Aramco and OTC-CoE Host OT Cybersecurity Hackathon in Dhahran

The Operational Technology Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (OTC-CoE), a partnership between Aramco and the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF), organized the OT Cybersecurity Hackathon at Dhahran Techno Valley in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, bringing together international technology leaders, students, specialists, researchers, and experts from key sectors. The event, announced via the Saudi Press Agency, represents a practical application of the Center’s capacity development efforts and underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure as a key enabler of economic and social development. Over four days, 40 teams pitched their strategies, prototypes, and threat models across four challenge tracks, each reflecting a security priority for operational technology environments.

Why does a hackathon focused on operational technology cybersecurity matter to the global economy? Because the systems that run oil refineries, power grids, water utilities, and manufacturing lines are increasingly connected to digital networks, and their protection has become a matter of national and international security. The OTC-CoE, founded by Aramco and the GCF, is positioning Saudi Arabia at the center of that effort. Alongside its founding partners, the Center brings together leading Saudi and international organizations from across the OT cybersecurity value chain, including SITE, Cyberani, Honeywell, Schneider Electric, and SABIC, creating a collaborative ecosystem that spans the public and private sectors.

Context and Background

How did the OTC-CoE come to host an international hackathon at Dhahran Techno Valley? The Center was established as a partnership between Aramco, the Kingdom’s integrated energy and chemicals company, and the Global Cybersecurity Forum, a Riyadh-based international platform launched under the patronage of Saudi leadership to advance global cooperation on cybersecurity. The OTC-CoE advances its objectives through five areas of work: capacity development; standardization and policy support; research and innovation; thought leadership; and awareness. The hackathon was a direct expression of the first of these pillars, giving participants the opportunity to exchange knowledge and expertise on priority issues in OT cybersecurity while receiving mentorship and guidance from national and international experts.

The event was open to cybersecurity experts, students, researchers, and professionals, including employees from oil, gas, and utilities operators and vendors, as well as government entities. This broad eligibility reflects the Center’s recognition that OT cybersecurity is not the responsibility of a single sector or company but of an entire ecosystem. Dhahran Techno Valley, located in the Eastern Province, has long served as a hub for energy innovation and technology development in the Kingdom, making it a fitting venue for an event that combined academic inquiry, industry practice, and international collaboration. The four-day format allowed teams to move from problem definition to prototype demonstration, mirroring the way real-world security challenges unfold across operational environments.

What distinguishes OT cybersecurity from conventional information technology security? Operational technology governs the physical processes that keep critical infrastructure running, from valves and turbines to pipeline monitoring and grid controls. A breach in an OT environment can have direct physical consequences, disrupting energy supplies, public utilities, or industrial output. As Saudi Arabia and other nations pursue digital transformation across their economies, the convergence of IT and OT systems creates both new efficiencies and new vulnerabilities. The OTC-CoE’s work responds to that convergence by building specialized capabilities, encouraging standardization, and fostering the exchange of knowledge among stakeholders who might otherwise operate in isolation.

Key Details of the Hackathon

What actually happened during the four days of competition? Forty teams pitched their strategies, prototypes, and threat models across four challenge tracks, with each track reflecting a security priority for OT environments. Participants gained hands-on experience working with peers from across the industry, and they also had access to mentorship and the chance to compete for prizes. The structure of the event encouraged practical problem-solving rather than abstract discussion, requiring teams to demonstrate how their approaches would function in realistic operational settings. The presence of international participants ensured that the solutions developed were informed by a diversity of perspectives and regulatory contexts.

The hackathon’s design reflects a broader shift in how cybersecurity talent is developed. Rather than relying solely on classroom instruction or certification programs, the event created an environment where experts and newcomers could collaborate under time pressure, testing both technical skill and the ability to communicate complex risks to non-specialist audiences. Mentorship from national and international experts provided participants with guidance that extended beyond the competition itself, helping to build lasting professional networks. For students and early-career researchers, the hackathon offered a rare opportunity to engage directly with the operational challenges faced by oil, gas, utility, and government organizations.

