DESC Certification & Compliance Services

DESC_GOV

SECURED

Dubai Electronic Security Center - Government Authority

DESC Certification &
Compliance

Q: What is DESC and who must comply?

DESC (Dubai Electronic Security Center) is the regulatory authority that defines mandatory cybersecurity requirements for all Dubai government and semi-government entities, data centers, and service providers. Compliance is mandatory for organizations serving Dubai government entities.

Q: What is the CSP Security Standard certification process?

The CSP Security Standard certification process includes ISO/IEC 27001:2013 alignment, ISO/IEC 27017:2015 cloud-specific requirements, CSA Cloud Controls Matrix 3.0.1 mapping, third-party security assessment, and annual surveillance audits with tri-annual recertification.

Q: How long does DESC certification take?

DESC certification typically follows a 5-step process: Initial consultation (Day 1), Policy & Framework Review (Day 2-3), Assessment & Red Team Simulation (Week 1-2), Remediation & Documentation (Week 3), followed by Continuous Compliance on a quarterly basis.

Q: What is Dubai PKI and how does it integrate with DESC?

Dubai PKI Framework is part of DESC requirements for secure smart services. It involves integration of secure PKI, IoT encryption, and digital identity infrastructure to enable authentication trust across digital services.

Q: How often is security testing required under DESC?

DESC requires annual Red Team Simulations (Threat-Led Penetration Testing – TLPT) conducted by certified independent firms, along with annual surveillance audits and continuous compliance monitoring on a quarterly basis.

Q: What are the penalties for non-compliance with DESC?

Non-compliance with DESC Cyber Security Standard (DCSS) exposes operations to severe legal and operational risks under Dubai's Electronic Security Law, including potential suspension of operations and legal penalties.

Mandatory security certifications and compliance services for Dubai government entities. CSP, Data Center, SOC, IoT, and ICS security standards aligned with Dubai Cyber Security Strategy.

Consult Cyber Experts

Proven Track Record in DESC Compliance

50+

Dubai Gov Entities

Security Standards

100+

Certified Providers

ISO

27001 Aligned

DESC Accredited Auditor

Dubai Gov Partner

ISO 27001/17/18 Expert

Dubai PKI Certified

What is DESC?

Dubai Electronic Security Center - Government Authority

Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) is the government authority responsible for cybersecurity in Dubai, established to make Dubai the safest city electronically in the world. DESC develops and enforces mandatory cybersecurity standards and certifications for all Dubai government and semi-government entities, cloud service providers, data centers, security operations centers, and critical infrastructure. Compliance with DESC standards is mandatory for any organization providing services to or handling data for Dubai government entities.

Dubai PKI Framework

Secure smart services, blockchain, IoT, and digital identity infrastructure

Dubai Cyber Strategy

Innovation and compliance framework for Dubai's cyberspace security

Incident Response

Dubai Police eCrime portal for efficient cybercrime reporting

Industry Certifications & Accreditations

ISO 27001 Certified

Information Security Management aligned with DESC cybersecurity requirements

CREST Approved

Penetration Testing Excellence recognized under DESC security standards

OSCP Certified Team

Advanced Red Team & Ethical Hacking professionals for Dubai government entities

UAE Licensed

Authorized by the Dubai Electronic Security Center for cybersecurity compliance and audit services

DESC Security Standards & Certifications

Mandatory security standards for Dubai government service providers

CSP Security Standard

Cloud Service Provider certification - ISO 27001/27017/27002 aligned

Data Center Standard

Physical and logical security for government data centers

SOC Security Standard

Smart city sensors, connected devices, and IoT infrastructure

ICS Security Standard

Industrial Control Systems and SCADA security requirements

EBMD Security Standard

Electronic Biomedical Device security for healthcare systems

ISR Compliance

Information Security Regulation audit and compliance framework

IoT Security Standard

Smart city sensors, connected devices, and IoT infrastructure

DESC PKI

Public Key Infrastructure for authentication and digital signatures

Our DESC Compliance Services

ISO/IEC 27001:2013 alignment and certification

ISO/IEC 27017:2015 cloud-specific requirements

CSA Cloud Controls Matrix 3.0.1 mapping

Third-party data center security assessment

Multi-tenancy isolation testing

ISO/IEC 27002:2013 security controls implementation

ISR 2017 v.02 compliance validation

Annual surveillance audits & tri-annual recertification

Cloud configuration security review

Data residency and sovereignty verification

Physical security controls & access management

Power redundancy & UPS systems validation

Storage security & data protection controls

Business continuity & disaster recovery

Co-location security arrangements

Environmental controls (HVAC, fire suppression)

