyber exercises at the national level, the introduction of initiatives aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the sector locally, and the establishment and nurturing of promising startups in the cybersecurity sector.

NCA also highlighted the efforts made to enhance the competitiveness of national cadres specialized in cybersecurity. These initiatives included the issuance of the Saudi Framework for Higher Education in Cybersecurity (Cyber- Education) to develop high-quality academic programs in the field of cybersecurity, and the Saudi Framework for Cybersecurity Cadres, “Siouf,” which deals with the work of cybersecurity cadres in the Kingdom. In total, about 45 cyber exercises were carried out, empowering more than 4,000 specialists in the field of cybersecurity, and raising the level of cyber awareness for more than 7200 beneficiaries at the national authorities.

As the competent authority concerned with cybersecurity in Saudi Arabia, and the national reference for cybersecurity affairs, NCA also addressed the development of the legislative and regulatory environment that supports and stimulates the growth and competitiveness of the sector. NCA issued a set of policies and controls and supervised compliance with them, and launched a business accelerator to support the establishment of startups in the field of cybersecurity in a way that contributes to the growth and prosperity of this sector.