Deep within the humming nerve centers of the Middle East and North Africa’s booming industrial sector, where digital commands translate into the physical flow of energy, water, and manufactured goods, a critical initiative has launched to confront the silent threats shadowing the region’s progress. The official establishment of the Operational Technology Middle East Community (OTMEC) is not merely another industry gathering; it represents a strategic and unified response to a growing paradox. As nations across the MENA region pour trillions into economic diversification and technological advancement, the very systems powering this growth have become increasingly vulnerable. OTMEC arrives at this crucial juncture to bridge the dangerous gap between rapid industrial modernization and the maturity of the cybersecurity defenses required to protect it, aiming to transform a landscape of fragmented efforts into a cohesive shield for the area’s most vital assets.
As MENA’s Industrial Ambitions Accelerate Is Its Critical Infrastructures Security Keeping Pace
The central question echoing through boardrooms and control rooms across the MENA region is whether the security of its critical infrastructure can keep pace with its own ambitious trajectory. The scale of development is staggering, with smart cities rising from the desert and national visions predicated on hyper-connectivity and industrial automation. This rapid digital transformation, while essential for economic growth and global competitiveness, introduces complex vulnerabilities into systems that were once isolated and air-gapped. The drive to modernize operational technology (OT) environments—the hardware and software that monitor and control physical processes—inherently creates new pathways for cyber threats, demanding a security paradigm that evolves as quickly as the technology it is meant to protect.
This high-stakes environment underscores the physical consequences of a digital breach. A successful cyberattack on an OT system is not a matter of data loss but of potential physical disruption to essential services that underpin modern society. Power grids, water treatment plants, oil and gas refineries, and transportation networks are all powered by industrial control systems (ICS) that are increasingly connected to corporate IT networks and the internet. A compromise in these systems could lead to power outages, environmental incidents, or a halt in economic activity, making their protection a matter of national security and public safety. The challenge is no longer theoretical; it is an immediate and tangible risk tied directly to the region’s future prosperity.
The Regional Context A Unique Convergence of Opportunity and Threat
The urgency for a dedicated OT security initiative in the MENA region is fueled by a unique convergence of regional factors. Intense industrial activity, driven by national economic diversification plans, has spurred unprecedented technological adoption in sectors from energy to manufacturing. This push toward “Industry 4.0” involves integrating sophisticated sensors, data analytics, and automation into legacy and modern industrial settings. While this integration boosts efficiency and productivity, it simultaneously dismantles the traditional separation between operational and information technology, creating a much larger and more complex attack surface for adversaries to exploit.
Moreover, the accelerated convergence of IT and OT, coupled with the rapid expansion of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), introduces new layers of risk. Every connected sensor, programmable logic controller (PLC), and remote terminal unit (RTU) becomes a potential entry point for a malicious actor. This technological sprawl often outpaces an organization’s ability to map, monitor, and secure its entire operational environment. The result is a sprawling, interconnected ecosystem where a vulnerability in one seemingly minor component could potentially cascade into a major operational failure, a reality that security teams are struggling to manage with existing tools and strategies. The heightened geopolitical tensions in the region further amplify this threat, making critical national infrastructure an attractive and high-value target for sophisticated cyber campaigns.
Identifying the Cracks Why a New Approach Was Necessary
The formation of OTMEC was a direct response to a series of deep-seated, interconnected challenges that a fragmented approach could no longer address. A primary issue was siloed knowledge, where critical threat intelligence, incident response lessons, and defensive best practices remained trapped within individual companies, government bodies, or vendor ecosystems. This lack of a neutral, collaborative platform prevented the development of a unified defensive posture, leaving the region’s industrial base to fend for itself in isolated pockets rather than as a collective force. This fragmentation was exacerbated by a significant executive awareness gap, where the specific, nuanced risks associated with OT were often misunderstood or deprioritized at the leadership level, leading to underinvestment in necessary security controls and talent.
