Trend Micro protects Bahrain Government

The deal - with Trend Micro, one of the world's leading Internet security providers - was formalized at a ceremony in the capital on April 28.

"Bahrain has developed one of the world's most comprehensive e-government systems," said Sheikh Ahmed A. Al Khalifa, Undersecretary of CIO, who signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Trend Micro. "Our leaders' forward thinking and vision will make a range of essential government services available to citizens online, when the infrastructure is fully created and protected."

"Protecting that e-government system is now a major priority for CIO," added Sheikh Ahmed. "The information stored in our computers and the online services we offer need to be available all the time," said Sheikh Ahmed. "The deal with Trend Micro helps protect our online processes and data against virus threats."

In Bahrain, more than eight thousand employees use the government's computer network.

At the signing ceremony, Justin Doo, Managing Director of Trend Micro in the Middle East and Africa, said: "Bahrain's CIO is setting the perfect example to the region's business community about the importance of virus protection. Enterprise level organizations just cannot afford to run without a comprehensive virus protection solution. A single infiltration can bring an entire network to a standstill."

A Trend Micro team will implement the software in a series of phases. The first phase commences at once. Trend Micro will also provide on-site consultancy and training to certification level for selected CIO staff and government employees. CIO 'developer units' will play an important role in future improvements by passing Trend Micro's 'BETA' groups feedback on the software's performance under real-life operating conditions. Government employees will also be able to use Trend Micro's anti-virus products on their home PCs at preferential rates.

GCC-Wide Focus on Security
Security and virus protection are issues confronting all governments in the GCC. To provide the most up-to-date information to key decision-makers, CIO hosted a one-day conference in Manama, for GCC-based senior decision makers.

Trend Micro was involved in the event, with Doo making a presentation on trends in the spread of viruses, Trojans (disguised but harmful viruses) and worms (programs that can make copies of themselves and spread through connected systems, using up resources or causing other damage).