Saudi Arabia launches new authority for cyber security

Saudi Arabia has established a new authority for cyber security and appointed the Kingdom’s minister of state Musaed al-Aiban its chairman, according to a royal decree.

The National Authority for Cyber Security’s board of directors will include the head of state security, the head of intelligence, the deputy interior minister, and the assistant minister of defense, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

The authority will boost the Kingdom’s cyber security and protect its vital interests, national security, and infrastructure.

It will also improve protection of networks, IT and operating systems, hardware and software components, services, and data.

Saudi Arabia was hit by several cyber-attacks early this year, with multiple agencies targeted by hackers in January.

Government agencies in the Kingdom were also targeted by hackers in November last year, with an attack disrupting work for several days at the General Authority of Civil Aviation.

Last month, the General Entertainment Authority said that its website has been hit by cyber-attacks from outside the Kingdom.