Comtrust holds first PKI training course for local IT community

The three day seminar offered security professionals, network administrators, security auditors, web programmers, IT Managers and other IT professionals a comprehensive look at regional Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) development.

The inaugural course attracted professionals from businesses such as Emirates, United Arab Bank, Tejari.com, Emirates Bank Group, Bank Sederat Iran, IAL Container Line, ABN Amro and Abu Dhabi National Hotels as well as government departments such as Dubai Municipality and Directorate of Town Planning and Survey.

Comtrust developed the course in response to growing market demand for in-depth e-business security training. The course focuses on PKI, the globally recognized, industry standard protocol to Internet security threats. It is an all encompassing, technology platform consisting of software applications, encryption methods and technologies designed to ensure the identification and authentication of all parties involved in a single online transaction.

The course covers a variety of e-business topics including: Internet security issues and their impacts; an understanding of PKI; an overview of various encryption mechanisms; a review of digital certificates and their applications; a holistic view of a Certification Authority and its functions; an insight into smart card technologies and their role in PKI.

Course attendees were happy with Comtrust's training programme. 'The course was very good. It gave me an excellent insight into how PKI can be deployed as well as outlining its advantages and benefits,' said Majeed Malik, Head of Internet Operations Unit, Dubai Municipality.

According to Comtrust, PKI seeks to replicate the security measures of the physical world within the virtual world of the Internet. 'Envelopes and secured couriers are replaced with data encryption; physical signatures are exchanged with digital signatures; Identity cards, passports and trade licenses are substituted with digital certificates for individuals and servers,' said Ahmad Abdul Karim Julfar, General Manager, Comtrust.

'At Comtrust we realise a key factor in the regional proliferation of the digital economy will be winning consumer confidence and trust. This can only be achieved by ensuring the challenges of authentication; confidentiality, integrity and non-repudiation of online communication are met. Users must be confident in undertaking online transactions,' he said.

'Today, the key challenge facing organizations that are contemplating e-business/e-government initiatives is the ability to address Internet security issues. As e-business revolves around un-seen interaction with a host of internal (employees) as well as external (customers, suppliers, partners, distributors) parties, over the Internet, establishing a firm security posture, that not only meets but also exceeds the security demands, is an imperative. The training courses are designed to ensure organizations fully understand the issues and the business benefits PKI technology offers to them,' Concluded Mr. Julfar.