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TRA Spectrum Management Unit
obtains ISO 27001
Authority becomes first govt body to win certification
By A Staff Reporter
MUSCAT — In line with its
constant endeavour to upgrade its performance and promote its processes in
accordance with the latest international standards and specifications, the
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced yesterday that the
Spectrum Management Unit has successfully obtained ISO certification 27001
in information security management, becoming the first government body in
Oman to have obtained this certification. On this occasion, Mohammed bin
Nasser al Khusaibi, Chairman of TRA, described the certification as an
important step that will contribute significantly to the improvement of TRA
operations and will enable the provision of services to users of radio
equipment.
He further added that considering the economic and social importance of the
frequency spectrum, TRA was keen to obtain the ISO certification to
facilitate the implementation of its policy to manage this significant
resource which plays a major role in developing the telecommunications
infrastructure by way of using modern technologies and securing the
licensees’ confidential information in accordance with the latest standards
and levels in support of the country’s efforts to expand economic growth and
enhance its competitive edge.
Al Khusaibi also noted that this achievement by the Frequency Management
Unit will enrich the culture of information security maintenance which needs
to adopted by the other units of the Authority and will ultimately help in
the accomplishment of TRA’s strategic goals. The Authority takes pride in
this step, the Chairman said, pointing out that it comes as an
interpretation of the vision of the state which gives utmost care to the
issue of information security. He also added that the Spectrum Management
Unit has asserted its pioneer understanding as the first government
organisation to acquire this international recognition which is regarded as
one of the most important specialised certificates in the information
security.
Commending the award, Naashiah al Kharusiya expressed her pleasure for the
achievement of ISO 27001 made by the Spectrum Management Unit saying that
this will motivate the Authority to exert more efforts to improve its
performance in different fields, and acknowledging her pride in the
certification awarded by the ISO which is reckoned the most prestigious
international organisation in the verification of information security
standards. The TRA member added; “Receiving this international certificate
is a clear evidence of the success of the security approach and measures
taken by the Spectrum Management Unit to protect security and
confidentiality of spectrum users in the Sultanate, it is also a
reinforcement of the risk management approach adopted by the Unit to protect
its information”
Regarding the importance of the award of ISO-27001 Certificate (Information
Security Management) to the Spectrum Management Unit, Al Kharusiya stressed
that the Spectrum Management Unit is one of the TRA’s main regulatory
technical units and its basic function is to prepare plans for the
allocation of frequency spectrum bands that are used for telecom services
such as broadcasting, fixed and mobile telecommunications, public safety
services and maritime either by terrestrial or satellite means. This is to
ensure the effective utlisation of frequency spectrum which is considered a
scarce national resource.
Moreover, the Spectrum Management Unit issues radio stations licenses,
monitors the frequency spectrum to identify illegal uses and coordinates
with international and regional organisations in the field of frequency
spectrum and monitoring its illegal uses. For his part, Yousuf al Balushi,
Senior Manager of Spectrum Management Unit, noted that the Spectrum
Management Unit had also obtained the Quality Management Certificate ISO
9001 in 2008, becoming the first spectrum management worldwide to have
received this certification.
Commenting on the procedures followed by the Unit in obtaining the ISO
award, Mohammed al Badi, Senior Specialist at the Unit, said the project
began with the selection of the ISO-2005: 27001 Specification as it is
applicable to anybody regardless of its activity or area of business. This
specification was designed to ensure selecting and applying sound security
regulations that protect information assists in any organisation. To ensure
meeting the specified ISO Specification requirements, a consultancy firm (Protiviti)
was hired to evaluate the current situation of the Spectrum Management Unit
in the area of information security and to identify the gap between the
current situation and the requirements of the ISO-2005:27001 specification. |
