What this practice covers for clients

Two connected disciplines. Cybersecurity work strengthens the defences: framework, controls, testing and response. Technology assurance gives the board independent evidence that those defences, and the IT controls underpinning financial reporting, actually operate. Most organisations buy the first and discover they needed the second when an auditor or a client asks.

What UAE organisations are dealing with

NESA Information Assurance Standards for entities in scope, the Central Bank framework for regulated financial institutions, sector requirements from the DFSA and ADGM FSRA, and client contracts that increasingly specify ISO 27001 or a SOC 2 report. Alongside that, cyber has moved from an IT budget line to a standing item on the audit committee agenda, which changes what evidence is expected.

How CLA Emirates approaches this work

We assess against the framework you are actually held to rather than a generic maturity model, and report to the board in terms of exposure rather than control counts. Testing is scoped to prove or disprove specific concerns. Where the requirement is assurance for a third party, we prepare the control environment and the evidence so the report can be issued rather than deferred.

The services within this practice

  • Cyber Strategy & Framework Implementation
  • Penetration Testing & Offensive Security
  • Incident Response & Cyber Operations
  • IT Audit & ITGC
  • Third-Party Assurance