Network infrastructure security assessment

Monitoring & surveillance systems review

Compliance with Tier III/IV standards

Third-party audit & certification support

24/7 security monitoring capabilities assessment

Threat detection & incident response procedures

Playbook & runbook documentation review

Log management & retention compliance

SOC metrics & KPI tracking validation

SIEM platform configuration & tuning review

Security analyst skills & training validation

Integration with Dubai Police & aeCERT

Threat intelligence integration assessment

Continuous improvement program review

IoT device security assessment (sensors, gateways)

ICS/SCADA security evaluation (OT environments)

Device authentication & authorization review

Network segmentation for OT/IoT zones

Physical tampering protection assessment

Smart city infrastructure penetration testing

EBMD (Electronic Biomedical Device) security testing

Firmware security & update mechanism validation

Encrypted communications verification

Lifecycle security management review

ITSEC Services Mapped to DESC Cybersecurity Standard

Our comprehensive security framework addresses every cybersecurity mandate in the DESC certification framework.

DESC Compliance Table

DESC Mandate	ITSEC Solution	Compliance Outcome
CSP – Cloud Security & Data Protection	ISO/IEC 27017:2015 cloud configuration review & encryption enforcement	Ensures secure cloud operations and data confidentiality
DC – Data Center Security & Assessment	Third-party data center audit & continuous infrastructure risk evaluation	Meets DESC physical and logical control standards
IR – Incident Response & Coordination	Incident reporting and BCDR strategy aligned with DESC emergency framework	Achieves operational resilience and rapid recovery
PKI – Smart Services Security Framework	Integration of secure PKI, IoT encryption, and digital identity infrastructure	Enables authentication trust across digital services
CS – Cyber Strategy & Governance	Executive-level cybersecurity oversight and strategic compliance management	Aligns with Dubai’s smart government cybersecurity goals
AT – Awareness & Training	Employee awareness programs and cybersecurity role-based training	Strengthens organizational cyber readiness and compliance culture

Track Your DESC Compliance Journey

Real-time visibility into your security posture

ISO/IEC Alignment

Full compliance alignment with ISO 27001:2022 and DESC Cloud Security Framework for regulated environments.

Configuration Review

Comprehensive CSP configuration validation including access control, encryption policies, and data sovereignty checks.

Surveillance Audits

Annual audit cycles and continuous compliance monitoring under DESC oversight.

Infrastructure Security Review

Assessment of physical, environmental, and logical security aligned with DESC data center standards.

Operational Resilience Testing

Evaluation of redundancy, failover mechanisms, and cybersecurity incident handling capabilities.

Compliance Validation

Full certification readiness assessment for DESC compliance audits.

Device Hardening

Implementation and testing of DESC-compliant configurations for connected industrial systems.

Network Segmentation

Design and verification of secure communication channels across IT and OT layers.

Threat Simulation

24/7 security operations center setup and threat monitoring.

SOC Implementation

Establishing Security Operations Centers with DESC-aligned incident monitoring and escalation workflows.

Threat Intelligence Integration

Deployment of real-time threat feeds and automation for faster event correlation.

DESC Audit Support

Compliance documentation and audit evidence mapping for DESC regulatory inspections.

Your Path to DESC Compliance

A proven 5-step process that takes you from cybersecurity assessment to full DESC regulatory compliance.

Day 1

Initial Consultation

Assess your current cybersecurity posture, risk management maturity, and DESC category classification.

Key Deliverables:

Scope definition ●
Compliance gap analysis ●
Project timeline ●

Day 2 - 3

Policy & Framework Review

Evaluate your existing information security policies, procedures, and cloud architecture alignment with the DESC Cyber Security Standard (DCSS).

Key Deliverables:

● DESC control gap report
● Risk prioritization roadmap
● Updated policy alignment plan

Week 1-2

Assessment & Red Team Simulation

Conduct in-depth vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, and Red Team exercises across critical systems and infrastructure.

Key Deliverables:

Red Team exercise report ●
Vulnerability assessment ●
Threat simulation outcomes ●

Week 3

Remediation & Documentation

Implement corrective actions, enhance governance frameworks, and prepare DESC audit-ready documentation for certification.

Key Deliverables:

● Risk mitigation report
● Updated DESC-compliant policies
● Technical remediation summary

Quarterly

Continuous Compliance

Maintain DESC alignment through ongoing monitoring, periodic audits, and incident response readiness checks.

Key Deliverables:

Quarterly security posture report ●
Continuous vulnerability scanning ●
Annual revalidation and update cycle ●

Security and Compliance Service Tiers

Tailored service tiers for DESC compliance—pick the coverage you need, from foundational controls to audit-ready programs with SOC, IR support, and ongoing assurance.

