Moro Hub, EY debut AI- driven managed security service for OT environments in UAE

Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, the digital arm of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, has collaborated with EY, to launch their initial AI (artificial intelligence) driven managed security service for operational technology (OT) in Cyber Defense Centre (CDC) in the UAE. 

Called Moro OT CDC, the center comes powered with new technologies, including data lake and AI, the company wrote in a Tuesday blog post. The center will help businesses working with OT/IoT systems defend themselves from cyber-attacks and handle cybersecurity issues through rapid threat identification and ‘quick’ incident response. 

According to the company, the center is staffed with hands-on, experienced data scientists, OT and IoT experts, in addition to threat intelligence and cyber defense professionals. The center will focus on improving the cybersecurity of the UAE’s critical national infrastructure and will continuously monitor the threat landscape and deliver appropriate responses.

“We are pleased to launch UAE’s first in-country OT CDC as a fully Managed Service model in collaboration with EY. Cyber threats targeting Critical Infrastructure are growing at an alarming rate, which may pose threat to human life, environment, and operational assets,” Dr. Ahmed Alketbi, chief information security officer of Moro Hub, said in the post.

Dr. Alketbi further commented that in addition to enhancing the region’s cybersecurity resilience and response capacity, this new OT Cyber Defense Centre will improve critical infrastructure security, reliability, and efficiency by utilizing services and team knowledge.

The Moro Hub post also highlighted that as OT environments are increasingly connected to business systems, newer challenges have emerged. “This trend has further increased the existing cyber risks faced due to Industry 4.0 migration, Digital Transformation, and IT/OT convergence, which increased the exposure of traditionally air-gapped systems to cyber-attack, making it clear that asset owners need to take a stronger, more integrated approach to security,” the post continued.

“EY is excited to bring advanced cybersecurity monitoring for critical OT and IoT infrastructure to the region through the partnership with Moro Hub,” Clinton Firth, global energy cybersecurity leader at EY, commented.

“Cybersecurity monitoring on operational networks and IoT is more paramount than ever as the region continues to see a surge of cybersecurity attacks, along with the advancement in digital disruption and the integration of OT and IoT systems. Together, EY and MORO Hub will provide world-class cybersecurity monitoring services to clients to address this critical gap in the market,” he added.

In September 2021, Moro Hub partnered with Nozomi Networks, an OT and IoT security company, to advance OT/IoT security services. The partnership authorized Moro Hub to resell Nozomi products and provide OT and IoT managed security services using Nozomi’s solutions.

Somasree Roy

Industrial Cyber Editorial Writer (Intern). Somasree is a university student, currently pursuing her MSc. in Media Science. Somasree covers news and updates on vendors, industry associations, and partners for Industrial Cyber.