The UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) will launch its Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT) as early as April next year, according to TRA director general Mohamed Al Ghanim.

The regulator has signed a deal with Symantec for consultancy services on the project at GITEX Technology Week, with the vendor claiming it can complete the project in six months, instead of the eight months the TRA has allotted. "Symantec is considered one of the leading companies worldwide for information security solutions, database sensors, and standard CERT procedures and operation mechanisms," says Al Ghanim.

Kevin Isaac, Middle East and North Africa regional director at Symantec, adds: "Symantec has advised governments around the world on similar projects and will bring that knowledge and experience to bear in the UAE. This is a long-term agreement to provide competent consultancy to aeCERT to make it the leading trusted secure cyber coordination centre in the region."

aeCERT will help protect computer users across the country from internet threats such as viruses, Trojan horse software, identity theft and other online attacks. The need for the Centre is growing, as more and more criminal organisations around the world turn to cyber-crime for profit, using malware to extract personal information, or transform PCs into spam-mailing zombies.

"Among its mandates, aeCERT will be responsible for raising awareness across the UAE of the need for cyber-security and will continually advise and inform Internet users in the UAE of the steps they need to take to ensure corporate and personal information is secure at all times," says Al Ghanim.Symantec will also provide aeCERT with global threat information and metrics provided by its global monitoring systems and security response research centres, as well as extensive consultancy services. Symantec executives also extended an invitation to the TRA director general to visit the vendor's new Secure Operations Centre in the United Kingdom later in the year, which Al Ghanim received enthusiastically.