By Jassim Al-Awadhi and Christine Susan Shine
KUWAIT: The Kuwait College of Science and Technology (KCST), in collaboration with the Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT), hosted the second edition of the Cyber First Kuwait Conference under the theme "Securing Kuwait’s Digital Future – Aligning with Vision 2035.” The event, sponsored by the National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC), brought together a distinguished panel of cybersecurity experts, business leaders and academics to examine Kuwait’s progress in fortifying its digital infrastructure and cyber resilience.
The main panel discussion, titled "Kuwait Vision 2035: Aligning with the National Cybersecurity Strategy – Safeguarding the Digital Future,” delved into Kuwait’s efforts to mitigate cyber threats through strategic frameworks, including the 2017 Cybersecurity Strategy and the more recent establishment of the NCSC. Dr Fai Ben Salamah, a researcher at the NCSC, emphasized the importance of continuous, collective action in cybersecurity. "We must treat cybersecurity as a sustained process that contributes to global security,” she said. "Kuwait has taken significant steps toward realizing its Vision 2035 — particularly through the establishment of the National Cybersecurity Center. Ensuring a secure and resilient digital future demands ongoing collaboration, strategic foresight and investment at all levels of society.”
Andrea Manzoni, president of a global cybersecurity firm with expertise in military and cyberwarfare domains, commended Kuwait for being proactive. "Kuwait launched its national strategy in 2017, which is early compared to the global average,” he said. "The earlier a country starts, the better positioned it is for long-term resilience. Kuwait’s strategy stands out for its simplicity and effective implementation. With only three clear pillars, it avoids the complexity that often hampers other national strategies and minimizes risks of budget exhaustion or overlapping mandates,” Manzoni noted.
A central theme in the discussion was the importance of public-private collaboration. Recent strategic partnerships with tech giants such as Google and Microsoft — covering digitization, artificial intelligence, and data center development — were highlighted as essential pillars in Kuwait’s cybersecurity roadmap. Dr Khaled Al-Begain, President of KCST, elaborated on the need to bridge the cybersecurity talent gap. "There are three key components: a robust and modern curriculum, faculty with both academic and industry expertise, and strong emphasis on practical application,” he said.
Rishabh Gaikwad, a security expert at a leading Kuwaiti company, stressed the need for a data-centric approach to digital security. "It’s not just about protecting systems; securing data is paramount — it is the new oil,” he remarked. As Kuwait accelerates its digital transformation, panelists acknowledged the growing complexity of cybersecurity challenges. "Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue,” said Gaikwad.
Cyber risks have broad implications, including financial ones, and require engagement across all departments. Commenting on regional trends, Manzoni noted, "Unlike the global average, the impact of cyberattacks in Kuwait is on the decline — an encouraging sign that national strategies are delivering results.” The panel concluded with a consensus that the biggest threat to cybersecurity remains a lack of awareness, underscoring the urgent need to attract and cultivate top-tier talent to safeguard Kuwait’s digital ambitions.
