Expo 2020 Dubai goes hi-tech to prevent cyber attacks

Expo 2020 Dubai has secured the most diverse and dynamic technology ecosystem that is capable of supporting 200-plus participants, a top official has said.

Eman Al Awadhi, Vice-President, Cyber Security and Resilience at Expo 2020 Dubai, said the objective is to protect the sprawling site with all its infrastructure and technologies from unforeseen cyberattacks.

“As vice-president of Cyber Security, I am responsible for defining and implementing the most advanced cyber-security strategy ever seen at a world expo,” Al Awadhi said.

She said Expo 2020 Dubai is securing the most diverse and dynamic technology ecosystem that is capable of supporting 200-plus participants — including 191 countries, each with their own pavilion — as well as businesses, multilateral organisations, academic institutions and millions of visitors from around the globe.

“We are managing the convergence of information technology and operational technologies, while also ensuring preparedness from unforeseen cyber-threats. Therefore, our objective is to protect Expo’s infrastructure and operations — everything from ticket sales and AI-driven robots to virtual reality, mega screens and more, across the site,” Al Awadhi said.

Expo 2020 Dubai is working with its technology partners Siemens, Accenture, Cisco, Etisalat, MasterCard and SAP, and also its official cyber security provider, Digital14, “to deliver a safe, secure, connected site with smart infrastructure that will continue to offer benefits beyond the event”, said Al Awadhi.