Cyber security in the UAE: new measures for the public sector: A challenge facing us all

Analysis

The world now spends more than 110 billion minutes on social networks per month. It is estimated that 60% of all internet users access some form of social networking site on a daily basis. In this update we provide an overview of the new information security laws that were issued in August in the UAE; the risks posed by employee use of information technology in the workplace; and the practical steps organisation can take to mitigate these risks.

With increased use, social media provides unique opportunities. Its content can be republished and can rapidly be seen by a huge audience: globally, Twitter has 200 million active users and Facebook more than 1 billion. Organisations can therefore reach the world's population in a matter of seconds. However, the same speed of communication and dissemination also applies to insignificant, careless or damaging e-mails or posts. What may look like a small-scale incident can quickly escalate into an issue incurring significant costs and damage to an organisation's reputation.

UAE IT Security Law