Amjad Mehmood
Islamabad—The 3rd International Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security (ICCWS) started by National Centre for Cyber Security (NCCS) at Air University (AU),Islamabad.The University has unique privilege of hosting an IEEE International Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security since 2020. The Chairman P@SHAattended opening ceremony as Chief Guest while Vice Chancellor Air University, Air Marshal Javaid Ahmad HI (M) (Retd), Director NCCS Prof. Dr. KashifKifayat, other speakers, participants and honorary guests were present in the ceremony.
Chairman P@SHA, M. Zohaib Khan, while addressing the ceremony emphasized that Cybersecurity is a vital issue not only in Pakistan but across the globe. He appreciated Air University’s various efforts and the most recent initiative of establishment of National Cyber Security Academy. He added launching of such programmes helping in improvementof Pakistan’s cybersecurity posture, both nationally and internationally. He said HEC should strengthen the National Centre of Cyber Security byextending its support for Indigenization and commercialization efforts to help NCCS in establishing Pakistan Cyber Security Industry.
Vice Chancellor, Air University Air Marshal Javaid AhmedHI (M) (Retd), while addressing the audience highlighted that cyber world is complicated and constantly evolving. He said cybersecurity workforce needs to be trained in a well-defined formal way to meet and exceed the national cyber security requirements. He mentioned that Air University as one of the pioneer institutions in Pakistan to initiate numerous training programmes in cyber security that are well recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan.
Director, National Center for Cyber Security Prof. Dr. KashifKifayat, in his speech added that he is proud to lead NCCS which has helped Pakistan moving up in global rankings for cyber security. This Center is a collaborative platform that welcomes adjunct faculty members and researchers from academic institutions, both locally and internationally, who specialize in industrial cyber security. He emphasized on need to make the future generations of Pakistan fully prepared than any of their predecessors to handle fast-evolving cyber threats.
Earlier, the Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Chief Information Security Officer, Asif Meenai and Air Commodore (R) Afzaal Ahmed Khan,Director ORIC has signed MOU between Air University and HBL. The MoU demonstrates the parties’ intent and willingness to work together in areas of shared interest, particularly in the fields of big data, artificial intelligence, cyber security, and machine learning.
The two-day International Conference includes a number of presentations, keynote speeches, panel discussions, technical hands-on workshops, paper presentations, technical expert talks, and illuminating statements by CEOs and CISOs of prestigious companies. The conference management committee thanked to the generous contributions of numerous national and international keynote speakers from various countries, including Estonia, Belgium, Qatar, Malaysia, and the USA, for delivering their cyber security talks at the International Conference. Through this, the ICCWS offered students and professionals from all over the world an extraordinary learning opportunity while practitioners from various part of globe have shared their research, ideas, methods, and experiences connected to various aspects of cybersecurity.