Compounding these strategic issues is a critical and persistent workforce deficit. The region faces a severe shortage of professionals with the specialized skillset required to secure industrial control systems—a discipline that demands expertise in both cybersecurity and industrial engineering. Without structured development pathways, mentorship programs, and accessible training, the talent pipeline has been insufficient to meet the growing demand. This human element is further challenged by pervasive technical hurdles, most notably the prevalence of legacy OT systems. Many of these systems are decades old, were not designed with security in mind, and cannot be easily patched or updated without risking operational downtime. Securing these brittle, mission-critical environments requires a fundamentally different approach than traditional IT security, necessitating a new community-driven model to develop and share these specialized techniques.
The Architects of Change A Coalition of Industry Leaders and Visionaries
The credibility and strategic direction of OTMEC are anchored by the influential figures and organizations at its helm. The initiative is spearheaded by a dedicated team of co-founders, including Reem Faraj AlShammari, Bryson Bort, Thomas VanNorman, Saltanat Mashirova, and Michael Hoffman, whose combined experience spans industrial asset ownership, cybersecurity entrepreneurship, and technical education. Their leadership establishes a foundation of practical, real-world knowledge that ensures the community remains grounded in the operational realities faced by practitioners on a daily basis.
This foundational leadership is bolstered by an expert advisory board composed of globally recognized authorities in industrial cybersecurity. The involvement of figures such as Robert M. Lee, CEO of Dragos, and Tim Conway, a technical director at the SANS Institute, provides world-class guidance and ensures that OTMEC’s initiatives are aligned with global best practices. Furthermore, the community’s impact is amplified through strategic alliances with key partners. Its collaboration with ICS Village, renowned for its hands-on industrial control system security labs, will provide members with invaluable practical training opportunities. Similarly, the partnership with Women in CyberSecurity Middle East (WiCSME) underscores a deep commitment to professional empowerment and cultivating a diverse and robust talent pipeline, directly addressing the region’s workforce development needs.
The OTMEC Blueprint From Strategy to Actionable Impact
OTMEC’s framework is designed as a multifaceted “collaboration engine” intended to move beyond theoretical discussions and deliver tangible, actionable impact. At its core is the establishment of an inclusive, vendor-neutral platform where all stakeholders—from plant-floor engineers and asset owners to technology providers and government regulators—can share knowledge and collaborate freely. This platform will be the hub for a series of focused initiatives, including hands-on technical workshops and training sessions that build practical, defensive skills. To foster the next generation of talent, the community is implementing structured mentorship programs designed to connect seasoned experts with emerging professionals, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem of expertise.
To translate collaborative knowledge into practical guidance, OTMEC is forming specialized working groups tasked with developing region-specific security frameworks and best practices. These expert-led groups will tackle pressing local challenges and produce actionable playbooks that organizations can implement immediately. Critically, the community will also actively engage with national regulators and policymakers, providing expert, practitioner-driven input to help shape effective and pragmatic national cybersecurity policies for critical infrastructure. This ensures that regulation is not developed in a vacuum but is informed by the realities of the industrial environments it seeks to protect.
The success of this comprehensive blueprint will be measured by clear and defined metrics. Key performance indicators include the growth and diversity of the community’s membership, the level of participation in training events, and demonstrable improvements in the regional workforce. Ultimately, the long-term vision for OTMEC extends beyond the MENA region. The leadership aims to develop a five-year operational model that can serve as a global blueprint for how other regions can build their own collaborative OT security communities, positioning OTMEC not just as a regional defender but as a worldwide pioneer in securing the future of industry.
The launch of the Operational Technology Middle East Community marked a pivotal acknowledgment that the digital safety of the region’s industrial backbone could no longer be an afterthought. It represented a collective decision by industry leaders, practitioners, and visionary partners to move from a reactive posture to a proactive, unified strategy. The creation of this collaborative engine provided a much-needed forum for open dialogue and a structured pathway for cultivating the specialized talent required to defend against increasingly sophisticated threats. This initiative ultimately laid the groundwork for a more resilient industrial future, one where innovation and security could advance in unison, securing the essential services that power the region’s ambitious growth.
