NCA Launches Sixth National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign

The National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) launched the sixth edition of the national cybersecurity awareness campaign on October 1, 2026, from Riyadh, marking a renewed nationwide push to raise cybersecurity awareness and build a high level of cybersecurity culture among all segments of society. Announced through the Saudi Press Agency, the campaign reflects the authority’s continuing efforts to enable community members to protect themselves online and to reinforce the values of preserving national security.

The initiative coincides with Cybersecurity Awareness Month, observed every October, and forms part of a series of nationwide programs implemented by the NCA to strengthen digital resilience across the Kingdom. Have you ever considered how much of your daily life now depends on safe digital behavior? The campaign provides a set of cybersecurity awareness guides, issues a campaign-specific awareness kit for more than 2,000 national entities, and launches an awareness campaign designed to reach citizens, residents, and visitors alike. By combining practical guidance with broad public outreach, the NCA is working to make cybersecurity a shared responsibility rather than a specialist concern.

Context and Background

Why has cybersecurity become one of the most urgent priorities for modern societies? The answer lies in the speed at which digital transformation has reshaped economies, governments, and everyday life. Over the past decade, Saudi Arabia has accelerated its digital agenda under Vision 2030, expanding e-government services, digital payments, cloud computing, and smart infrastructure. As more services move online, the need for a strong cybersecurity culture among the public grows in parallel. The NCA, established to regulate and protect the Kingdom’s cyberspace, has consistently paired technical defenses with awareness programs that help people recognize risks before they cause harm.

The national cybersecurity awareness campaign has been held annually, and this sixth edition builds on the momentum of previous years. Each edition has expanded its reach, refined its messaging, and introduced new tools to help the public adopt safer online habits. The campaign’s alignment with Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global observance every October, gives it additional visibility and connects Saudi efforts with international best practices. For the NCA, awareness is not a one-time event but a continuous process of education, reinforcement, and adaptation to evolving digital threats.

Official Saudi channels have consistently emphasized that cybersecurity is a shared national responsibility. The campaign therefore targets a wide audience: students, employees, families, small business owners, and government entities. By addressing different age groups and digital literacy levels, the NCA ensures that its message is accessible and actionable. This inclusive approach reflects the Kingdom’s broader commitment to protecting all members of society as they participate in an increasingly connected world.

Key Details of the Sixth Edition

What exactly does the sixth edition of the campaign include? According to the NCA, the campaign focuses on raising awareness of the importance of cybersecurity and promoting safe cyber behaviors among various age groups. It provides a set of cybersecurity awareness guides that offer practical advice on topics such as password security, phishing detection, safe browsing, and protecting personal data. These guides are designed to be clear and usable, helping individuals translate awareness into daily habits.

A central element of this year’s campaign is the promotion of the “Tahqaq” service, which aims to enable community members to deal safely and proactively with circulated links and instantly verify their reliability before visiting them. In an era when malicious links spread through messaging apps and social media, Tahqaq gives users a simple way to check a link’s legitimacy before clicking. The NCA has highlighted this tool as a key part of its effort to reduce the risk of phishing and online fraud. By encouraging widespread use of Tahqaq, the campaign seeks to turn verification into a routine reflex.

The campaign also issues a campaign-specific awareness kit for more than 2,000 national entities. This kit equips organizations with materials they can use to run internal awareness activities, share best practices, and reinforce cybersecurity policies among employees. Reaching thousands of entities multiplies the campaign’s impact, because organizations can pass the message on to their staff, customers, and partners. In this way, the NCA combines mass communication with targeted institutional engagement.

How does a national campaign translate into safer behavior for individuals? The answer lies in repetition and relevance. By distributing guides, kits, and digital content across multiple channels, the NCA ensures that the public encounters cybersecurity messages in different contexts, from social media to workplaces. The campaign’s design recognizes that lasting behavioral change requires consistent reminders and simple, practical steps that people can take immediately.

