Saudi Aramco and the Advanced Electronics Company (AEC) signed an agreement for the joint development and manufacturing of the data diode, the first-of-its-kind cybersecurity device in the Kingdom. This came in line with the activities of the company’s fifth annual In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) Forum 2020, which kicked off on Monday at the Dhahran Expo center, with over 70 exhibitors, 14 government entities, and eight international energy partners, all present at the mega-event. The data diode is a significant cybersecurity tool used to protect networks of vital establishments from cyber-attacks and prevent any external penetration, thereby protecting valuable information and sensitive industrial systems. The device is characterized by its easy installation, configuration, and maintenance, and its data processing speed reaches 10 GB per second, Aramco said. AEC CEO Abdulaziz al-Duailej said this agreement expresses and bolsters the depth of cooperative bilateral relations by achieving national accomplishments that help protect the Kingdom’s assets from sabotage, cybersecurity threats, and foreign attacks. The data diode ensures the safe transmission of data to provide the highest levels of security for enterprise networks, he explained. Duailej also noted that it has been developed and manufactured by local talents, as it is one of AEC’s strategic objectives in the field of cybersecurity to realize the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.