UAE, 14 February 2018 - The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) recently organised a training course in cooperation with the RIPE NCC on cybercrime and cyber threats. The two-day course, entitled “Training Course on the Local Internet Registry”, aimed to support national trends in adopting the latest technologies to improve Internet security and fight against cybercrime, while strengthening the national capabilities and skills to address Internet risks and providing a secure environment to use Internet resources.

The event is part of the cooperative relationship recognised in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed between RIPE NCC and TRA in 2017 to enhance cooperation and the exchange of expertise. This cooperative relationship was formed to encourage improvements in the efficiency of Internet network operations via conferences, meetings, training programmes and awareness campaigns on the latest innovations and developments related to the Internet. 

The training gave law enforcement agencies (LEAs) an introduction to the RIPE NCC's administrative procedures and policies related to the management and distribution of Internet number resources (i.e. IP addresses, AS Numbers and reverse DNS delegation) and operating a Local Internet Registry (LIR). The course included a basic introduction to the RIPE Database.

The session also featured a series of interactive sessions that discussed the technical challenges facing the Internet, the availability of Internet number resources, and the capacity-building initiatives launched to support the development of the Internet community in the UAE and Arab countries. During these intensive discussions, participants worked on the development of effective solutions to address emerging and potential challenges in these areas to provide the best protection against cyber threats, risks and cybercrime facing Arab governments and Internet Service Providers (ISPs). 

Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Marzouqi, Manager for Internet Advancement, Policy & Programs Department, TRA UAE said: “The training course will boost cyber security by raising awareness of the best ways to provide maximum protection against electronic crimes and keep up with the accelerating pace of smart and digital transformation locally and regionally. We are happy to cooperate with the RIPE NCC to enhance digital security knowledge and improve readiness to keep abreast of the latest technology innovations. This initiative comes in line with the UAE's national trends and its leading position in the Middle East in adopting a rapidly emerging technology in the private and government sectors, with high efficiency in ensuring security, privacy and reliability of data.”

Paul Rendek, Director of External Relations at the RIPE NCC, said: “We are keen to strengthen our collaboration with all of our members, including governments and LEAs, to develop effective solutions to deal with cybercrime and other challenges. We are committed to supporting these agencies through a range of activities, including training courses and capacity-building initiatives, and this training course is part of that. We are also providing technical expertise and analysis to help stakeholders gain a better understanding of what is happening with the Internet and enable them to develop a clear approach to address risks and find appropriate solutions to immunise their institutions against cyber-attacks and threats.”