What National Cybersecurity Authority does

The National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) is the government of Saudi Arabia's national authority on cybersecurity, established by Royal Order in 2017 and reporting directly to the King. It is the sole national regulator responsible for setting and enforcing cybersecurity policy, licensing Managed Security Operations Center (MSOC) providers, operating the Saudi Computer Emergency Response Team (Saudi CERT), and serving as the Kingdom's international point of contact on cyber matters. Its mandate spans critical infrastructure protection, national-level incident response, and capability development across the public and private sectors.

NCA's operational platform is anchored by the Haseen portal, which serves more than 1,600 national entities with compliance, reporting, and threat-information services. It also operates the recently launched Tahqaq service for individuals to verify online link legitimacy, and runs the MSOC licensing program — Tier 1 of which went live in August 2024 — which is the de facto market-access gate for managed security providers in Saudi Arabia. The authority hosts the annual Global Cybersecurity Forum and is a signatory to bilateral cyber cooperation MoUs with countries including Togo and Mozambique, while partnering domestically with NEOM on the CyberIC innovation initiative.

As a government entity, NCA does not operate a commercial revenue model. It is funded through the state budget and derives its authority from Royal Decree, including a December 2024 Royal Decree that formalized its legal powers to identify violations and pursue enforcement procedures. Its economic significance lies in shaping and gatekeeping the broader Saudi cybersecurity market — SAR 15.2 billion in 2024 — rather than in capturing that spending directly.

Name

National Cybersecurity Authority

Legal name

National Cybersecurity Authority

Website

https://nca.gov.sa

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) is Saudi Arabia's government cybersecurity regulator, established by Royal Order in 2017. It sets national cyber policy, licenses MSOC providers, operates Saudi CERT, and serves 1,600+ national entities via the Haseen portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Cybersecurity Regulation

NAICS

Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities (92613), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Public Administration (92), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (9221)

akta.pro primary industry

Regulatory Change Management (RCM) (HDADAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) & NERC-CIP Compliance (HDADAJAC), Privacy, Data Protection & Cyber Governance (GRC) (BPAHAFAF), Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity Certifications (EDAAANAA)

Keywords

• National cybersecurity regulation
• Government cyber authority
• Cybersecurity compliance controls
• Managed security operations licensing
• Cyber threat intelligence

Headquarters

HQ city

Riyadh

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Regulatory and Licensing Services: NCA operates as a government regulatory authority. It generates revenue through licensing fees for Managed Security Operations Center (MSOC) service providers. The cybersecurity market in Saudi Arabia reached SAR 15.2 billion in 2024, with government entities accounting for SAR 4.8 billion (32%) and private sector SAR 10.3 billion (68%).
2. Cybersecurity Services: NCA provides cybersecurity enablement programs, training, and awareness services to national entities through the Haseen portal. Services include Managed Detection and Response (MDR), penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, cybersecurity architecture, risk management, and governance advisory.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NCA is Saudi Arabia's national cybersecurity regulatory authority that sets mandatory cybersecurity controls and frameworks, licenses Managed Security Operations Center (MSOC) providers, operates the Haseen national cybersecurity services portal delivering 24 services to over 1,600 entities, and provides cyber enablement programs, training, incident response through Saudi CERT, and public awareness services. The authority coordinates national cybersecurity governance, threat intelligence sharing, and workforce development for government entities, critical infrastructure operators, and private sector organizations in the Kingdom.

Product overview

The National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) is Saudi Arabia's government regulatory body for cybersecurity, operating through a unified platform architecture centered on the Haseen Portal (National Cybersecurity Services Portal) which provides 24 services to over 1,600 national entities. The core offerings include cybersecurity compliance and assessment services (Essential Cybersecurity Controls, Cloud Cybersecurity Controls, Data Cybersecurity Controls, OT Cybersecurity Controls), incident response through Saudi CERT, and regulatory licensing for Managed Security Operations Center (MSOC) services with 16 licensed providers. Supporting services include training programs through the National Cybersecurity Academy, the Cyber Enablement Package offering 11 cyber services, Managed Detection and Response (MDR), and various awareness initiatives (Tahqaq link/file verification, Aamn awareness program, mobile exhibitions). The NCA also publishes regulatory documents including the National Framework for Cybersecurity Risk Management, Saudi Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, and Cybersecurity Toolkits with 50+ downloadable templates. Innovation programs include CyberIC, Cybersecurity Accelerator, and research grants under the National RDI Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Haseen: National Portal for Cybersecurity Services providing cybersecurity awareness, threat verification, file scanning, and training registration services
• National Cybersecurity Academy
• Saudi CERT
• Aamn

