Saudi Aramco, AEC to manufacture Kingdom’s first cybersecurity diode

Saudi Aramco and Advanced Electronics Co. (AEC) signed an agreement for the joint development and manufacturing of the data diode, the first-of-its-kind cybersecurity device in the Kingdom.

The agreement was signed at the In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) forum, organized by Saudi Aramco, in Dhahran on Feb. 24-25, 2020.

The data diode is an important 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 gigabytes (GB) per second, AEC said in a statement.

“The diode will ensure the safe transmission of data to provide the highest levels of security for enterprise networks,” AEC CEO Abdulaziz Al-Duailej said.

He 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 support Saudi Vision 2030.

Saudi Aramco has registered 2 patents with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the data diode, the statement added.