Amman - Jordan has made significant strides in cybersecurity infrastructure through the enactment of its Cybersecurity Law, according to Wael Wahbeh, Head of the Arab Cybersecurity Sector and founding member of the Jordanian Electronic Information Security Association.
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During a lecture organized by the Jordan Society for Scientific Research, Entrepreneurship, and Creativity titled "Cybersecurity and the Challenges of the Digital Revolution," Wahbeh highlighted Jordan's proactive measures. In 2019, Jordan established the National Cybersecurity Center and the National Cybersecurity Council to combat cybersecurity challenges and safeguard both public and private networks. Key legislations complementing these efforts include the Cybercrimes Law, the Personal Data Protection Law, the Electronic Transactions Law, the Credit Information Law, and the Banking Law.
Wahbeh noted Jordan's commendable global rankings: 100th in digital government development, 80th in technological readiness out of 194 countries, 54th globally, and 7th in the Arab world for security. Additionally, Jordan ranks 92nd globally for remote work out of 108 countries, with new government human resource management laws supporting flexible digital work.
According to the latest United Nations index, Jordan stands 10th among Arab countries in cybersecurity and 100th globally out of 193 countries. Wahbeh emphasized that both governmental and non-governmental reliance on advanced digital systems in managing institutions and services is replacing traditional methods. This shift spans various sectors, including government, commerce, industry, education, health, tourism, and agriculture, driven by modern digital technology. Many governments, including those in the Arab world, are increasingly adopting electronic and digital means for delivering information and services across various fields.
The rapid digital transformation and expansion of applications have, however, escalated the occurrence of high-tech digital crimes or cybercrimes. These newly emerged threats pose significant risks, with global losses estimated in the tens of billions. Cybercrime is projected to become one of the largest global economic sectors, targeting a wide array of data and information.
Wahbeh urged nations to develop policies, build strategies, and foster genuine partnerships between the public and private sectors to curb these crimes. He stressed the importance of raising community awareness about cybersecurity, protection methods, and dealing with attacks. Addressing the issue of outdated infrastructure, he highlighted the need for coordinated efforts to address gaps in information and expertise sharing regarding cyber threats.
Enhancing public awareness campaigns, integrating cybersecurity topics into educational curricula, and offering specialized training and workshops for companies and individuals are crucial steps, Wahbeh emphasized. Investment in education and training is necessary for developing cybersecurity skills, supporting universities in launching specialized academic programs, and providing scholarships in this field.
He added that updating technical infrastructure, adopting the latest cybersecurity technologies and tools, providing financial and technical support to small and medium-sized enterprises for system upgrades, and periodically reviewing and updating legislation to ensure effectiveness against emerging threats are all essential measures. Wahbeh also called for the creation of specialized committees comprising legal and technical experts to review laws and recommend necessary amendments.
He advocated for establishing joint platforms for collaboration between the public and private sectors, enhancing strategic partnerships for effective and swift information and expertise exchange, and strengthening cooperation with other countries and international organizations to benefit from global expertise and follow best practices in cybersecurity. Setting up specialized cybersecurity training centers to offer internationally recognized courses and certifications through public-private cooperation is also critical.
Incentives for companies investing in cybersecurity technologies and adhering to best practices, such as tax reductions or financial support, are necessary. Enhancing rapid response capabilities to cyber incidents with specialized, well-equipped teams, developing emergency plans and strategies to quickly restore systems post-attacks, and supporting innovation and research in cybersecurity through funding and encouraging partnerships between universities and tech companies are all key to advancement.
Wahbeh concluded by emphasizing the importance of addressing current challenges with effective and sustainable solutions, enabling Jordan to strengthen its cybersecurity capabilities and protect its national interests in an increasingly interconnected and complex digital world.
Dr. Reda Al-Khawaldeh, President of the Jordanian Association for Scientific Research, Entrepreneurship, and Creativity, emphasized the digital revolution as an opportunity for progress and innovation while maintaining technological development, human rights, and ethical values for a better life. He expressed the association's readiness to collaborate with all relevant parties.
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