Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), in collaboration with the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), held workshops to train information technology professionals in Qatar on securing their Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) networks. The workshops were held at CMU-Q on March 29 and 30. CMU-Q is a Qatar Foundation partner university.

CRA and CMU-Q published the IPv6 Security Guidelines in December 2021 to provide step by step guidance to organizations who are securing their IPv6 networks. IPv6 is the next generation of the networking technology that will serve as the backbone of the internet for the next several decades. The workshops provide networking and security professionals hands-on training for the mitigations identified in the guidelines.

Khalid Warraich, Chief Information Officer at CMU-Q, noted that the workshop provided participants with hands-on training using a functional IPv6 network environment. 

“Nothing builds confidence better than working on a real network and building security measures,” said Warraich. “The workshop supports Carnegie Mellon’s mission to impact society in a transformative way. We are pleased to continue this long-standing collaboration with CRA, sharing our expertise with partners across Qatar.”

Ali Al-Suwaidi, Technical Affairs Department Director of CRA, said: “We are pleased with our collaboration with CMU-Q. The workshops will contribute to building technical capacity for specialists in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) field, also it is a new step toward a smooth and secure transition from Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) to IPv6, which will contribute to the development of the ICT sector. I would like to thank CMU-Q for their continued cooperation and we look forward to our further collaboration in the future.”

Workshop participants included network professionals from several organizations, including the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau, Community College of Qatar, General Authority of Customs, Hamad Medical Corporation, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Social Development and Family, and Vodafone Qatar. The participants received certificates of attendance after the workshop.

Due to the hands-on nature of the workshop, spaces were limited. CMU-Q and CRA noted with high demand for the training, more workshops will be held in the future.