International and Regional Impact

How does Saudi Arabia’s national campaign resonate beyond its borders? Cybersecurity is inherently global: threats cross borders instantly, and no country can protect itself in isolation. By running a large-scale awareness campaign aligned with Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the Kingdom contributes to international efforts to build a more secure digital environment. Saudi Arabia’s experience in combining regulation, technical defense, and public education offers a model that other countries in the region and beyond can study and adapt.

The campaign also strengthens regional cooperation. Gulf states and Middle Eastern neighbors face similar challenges, including phishing, ransomware, and online fraud. When Saudi Arabia shares awareness materials and promotes tools like Tahqaq, it supports a collective approach to digital safety. International partners, including cybersecurity organizations and technology companies, benefit from a more informed Saudi public because informed users are less likely to fall victim to attacks that can spread across networks. The NCA’s sustained investment in awareness thus has positive spillovers for the wider region.

Moreover, the campaign reinforces Saudi Arabia’s reputation as a responsible global actor in cyberspace. As the Kingdom hosts major international events, expands its digital economy, and attracts global businesses, a strong cybersecurity culture becomes part of its attractiveness. Visitors, investors, and partners can have greater confidence that digital services in Saudi Arabia are supported by a population that understands basic cyber hygiene. This confidence is an intangible but valuable asset in the global economy.

Economic and Strategic Significance

Why does cybersecurity awareness matter for economic growth? Digital trust is a foundation of modern commerce. When people feel safe shopping online, using banking apps, and sharing data with service providers, they participate more fully in the digital economy. The NCA’s campaign supports this trust by reducing the likelihood of successful cyberattacks, which can cause financial losses, disrupt businesses, and damage confidence. For Saudi Arabia’s growing technology and e-commerce sectors, a cyber-aware public is a strategic advantage.

The campaign also protects the investments that underpin Vision 2030. Mega-projects, new industries, and digital government services all depend on secure networks and informed users. A single successful phishing attack can compromise credentials, data, or systems, creating costs that go beyond the immediate victim. By promoting safe behaviors and tools like Tahqaq, the NCA helps safeguard the digital infrastructure on which economic diversification depends. Awareness is therefore not just a public service; it is an economic safeguard.

On a strategic level, the campaign contributes to national resilience. Cyber threats are persistent and evolving, and defenders must constantly update their knowledge. The NCA’s annual campaign institutionalizes this learning process, ensuring that awareness remains a living priority rather than a one-off initiative. For a country positioning itself as a regional technology hub, this sustained focus is essential.

Vision 2030 Alignment

How does the sixth edition of the national cybersecurity awareness campaign connect to Saudi Arabia’s long-term vision? Vision 2030 aims to build a diversified, digital, and globally connected economy, and none of those goals can be achieved without robust cybersecurity. The campaign directly supports the vision’s emphasis on quality of life, safe digital services, and a skilled, resilient society. By enabling community members to protect themselves online, the NCA helps ensure that the benefits of digital transformation reach everyone.

The campaign also reflects the vision’s principle of shared responsibility. Government, private entities, and individuals all have roles to play in protecting cyberspace. Through guides, awareness kits for more than 2,000 national entities, and the promotion of Tahqaq, the NCA provides the tools and knowledge that allow each participant to contribute. As Saudi Arabia continues its journey toward a knowledge-based economy, initiatives like this campaign will remain central to safeguarding progress. The Kingdom’s commitment to cybersecurity awareness is a forward-looking investment in a secure, confident, and prosperous digital future.

20 Questions

Q1. What is the National Cybersecurity Authority launching?

A1. The National Cybersecurity Authority launched the sixth edition of the national cybersecurity awareness campaign, aimed at raising cybersecurity awareness and building a strong cybersecurity culture among all segments of society in Saudi Arabia.

Q2. When was the campaign announced?

A2. The campaign was announced on October 1, 2026, from Riyadh, through the Saudi Press Agency, coinciding with Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which is observed every October around the world.

Q3. What is the main goal of the campaign?