The involvement of organizations such as SITE, Cyberani, Honeywell, Schneider Electric, and SABIC gave the event a practical industry grounding. These partners represent different parts of the OT cybersecurity value chain, from industrial automation and control systems to national cybersecurity capabilities and petrochemical operations. Their participation signals that the OTC-CoE is not merely a convening body but a working alliance that translates collaboration into tangible outputs. The challenge tracks themselves were designed to surface solutions that could be adapted across sectors, reinforcing the Center’s goal of greater alignment across the OT cybersecurity ecosystem.

International and Regional Impact

How does a hackathon in Dhahran resonate beyond Saudi Arabia’s borders? The OTC-CoE explicitly recognizes the need to strengthen international collaboration among stakeholders across the OT cybersecurity value chain, supporting the resilience of critical infrastructure and supply chains and the security and continuity of strategic sectors. Energy markets, shipping lanes, and industrial supply chains are deeply interconnected, meaning that a disruption in one region can quickly affect others. By bringing together participants from multiple countries, the hackathon contributed to a shared understanding of threats and a common vocabulary for addressing them. This aligns with the Global Cybersecurity Forum’s mission to foster international dialogue on cybersecurity policy and practice.

For the Middle East and the broader Global South, the event also carries significance as a model of capacity building. Many countries are investing in digital infrastructure without yet having developed the specialized workforce needed to secure operational systems. The OTC-CoE’s emphasis on training, mentorship, and knowledge exchange offers a template that other regions can adapt. Saudi Arabia’s willingness to host international participants and share expertise reinforces its role as a convener and a source of stability in a strategically vital part of the world. The hackathon thus served both a technical purpose and a diplomatic one, strengthening ties among nations that share an interest in protecting critical systems.

Economic and Strategic Significance

Why should investors, policymakers, and business leaders pay attention to OT cybersecurity? The security and continuity of strategic sectors, including energy, utilities, and manufacturing, are foundational to economic growth. A significant cyber incident affecting operational technology could interrupt production, damage infrastructure, and erode confidence in the systems that underpin modern economies. By investing in the OTC-CoE and events like the hackathon, Saudi Arabia is working to reduce those risks while also developing a skilled workforce that can support industries at home and abroad. The Center’s focus on standardization and policy support is particularly important, as inconsistent standards across vendors and jurisdictions create gaps that adversaries can exploit.

The economic logic extends to innovation and competitiveness. Research and innovation is one of the Center’s five areas of work, and hackathons are a proven mechanism for identifying promising ideas and talent. Solutions that emerge from such events can be refined, tested, and eventually commercialized, contributing to the growth of a cybersecurity industry in the Kingdom. For Aramco and its partners, participation in the OTC-CoE provides early visibility into emerging technologies and practices, helping them protect their own operations while shaping the market for OT security solutions. The collaborative model also reduces duplication of effort, allowing organizations to benefit from shared research and collective threat intelligence.

Vision 2030 Alignment

How does the OT Cybersecurity Hackathon connect to Saudi Vision 2030? Vision 2030 seeks to diversify the Kingdom’s economy, develop its human capital, and position Saudi Arabia as a global hub for technology and innovation. Cybersecurity is an essential enabler of that agenda, protecting the digital infrastructure on which new industries, smart cities, and digital government services depend. The OTC-CoE’s work, including its capacity development programs and its efforts to align stakeholders across the OT cybersecurity value chain, directly supports the vision’s goals of economic resilience and technological leadership. The hackathon also reflects the vision’s emphasis on empowering youth and fostering a knowledge-based economy, giving students and young professionals a platform to contribute to national and global security.

Looking ahead, the Center is expected to continue building on the momentum generated by the hackathon, expanding its training programs, research initiatives, and international partnerships. As operational technology becomes more connected and more complex, the demand for specialized expertise will only grow. Saudi Arabia, through the OTC-CoE and the Global Cybersecurity Forum, is positioning itself not just as a participant in the global cybersecurity conversation but as a leader and a catalyst for cooperation. The Dhahran hackathon was a concrete step in that journey, demonstrating that the Kingdom is committed to protecting the critical systems that the world relies on and to building a safer, more resilient digital future for all.

