Doha, October 22 (QNA) - Doha, Participants at a seminar titled: “Cybersecurity & Digital Transformation in National Security”, held on the final day of the Milipol Qatar 2026 exhibition and conference, called for closer integration between cybersecurity and corporate operations, as well as stronger mechanisms for managing risk and responding to digital threats to ensure the continuity of vital services.

Director of Corporate Information Security at Ooredoo Qatar Sarah Al Mawlawi emphasized the need to move cybersecurity beyond its traditional focus on governance and risk management toward enabling business operations and embedding protection requirements in commercial and technological processes.

Al Mawlawi explained that achieving this integration requires stronger cooperation between cybersecurity teams and relevant departments while preserving the independence of risk assessments, clearly defining responsibilities, and reporting risks to senior management so that informed decisions can be made on whether to address or accept them in line with business requirements.

For his part, Assistant Director of the Information Security Department at the National Cyber Security Agency Khalid Al Nasr highlighted the importance of maintaining the independence of information security departments to support proactive risk management, clarify responsibilities and escalation procedures, and reduce confusion during crises.

Al Nasr also stressed the need to integrate cybersecurity into business continuity, disaster recovery, and crisis management plans, noting that responses to cyberattacks—particularly those targeting government entities—should extend beyond restoring IT infrastructure to ensuring that vital government services continue or are restored within acceptable timeframes.

In turn, Director of the Cybersecurity Department at the Qatar Central Bank Dr. Maryam Ahmed Al Faihani stressed that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility requiring an institutional culture attuned to digital risks and the alignment of protection initiatives with institutions’ strategic objectives.

Al Faihani emphasized the importance of implementing effective awareness programs and promoting communication and cooperation between cybersecurity specialists and other departments in order to strengthen institutional resilience and business continuity, particularly in the financial sector. (QNA)