A3. The main goal is to raise cybersecurity awareness, promote safe cyber behaviors among various age groups, and reinforce the values of preserving national security by enabling community members to enhance their cybersecurity.

Q4. Who is the campaign designed to reach?

A4. The campaign targets all segments of society, including students, employees, families, small business owners, and government entities, ensuring that cybersecurity awareness reaches diverse age groups and digital literacy levels.

Q5. What is the Tahqaq service?

A5. Tahqaq is a service that enables community members to deal safely and proactively with circulated links and instantly verify their reliability before visiting them, helping reduce the risk of phishing and online fraud.

Q6. Why is the campaign important now?

A6. As Saudi Arabia accelerates its digital transformation under Vision 2030, more services and transactions move online, making public awareness of cybersecurity essential to protect individuals, businesses, and national infrastructure from evolving digital threats.

Q7. What materials does the campaign provide?

A7. The campaign provides a set of cybersecurity awareness guides, issues a campaign-specific awareness kit for more than 2,000 national entities, and launches an awareness campaign to promote safe online behavior across society.

Q8. What is Cybersecurity Awareness Month?

A8. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a global observance held every October to promote cybersecurity awareness and encourage safe online practices. The NCA campaign coincides with this international event to amplify its message.

Q9. How many national entities receive the awareness kit?

A9. The NCA issues the campaign-specific awareness kit for more than 2,000 national entities, equipping organizations to run internal awareness activities and reinforce cybersecurity practices among their employees and partners.

Q10. How does the campaign promote safe cyber behaviors?

A10. The campaign uses guides, digital content, and outreach through multiple channels to encourage habits such as verifying links, using strong passwords, and protecting personal data, making cybersecurity a routine part of daily life.

Q11. What role does the NCA play in Saudi cybersecurity?

A11. The NCA regulates and protects the Kingdom’s cyberspace, pairing technical defenses with nationwide awareness programs that help the public recognize and avoid digital risks before they cause harm.

Q12. Is this the first such campaign?

A12. No, this is the sixth edition of the national cybersecurity awareness campaign. Previous editions have expanded their reach and refined their messaging, building on years of sustained effort to improve public cybersecurity awareness.

Q13. How does the campaign benefit the economy?

A13. By reducing successful cyberattacks and building digital trust, the campaign supports e-commerce, online banking, and digital services, protecting economic activity and the investments that underpin Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.

Q14. What is the significance of the campaign for national security?

A14. A cyber-aware public is a first line of defense. The campaign reinforces the values of preserving national security by reducing vulnerabilities that malicious actors could exploit to harm individuals, organizations, or critical infrastructure.

Q15. How does the campaign reach different age groups?

A15. The campaign uses tailored messaging and accessible guides designed for various age groups, ensuring that children, young people, adults, and seniors can all understand and apply basic cybersecurity practices in their daily lives.

Q16. How does Tahqaq help users?

A16. Tahqaq allows users to instantly verify the reliability of circulated links before visiting them, providing a simple and proactive way to avoid phishing attempts, malicious websites, and other online scams.

Q17. What impact does the campaign have internationally?

A17. The campaign contributes to global cybersecurity efforts by aligning with Cybersecurity Awareness Month and sharing best practices, supporting regional cooperation and enhancing confidence in Saudi Arabia’s digital environment.

Q18. How does the campaign support Vision 2030?

A18. Vision 2030 depends on a secure digital economy. The campaign supports quality of life, safe digital services, and a resilient society, helping ensure that the benefits of digital transformation reach all community members.

Q19. What should individuals do to participate?

A19. Individuals can participate by following the NCA’s awareness guides, using the Tahqaq service to verify links, adopting safe online habits, and sharing cybersecurity knowledge with family, friends, and colleagues.

Q20. What is the long-term objective of these campaigns?

A20. The long-term objective is to build a lasting cybersecurity culture in Saudi Arabia, where awareness and safe behavior are embedded in everyday life, protecting national security and supporting the Kingdom’s digital ambitions.

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