CISO & Information Security Head - Acting
Dubai Customs
Total years of experience :16 years, 7 Months
Strategic Tasks Undertaken:
• Formulate the short- and medium-range operational objectives and plans for the IT Security Section of Information Technology Department; aligning them to the Strategic and Operational Plans of Dubai Customs.
• Ensure compliance to governance and risk management functions with local and federal authorities
• Developing Information Security methodologies and standards and introducing them the Dubai Customs employees and providing support to the management on critical security issues.
Financial Tasks Undertaken
• Preparing the annual budget for the Information Security section and obtaining the necessary approvals and ensuring the utilization of the budgets are as per the approved.
Operational Tasks Undertaken
• Identify information security goals and objectives consistent with the corporate strategic plan of Dubai Customs and implement the same in all Dubai Customs operational areas.
• Identify key security program elements for Dubai Customs and create necessary awareness among Dubai Customs employees.
• Manage development and implementation of corporate security policy, standards, guidelines and procedures to ensure ongoing maintenance of security.
• Ensure implementation plans, security product purchase proposals and project schedules are inline with DC Information Security policies.
• Oversee the implementation of the Information Security practices and identify the responsible persons to safeguard the company’s assets, intellectual property and computer systems, as well as the physical safety of employees and visitors.
• Provide periodic updates of Security status and Security improvements to top management to facilitate the decision making process.
• Prepare and manage information security KPIs
• Maintain relationships with local and federal law enforcement authorities and other related government agencies.
• Oversee the forensic and investigation of security incidents and breaches, and assist with disciplinary and legal matters associated with such breaches as necessary.
• Facilitate work with auditors and external consultants as appropriate for security audits.
• Maintain confidentiality, integrity and availability of information in line with Dubai Customs information security policies and procedures in order to protect information from any disclosure or misuse.
Developmental Tasks Undertaken
• Assess Team Members’ performance and conduct performance appraisals.
• Assess training needs, make arrangements to provide training opportunities to develop IT skills of staff for providing high level performance in their area of operation.
• Responsible for system administration for all Windows based servers, maintaining active directory of users, controlling user access and user permissions. Responsible for system administration for MS Exchange Server with more than 250 mailboxes.
• Responsible for keeping the Critical computer servers/network available 24x7 and providing remote support even on holidays/weekends and off office hours.
• Maintaining the local area network, configuring and monitoring the network security, maintaining wireless networks, providing remote support and carrying out remote administration during after office hours and weekends/ public holidays.
• Administration of Enterprise wide anti-virus software including Anti-Spam, spy ware and ad ware software.
• Responsible for Configuring and maintaining gateway level security including Firewall, Internet Security gateway, Email messaging security. Administration and configuration of Citrix software for remote access.
• Identifying vendors for H/W and S/W, negotiation of prices, recommendation for vendor selection and purchase.
• Ensure Information security at all levels by implementing the information security policies and procedures.
Tasks Undertaken:
• Investigating GSM with a group of 5 and highlighting the major security issues in the GSM along with its countermeasures and recommendations.
• Demonstrating and implementing some GSM algorithms and attacks.
Tasks Undertaken:
• Fixing or solving problems in Ajman Municipality network.
• Assisting in building network from scratch for Food and Environment Laboratory (Planning, Workstation and Server configuration, Cabling, Switch and Router configuration, and Network Finalization).
• Security Related Tasks: Firewall configuration, Securing the Internet Explorer, and network installation configuration and security settings.
Graduated in Excellence with Honors degree