Cybersecurity in Hajj... Protection Extends from Applications to Vital Facilities

SadaNews - With the increasing reliance on smart applications and platforms during the Hajj season, cybersecurity is no longer just a technical measure but has become a direct part of service continuity and operational safety. The season that gathers millions of pilgrims in a specific geographical and temporal scope now depends on a broad digital system that supports transportation, health, communications, municipal services, crowd management, and platforms dedicated to the guests of the Merciful.

This transformation makes the protection of connected systems an essential condition to ensure the efficient operation of services. Any application, platform, monitoring system, or operational infrastructure associated with the season can become a sensitive point if not adequately protected. As this year's Hajj season approaches, the need to treat cybersecurity as part of operational risk management, rather than merely an additional layer of protection, becomes apparent.

The sensitivity of the digital environment during Hajj increases because of its interconnected nature; the system is not limited to applications used by pilgrims, but includes transportation systems, healthcare services, surveillance, smart building management, energy facilities, cooling, elevators, lighting, and safety systems.

Mutasim Al-Sufy, Senior Business Development Manager for Operational Technology Security at "Fortinet Saudi Arabia" states that the Hajj season has come to rely on an integrated technological system that manages precise operational details, from the Mashair train, smart applications, and health services to building management systems and backup generators that ensure the continuous operation of essential facilities.

This interconnection grants operating authorities greater capability to manage services, but at the same time raises the level of risks; a failure in one system may not remain confined to itself if the systems are tightly interconnected. Thus, the security of data, network stability, and protection of operating systems become directly influential elements in the quality of the experience provided to pilgrims.