Quantifiable outcome

• Saudi Arabia ranked 1st globally in Cybersecurity Index (World Competitiveness Yearbook 2025)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry of Education (MoE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 August 2026NCA and MoE collaborate on cybersecurity awareness campaigns targeting students and parents. The partnership includes the 'A Secure Return to School' campaign covering topics like phishing, password security, parental control, and safe internet browsing.
• Carnegie Mellon UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2026NCA collaborates with Carnegie Mellon University to launch the 'Global Summer Research in Cybersecurity' initiative, developing specialized national capabilities in cybersecurity research and innovation.
• Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE)coreTechnology or Integration · 28 December 2025SITE partnered with NCA to deliver the Tahqaq link verification service through WhatsApp and the Haseen portal, enabling public verification of suspicious links to reduce unauthorized data access risks.
• Togo and MozambiqueminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2025Togo and Mozambique signed an MoU for cybersecurity cooperation establishing framework for real-time information sharing, joint capacity building, and operational coordination between their Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs).
• Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE)coreTechnology or IntegrationSITE serves as NCA's technical arm, delivering cybersecurity services through the Haseen portal, operating the National Cybersecurity Academy platform, and supporting MSOC services. Partnership involves technology development, service delivery, and national infrastructure protection.
• NEOMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEOM partners with NCA on the CyberIC Innovation program to stimulate growth of the cybersecurity sector, encourage innovation, and support startups in the Kingdom. The initiative aims to attract local and global investment to the Saudi cybersecurity sector.
• Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha'at)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the Cybersecurity Challenge program, represented by the Diligence Center, supporting the establishment of promising cybersecurity startups in collaboration with SITE.
• GCC CountriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCA participates in the GCC Cybersecurity Executive Committee and coordinates with GCC countries on regional cybersecurity strategies, legislation, cross-border frameworks, and workforce development initiatives.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik (BSI): Germany's federal cybersecurity authority responsible for IT security standards, certifications (similar to NCA's ECC framework), critical infrastructure protection, and national CERT operations. BSI's regulatory and standards-setting role closely parallels NCA's mandate across government and private sector entities.
• European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA): The EU's dedicated cybersecurity agency, responsible for EU-wide cybersecurity certifications, cross-border incident coordination, and capacity building. ENISA mirrors NCA's regulatory framework development (similar to ECC/CCC), workforce development programs, and pan-regional cooperation scope.
• Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre): Canada's unified national cybersecurity authority providing incident response, threat intelligence, and cybersecurity guidance to government and critical infrastructure. Operates similarly to NCA in combining operational CERT, regulatory guidance, and national awareness functions under a single authority.
• Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In): India's national CERT operating under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, providing incident response, threat intelligence, and cybersecurity coordination. While not a fully unified regulator, CERT-In's national incident handling, mandatory cyber incident reporting, and entity coordination functions parallel Saudi CERT's role within NCA.
• Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d'information (ANSSI): France's national cybersecurity agency under the Secretariat-General for National Defence and Security. ANSSI issues binding cybersecurity regulations, operates the national CERT, certifies service providers (Qualification/PSP), and protects critical infrastructure — directly comparable to NCA's regulatory and operational functions.
• Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA): Singapore's national cybersecurity authority overseeing cybersecurity policy, licensing of cybersecurity service providers, incident response, and workforce development. CSA's Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme and provider licensing closely resemble NCA's MSOC Tier 1/Tier 2 licensing model.
• National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC UK): UK's national cybersecurity authority under GCHQ, providing incident response, threat intelligence, regulatory guidance, and cybersecurity certifications. NCSC operates with comparable functions to NCA's Saudi CERT, control frameworks, and national cyber awareness programs.
• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): The US national cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection agency. CISA is the closest functional peer to NCA: both are government-mandated national cybersecurity authorities with regulatory, incident response (via their CERT functions), and critical infrastructure protection mandates. Both operate nationwide portals for entity registration, compliance, and threat intelligence sharing.
• UAE Cyber Security Council: UAE's federal cybersecurity regulator established to develop and oversee national cybersecurity strategy, policies, and standards. Regional peer operating under similar Gulf state governance model with direct national mandate and equivalent focus on critical infrastructure and government entity compliance.

Emerging players

• National Cyber and Information Security Agency of the Czech Republic (NÚKIB): Czech Republic's national cybersecurity authority with regulatory and operational responsibilities over government, critical infrastructure, and national CERT functions. NÚKIB is a smaller-scale national cybersecurity regulator with comparable scope to NCA but at country-size scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NCA_KSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-cybersecurity-authority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Cybersecurity Authority