Aqaba, April 23 (Petra) -- Head of the National Cybersecurity Center, Mohammad Samadi, on Thursday said that a newly signed agreement to establish and operate the Aqaba Cybersecurity Incident Response Team (Aqaba-CERT) reflects coordinated national efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and safeguard critical infrastructure in Aqaba governorate.

Samadi told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the agreement, signed between the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority and NaiTel, a subsidiary of Aqaba Digital Hub, aims to establish a specialized operational unit serving as an integrated cyber defense framework across Aqaba’s key sectors.

He noted that Aqaba represents a strategic economic and technological hub encompassing vital sectors, including industry, trade, logistics and supply chains, transport, and information technology, in addition to energy, water, and electricity.

He said establishing Aqaba-CERT marks a qualitative step in advancing the national cybersecurity system and reflects a strategic shift toward building specialized capabilities at the level of cities and vital economic zones.

Samadi added that the initiative aligns with a broader vision to expand specialized response teams, enhancing early detection of cyber threats and improving response efficiency, particularly in fast-growing economic and technology centers. He noted the agreement forms part of a comprehensive national plan to develop response teams for critical sectors.

He said Aqaba-CERT will coordinate with national and government teams to ensure integration in threat intelligence sharing and unified response procedures, alongside implementing advanced capacity-building programs to enhance workforce capabilities across sectors in the city.

Samadi described the initiative as a practical model that can be scaled and replicated in other regions and sectors, supporting a unified national approach to cybersecurity risk management in line with international best practices.

The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) service is a specialized system designed to monitor, analyze, and respond to cybersecurity threats targeting digital networks and infrastructure, while facilitating coordination, information exchange, and the dissemination of guidelines to enhance preparedness and mitigate potential risks.

//Petra// NQ