NGOs with Impact: Information Security Organization “Hemaya”

Started from an idea in 2011 to a cyber security organization

Hemaya Organization serve the general and specialized community in the field of information security to raise the level of awareness and culture in the field of information security.

This article belongs to a series of articles that introduce the second cohort of participants in the Impact Accelerator Program in 2022, one of Misk Foundation's programs that aims to build the capacity of non-profit youth organizations and guide them towards creating a sustainable social impact.

Today, we will discuss the journey of an organization accredited by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, which made a tangible positive impact in one of the most vital sectors in the country, the Information Security sector. Together, we will go back to the beginning of the "Hemaya" organization's journey, to read the first chapters of their successive achievements and successes so far.

Vision & Mission

Hemaya for Information Security was established to serve the information security community, whether amateurs or professionals. The organization aspires to achieve their mission and goals in enhancing awareness about information security, providing relevant advisory services, organizing workshops and specialized training courses, and consolidating sustainable partnerships with the government and private sectors.

Hemaya also seeks to enable the voluntary role in the Information Security field, enhance their performance and contributions by spreading the culture of initiative and innovation, and establish principles of cooperation and sustainability among all their members and audience. It aspires to participate effectively in enriching Arabic content.

As for the strategic plans of the organization, it stems from their vision to become one of the community's pioneers in Information Security, to make a positive impact and awareness of the importance of cyber-security, and of the ways to invest it within other sectors.

The organization affirms that the objectives of their mission - which stipulate activating the role of the third sector in providing awareness, consultations, and training in all areas of Information Security - are in line with the "Kingdom's Vision 2030" in creating an incubating environment for the NP sector, focusing on achieving excellence, supporting digital transformation and promoting community development.

Target Audience

Hemaya works to enhance communication with their audience through several channels, from their website and "Hemaya Podcast," through their electronic library affluent in research, to the workshops and interactive activities it organizes, to read and survey audience trends, and expand their public base.

Programs & Initiatives

Hemaya launched several pioneering initiatives in Information Security field, which included a wide segment of the audience, and enhanced their culture and skills within this sector, including the "Wamda" initiative to empower women in the field of cyber-security, as it organized a series of meetings with the pioneers of this field to learn about their expertise and experiences, to develop the leadership skills of Saudi women leaders in the field of cyber-security.

The "Kon Mahmi" initiative has been launched as an awareness message on how to safely use social media, and achieve the desired protection for children while browsing cyberspace. It targeted male and female students in the general education stages.

The organization also presented the "Directory of Academic and Professional Programs for Specialization in Cyber-security," which reviews international and local universities and educational institutions that provide cyber-security programs within their various specializations. On the other hand, the organization launched the "Hemaya Youth" initiative to empower and develop youth skills, the "Cyber-Security Cubs" initiative to protect children in cyberspace, and the "Dere" initiative to serve the community, through which it was able to qualify and train 15,000 beneficiaries.

The Impact

The organization aspires to bring about a characteristic and sustainable shift in cyber digital skills, achieved in real life by offering more than 300 educational materials and organizing more than 100 lectures for specialists. Volunteers played a significant role in enriching and presenting them by spending volunteer work hours 36,000 by the end of 2022.

Challenges

Hemaya faces challenges that it is working to address through the teamwork of their members, including securing funding sources. The organization also uses many advanced tools and programs that enable it to overcome these challenges, and to employ relevant data to extract successful solutions for them.

Hemaya continues their series of successes by working to meet the aspirations of their members and audience, aiming for their activities and services to cover 250,000 beneficiaries shortly, in addition to their endeavor to multiply their societal impact up to 10 times.

Q&A