15 hours ago
SANS Institute returns with fourth edition of SANS Cyber Leaders Forum to Riyadh
The fifth edition of SANS Riyadh Cyber Leaders delivers intensive training for cybersecurity managers and SOC leaders.
The SANS Institute is set to return to the Kingdom's capital with the fourth edition of its Cyber Leaders Forum from August 24 to 28, 2025. Taking place at the Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, the event will offer five days of high-impact leadership and technical training, tailored for security managers and SOC leaders facing today's complex cyber threats.
This year's forum builds on Saudi Arabia's rising status as a global cybersecurity frontrunner. In 2025, the Kingdom secured the top position in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook's cybersecurity indicator, a milestone achieved through concerted national efforts led by the National Cybersecurity Authority and the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE). Their strategic initiatives have not only boosted local cyber resilience but have also reinforced international partnerships and technology localisation.
'Saudi Arabia's position as a global cybersecurity leader is no coincidence, it's the result of strategic vision and long-term commitment,' said Ned Baltagi, Managing Director, Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at SANS Institute.
'At SANS, we're proud to support this progress by bringing world-class training to Riyadh through our Cyber Leaders event, helping to develop the next generation of cybersecurity leadership in the Kingdom.'
Leadership-focused courses for strategic security professionals
The Riyadh training event will feature specialised courses aligned with the needs of InfoSec leaders. These include:
LDR512: Security Leadership Essentials for Managers
, aimed at helping professionals strengthen strategic planning and leadership abilities.
LDR514: Security Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership™
, offering tools for building comprehensive cybersecurity plans and policies.
LDR551: Building and Leading Security Operations Centers™
, focused on SOC development and aligning operations to enterprise risk profiles.
Each course incorporates 17 hands-on labs and Cyber42 leadership simulations, ensuring participants gain both conceptual knowledge and practical skills. Attendees can join either in person or via live online sessions.
Community Night Talk: Focus on crypto mining threats
The Cyber Leaders Community Night Talk will take place on August 25 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Delivered by expert instructor Jan D'Herdt, the session will explore the detection of unauthorised cryptocurrency mining in corporate environments—an emerging risk with serious implications for enterprise networks. This open-access session offers a practical platform for cybersecurity professionals in Saudi Arabia and beyond to enhance their threat detection capabilities. Online attendance is also available through SANS Accounts.
