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SANS Institute supports next-generation of cybersecurity leaders in Saudi Arabia

SANS Secure Middle East 2022 will empower individuals with the essentials required to be an expert cybersecurity practitioner today

SANS Institute introduces flexi-pass to facilitate and guarantee security education
Ned Baltagi, Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, SANS Institute

SANS Institute has announced the SANS Secure Middle East 2022 training program, to be held in-person at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel & Convention Centre from 19th to 31st March 2022.

At SANS Secure Middle East 2022, participants will develop and master essential information security skills and techniques needed to secure critical information and technology assets, whether on-premise or in the cloud.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) ranks second to the US as a global leader in cybersecurity, yet due to the increase in digitalisation and an accelerated digital transformation spurred by the pandemic, we can see that the cyber-attack landscape in Saudi continues to grow,” said Ned Baltagi, Managing Director, Middle East and Africa at SANS Institute.

The GCC region has been a hotspot for cyber-attacks since the start of the pandemic, with the Middle East facing an unprecedented wave of cybersecurity threats.

In Saudi Arabia, according to a recent VMWare report, a survey of 252 Saudis indicated 84 percent stated cyber-attacks had increased due to remote working conditions, reinforcing the need for more accessible security information and upskilling practices.

“At SANS we encourage students to develop dynamic and proactive security strategies built on a foundation of Detection, Response, and Prevention,” said Baltagi.  “Events such as SANS Secure Middle East 2022 is an opportunity for professionals to enhance their approaches and revitalise their confidence in managing and leading security teams, ultimately becoming all-rounder experts in cybersecurity.”

This interactive event will be delivered by industry-leading professionals and has a mix of in-person training and live online streams for the offered courses. Participants will have a comprehensive experience supported by content that is aligned with GIAC certifications, that will equip them with the knowledge and practical skills that are vital in protecting organisations, detecting anomalies and stopping intrusions ahead of time.

The in-person modules are conducted by renowned cybersecurity experts, namely, Ian Reynolds for SEC401: Security Essentials: Network, Endpoint, and Cloud; Jason Jordaan for FOR508: Advanced Incident Response, Threat Hunting, and Digital Forensics; Brian Ventura for MGT512: Security Leadership Essentials For Managers; and Mark Williams for MGT514: Security Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership.

For In-Person Live Stream training and Live Online classes, Bryce Galbraith will lead SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, and Incident Handling; Jason Jordaan for FOR500: Windows Forensic Analysis; Justin Searle for ICS410: ICS/SCADA Security Essentials; and David Szili for FOR572: Advanced Network Forensics: Threat Hunting, Analysis, and Incident Response.

The timings for the courses are between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM AST, including breaks.

Additionally, those registering for SANS Secure Middle East 2022 are eligible to join an exclusive NetWars Tournament, a suite of hands-on, interactive learning scenarios that give participants the opportunity to practice in-depth cybersecurity techniques, regardless of their skill level, in isolated and monitored environments.