Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. – AmCham Abu Dhabi and New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) hosted an interactive seminar today, "eGovernment and Online Business in the Age of Advanced Persistent Cyber Threats."

Over 100 top business executives, distinguished Emirati guests, and U.S. Embassy officials attended the event, including the Honorable Michael Corbin, U.S. Ambassador to the U.A.E. Featured keynote speaker Rob Marano, Co-Founder of The Hackerati and Adjunct Professor at NYIT, spoke about the increasing visibility of organizations in the U.A.E. as high value targets of cyber-criminals and what organizations can do to protect themselves. He outlined how cyber-criminals operate with mobile data, applications, personalized cloud computing and storage, smart machines, webscale IT, and 3D printing.

"While cost of cybercrime is estimated in billions of dollars annually, it is very hard to comprehend the actual economic impact of cyber attacks, including the brand damage to a business or company which has been a victim of such an attack," said Dr. Rahmat Shoureshi, NYIT Provost. "Therefore, it is best to educate the public about cybersecurity and ways that they can protect themselves. Since 2005, when NYIT established its campus in Abu Dhabi, we have educated the people of the Emirates about the contemporary issues and their economic opportunities and impacts. In this seminar, NYIT presents means for a secure e-commerce."

John L. Habib, AmCham's Legal Affairs Committee Chair and Board Secretary, commented, "In this day and age, every AmCham member's daily technology usage exposes them to security issues. The stimulating presentations we heard today from our esteemed speakers prompted such engaging dialogue from our attendees that AmCham is now considering to make this an annual event, as part of our innovative Lunch and Learn Series. The need to educate and update is clearly present, and we are very fortunate to have among our membership so many experts on this subject - NYIT first and foremost among them."

For press inquiries contact: Theresa F. Weber, Acting Executive Director, AmCham Abu Dhabi, T: +971.2.631.3604, director@amchamabudhabi.org

About AmCham Abu Dhabi

AmCham Abu Dhabi (the trademark of the American Business Group of Abu Dhabi) is a member of the global network of American Chambers of Commerce. The AmCham Abu Dhabi mission is to promote commerce, investment and goodwill between the United States of America, the membership, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates. AmCham Abu Dhabi is an independent, not-for-profit association comprised of Fortune 500 corporations, small and medium sized companies and prominent business leaders and entrepreneurs. AmCham Abu Dhabi provides a uniquely situated platform through which executives pursue and discuss issues impacting business operation between the U.S. and U.A.E. Substantive government advocacy programs, educational and networking programs and customized business service are just a few of the many benefits AmCham Abu Dhabi provides to its members. Through the support of its members, AmCham Abu Dhabi has become the recognized voice of U.S. business in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. For more information about AmCham Abu Dhabi, please visit www.amchamabudhabi.org.

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About NYIT

New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) offers 90 degree programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees, in more than 50 fields of study, including architecture and design; arts and sciences; education; engineering and computing sciences; health professions; management; and osteopathic medicine. A non-profit independent, private institution of higher education, NYIT has 13,000 students attending online and at campuses in New York, Vancouver (Canada), Abu Dhabi (U.A.E.), and Nanjing (China). Led by President Edward Guiliano, NYIT is guided by its mission to provide career-oriented professional education, offer access to opportunity to all qualified students, and support applications-oriented research that benefits the larger world. To date, 95,000 graduates have received degrees from NYIT. For more information, visit nyit.edu.

Since 2005, NYIT has been offering degree programs in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The NYIT campus is located in the Center of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT) Technology Park, adjacent to the Higher Colleges of Technology Men's Campus. The programs in Interior Design (B.F.A.) and Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) have received initial accreditation by the Commission for Academics Accreditation, United Arab Emirates Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. For more information, contact Dr. Garon Wheeler, Campus Dean, NYIT at gwheeler@nyit.edu or +971.2.4048553.

Karen Marie Belnap
Global Public Relations Strategist
212.261.1539