Essential Compliance

Perfect for government contractors preparing for their first DESC certification

Contact Us

Custom pricing per entity

✔ DESC Gap Assessment & Cyber Maturity Review
✔ Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing
✔ Foundational Governance Policy Setup
✔ Data Protection & Access Control Validation
✔ DESC-Compliant Documentation Templates
✔ Quarterly Risk Monitoring Reports
✔ Email Support

Get Custom Quote

Need a Custom Solution?

Large enterprises, multi-jurisdiction entities, or unique compliance requirements? We build bespoke security programs for complex DESC certification requirements.

Trusted by DESC-Licensed Leaders

Join dozens of exchanges, broker-dealers, and issuers who achieved compliance with ITSEC

"The Virtual CISO service exceeded expectations. ITSEC understood VARA requirements better than firms charging 3x their rate."

M

Michael Chen

Chief Technology Officer

"Passed VARA inspection with zero findings. ITSEC's cryptographic key governance framework is exactly what regulators wanted to see."

M

Ahmed Hassan

Head of Security

"Professional, thorough, and regulator-grade documentation. ITSEC's incident response planning was comprehensive and practical."

M

Elena Rodriguez

VP Operations

98%

Client Satisfaction

20+

Government Entities Secured

100%

Inspection Pass Rate

DESC Compliance Case Study

The DESC Cyber Security Standard (DCSS) defines mandatory controls for all government entities, critical infrastructure, and regulated organizations in Dubai. Non-compliance exposes operations to severe legal and operational risks.

100%

Compliance Achievement

The Challenge

A large cloud infrastructure provider operating in Dubai needed to demonstrate compliance with DESC cybersecurity requirements, including data sovereignty validation, incident response readiness, and cloud configuration security across multiple environments.

“ITSEC’s DCSS audit preparation uncovered control gaps we weren’t aware of and helped us close them efficiently before DESC’s compliance review. Their documentation matched DESC’s exact format and standards.”
‍
— CISO, DESC-Regulated Organization
‍Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Key Deliverables:

☑ DESC Cyber Security Gap Assessment Report
☑ Cloud & Infrastructure Configuration Review
☑ Data Encryption & Key Management Validation

☑ Incident Response & Business Continuity Plan
☑ DESC-Compliant Documentation Package
☑ Employee Cyber Awareness & Policy Alignment

The Solution

ITSEC performed a complete DCSS readiness assessment, conducted security testing across cloud, network, and endpoint layers, implemented data encryption and key governance protocols, and aligned documentation for DESC audit certification.

Weeks to Compliance

Inspection Findings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DESC and who must comply?

Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) is the government authority responsible for cybersecurity in Dubai. All Dubai government entities, semi-government organizations, and any service providers (cloud, data center, SOC, etc.) serving these entities must obtain DESC certification.

What is the CSP Security Standard certification process?

The CSP certification requires ISO/IEC 27001, 27002, and 27017 compliance, plus DESC-specific requirements (ISR 2017 v.02 and CSA CCM 3.0.1). The process includes initial certification, yearly surveillance audits, and tri-annual recertification. Existing ISO certificates are acknowledged to streamline the process.

How long does DESC certification take?

Initial DESC certification typically takes 3-6 months depending on your current security posture and existing ISO certifications. Organizations with ISO 27001 certification can leverage it to expedite the process. The certification remains valid for 3 years with annual surveillance audits.

What is Dubai PKI and how does it integrate with DESC?

Dubai PKI is DESC's Public Key Infrastructure framework for securing smart services, blockchain, IoT, and digital identity systems. It provides cryptographic authentication and digital signatures for government services and must be integrated into all systems handling government transactions.

How often is security testing required under DESC?

DESC mandates regular security assessments based on system criticality. Quarterly vulnerability assessments for all systems, annual penetration testing for external-facing services, and bi-annual comprehensive testing for critical infrastructure. SOC monitoring must be 24/7 continuous.

What are the penalties for non-compliance with DESC?

Non-compliant service providers lose authorization to serve Dubai government entities. Government departments face operational restrictions until compliance is achieved. Dubai Police may investigate security incidents resulting from non-compliance.

ITSEC - Security Assessment

Ready to Secure Your Digital Assets?

Get a comprehensive security assessment from our expert team. Protecting businesses since 2011.

Consult Cyber Experts

NDA Protected

24hr Response

Global Coverage

ITSEC AI Security Agent

Secure

Encrypted

Online

Welcome to ITSEC — the UAE's first AI-augmented cybersecurity firm.

With 15+ years of excellence and 50+ certified experts, we protect enterprises across finance, government, and crypto sectors.

How can I secure your organization today?