STRENGTHENING OT CYBERSECURITY GOVERNANCE FOR A
LEADING POWER & WATER UTILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

As a leading power and water utility in the Middle East prepared to host the world’s biggest sporting event—FIFA 2022—one question loomed large for its critical utilities: Were their operations secure enough to withstand the growing wave of cyber threats?
Arista Cyber partnered with the company to answer that question. Through a comprehensive OT Cybersecurity Assessment, we helped them align with FIFA’s cybersecurity governance framework, international standards, and national regulations—ultimately strengthening the resilience of Qatar’s most vital infrastructure.

The Story Begins

When the world turns its eyes to a global event like FIFA 2022, every element of the host nation comes under scrutiny—not just stadiums and transport, but the electricity and water that keep a nation running. For the utility company, the pressure was clear: ensure that operations would not just run but remain cyber-resilient in the face of unprecedented exposure.

The challenge? Compliance with a complex web of requirements: ISA/IEC 62443, ISO 27001, and Qatar’s National Information Assurance Policy (QNICS)—all while meeting the stringent FIFA 2022 cybersecurity governance framework.

The Challenge

The company faced an environment where:

• Critical assets powered a nation and could not afford downtime.
• Evolving cyber threats targeted utilities globally.
• Regulatory deadlines were non-negotiable

Any weakness in their OT governance framework could have meant not only regulatory non- compliance, but also a blow to national confidence during a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Our Approach

Arista Cyber deployed a senior consultant with 30+ years of OT cybersecurity experience to guide the company through this high-stakes journey. Our team followed a structured, standards-based approach:

1. Uncovering the Gaps

   - We benchmarked the company’s governance posture against FIFA 2022, IEC/ISA 62443, ISO 27001, and QNICS.

2. Mapping the Risks

   - Every OT asset was identified, categorized, and assessed for vulnerabilities.

3. Testing Governance Strength

   - Internal audits revealed where processes were robust and where reinforcement was needed.

4. Building the Roadmap

   - We designed a clear, prioritized plan to treat risks, strengthen controls, and achieve compliance—without disrupting critical operations.

Key Deliverables

• An integrated governance framework aligned with international and national standards.
• A full risk assessment and categorization of OT assets.
• A cybersecurity assessment report detailing current posture.
• A forward-looking OT/ICS cybersecurity roadmap.
• A concise executive summary (PPT) to ensure leadership buy-in and clarity.

Results & Impact

The outcome was more than a report—it was confidence. The company gained:

• Compliance with FIFA 2022 governance and Qatar NICS requirements.
• Transparent visibility into their OT risk landscape.
• A prioritized, actionable roadmap to strengthen resilience.
• Executive alignment through clear communication of risks and priorities.

For the leading power and water utility in the Middle East, this was not just about meeting a standard,
it was about protecting a nation’s critical infrastructure at a moment when the world was watching.

The company entered FIFA 2022 knowing its operations were not just reliable but fortified against
cyber threats.

Arista Cyber was proud to help them achieve this milestone, proving once again that with the right
expertise, governance becomes resilience, and resilience becomes trust.