20 Questions

Q1. What is the Operational Technology Cybersecurity Center of Excellence?

A1. The OTC-CoE is a partnership between Aramco and the Global Cybersecurity Forum dedicated to strengthening OT cybersecurity through capacity development, standardization, research, thought leadership, and awareness across critical sectors.

Q2. Where was the OT Cybersecurity Hackathon held?

A2. The hackathon took place at Dhahran Techno Valley in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, a hub for energy and technology innovation in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province.

Q3. How many teams participated in the hackathon?

A3. Forty teams participated, pitching their strategies, prototypes, and threat models across four challenge tracks over four days of competition and mentorship.

Q4. Who were the founding partners of the OTC-CoE?

A4. The Center was established as a partnership between Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s integrated energy and chemicals company, and the Global Cybersecurity Forum, an international platform based in Riyadh.

Q5. What organizations are part of the OTC-CoE ecosystem?

A5. Alongside Aramco and the GCF, the Center brings together SITE, Cyberani, Honeywell, Schneider Electric, and SABIC, representing key parts of the OT cybersecurity value chain.

Q6. What are the five areas of work for the OTC-CoE?

A6. The Center focuses on capacity development, standardization and policy support, research and innovation, thought leadership, and awareness to advance OT cybersecurity across sectors.

Q7. Who was eligible to participate in the hackathon?

A7. The event was open to cybersecurity experts, students, researchers, and professionals, including employees from oil, gas, and utilities operators and vendors, as well as government entities.

Q8. What did participants gain from the hackathon?

A8. Participants gained hands-on experience, mentorship from national and international experts, the chance to exchange knowledge, and the opportunity to compete for prizes.

Q9. What is operational technology cybersecurity?

A9. OT cybersecurity protects the hardware and software that monitor and control physical processes in industries such as energy, utilities, and manufacturing, where disruptions can have physical consequences.

Q10. Why is OT cybersecurity important for critical infrastructure?

A10. Critical infrastructure relies on operational technology to function, so protecting it from cyber threats helps ensure the security and continuity of strategic sectors and supply chains.

Q11. How does the hackathon support capacity development?

A11. It provides practical, hands-on training and mentorship, helping participants build specialized skills and professional networks that strengthen the broader OT cybersecurity workforce.

Q12. What were the four challenge tracks about?

A12. Each track reflected a security priority for OT environments, though specific track themes were not detailed in the official announcement from the Saudi Press Agency.

Q13. How does the OTC-CoE promote international collaboration?

A13. By convening stakeholders from different countries and sectors, the Center fosters shared understanding, knowledge exchange, and alignment on OT cybersecurity priorities and standards.

Q14. What role does Aramco play in the OTC-CoE?

A14. Aramco is a founding partner, contributing its operational expertise and global reach to advance the Center’s mission of protecting critical infrastructure and strategic sectors.

Q15. What is the Global Cybersecurity Forum?

A15. The GCF is an international platform launched under Saudi leadership to promote global cooperation on cybersecurity policy, practice, and capacity building.

Q16. How does the hackathon relate to Saudi Vision 2030?

A16. It supports Vision 2030 by developing human capital, fostering innovation, and protecting the digital infrastructure that underpins economic diversification and modernization.

Q17. What sectors benefit from the OTC-CoE’s work?

A17. Energy, utilities, manufacturing, government, and other sectors that rely on operational technology to deliver essential services and maintain economic stability.

Q18. Why is standardization important in OT cybersecurity?

A18. Consistent standards across vendors and jurisdictions reduce gaps that adversaries can exploit, making it easier to secure interconnected systems and supply chains.

Q19. What happens after the hackathon?

A19. The OTC-CoE is expected to continue its capacity development, research, and collaboration efforts, building on the momentum and ideas generated during the event.

Q20. How can international readers engage with the OTC-CoE’s work?

A20. International stakeholders can follow official Saudi channels, including the Saudi Press Agency and the Global Cybersecurity Forum, for updates on the Center’s initiatives and future events.

Reader Feedback

We value your thoughts. Please share your feedback on this article.

Name *

Message *

Your feedback helps us improve our coverage.