Achieve CITC CRF
Compliance
Infrastructure aligned with Saudi Arabia's Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CITC) Cybersecurity Regulatory Framework. MassiveGRID provides the secure cloud environment ICT service providers, telecom operators, and licensed entities need to meet CITC cybersecurity requirements and protect critical telecommunications infrastructure across the Kingdom.
Framework & Standard Alignment
The CITC Cybersecurity Regulatory Framework requires ICT service providers and licensed telecom operators to establish comprehensive security governance structures, conduct regular risk assessments, and maintain a robust policy framework. MassiveGRID provides the secure infrastructure foundation that supports governance requirements and enables organizations to demonstrate compliance with CITC regulatory obligations.
Security Governance
Establish and maintain an ICT security governance structure with defined roles, responsibilities, and accountability aligned with CITC requirements. The CRF mandates that licensed entities appoint qualified cybersecurity leadership, define clear reporting lines, and ensure board-level oversight of cybersecurity risk management activities.
Risk Assessment & Management
Conduct periodic cybersecurity risk assessments to identify, evaluate, and mitigate threats to ICT systems and telecommunications infrastructure. CITC CRF requires licensed entities to maintain a formal risk management methodology, assess risks to critical assets, and implement appropriate controls based on risk severity and business impact.
Regulatory Compliance
Maintain continuous compliance with CITC cybersecurity regulations, NCA Essential Cybersecurity Controls, and Saudi Arabia's Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL). The CRF requires licensed entities to demonstrate ongoing adherence through regular self-assessments, compliance reporting, and cooperation with CITC regulatory audits and inspections.
Security Policy Framework
Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive cybersecurity policy framework covering all aspects of ICT security operations. CITC CRF requires documented policies for information security, acceptable use, data classification, access control, incident management, and business continuity that are reviewed and updated on a regular basis.
The CITC CRF mandates implementation of robust technical security controls to protect ICT infrastructure, customer data, and telecommunications networks. MassiveGRID delivers enterprise-grade network security, encryption, access controls, and data protection mechanisms that satisfy the framework's technical requirements for licensed entities operating in Saudi Arabia.
Network Security
Implement comprehensive network security controls including firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and network segmentation. CITC CRF requires licensed entities to protect network boundaries, monitor network traffic for anomalies, and maintain secure configurations across all telecommunications infrastructure components.
Data Protection & Privacy
Protect customer data and personal information in accordance with CITC CRF requirements and Saudi Arabia's PDPL. The framework requires data classification, data loss prevention controls, secure data handling procedures, and privacy impact assessments for systems processing subscriber and customer information.
Access Control
Enforce role-based access control, multi-factor authentication, and least privilege principles across all ICT systems. CITC CRF requires licensed entities to implement strong identity and access management controls, manage privileged accounts, and regularly review access rights to prevent unauthorized access to critical systems and data.
Encryption Standards
Implement strong cryptographic controls for data at rest and in transit using AES-256 encryption and TLS 1.2+ protocols. CITC CRF requires licensed entities to deploy approved encryption algorithms, manage cryptographic keys securely, and ensure all sensitive data transmitted across networks is protected with industry-standard encryption.
Endpoint Security
Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions, anti-malware protection, and host-based security controls across all ICT endpoints. CITC CRF mandates comprehensive endpoint security measures including device hardening, patch management, removable media controls, and continuous monitoring of endpoint security posture.
Vulnerability Management
Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate security weaknesses. CITC CRF requires licensed entities to implement a formal vulnerability management program with defined scanning schedules, risk-based remediation timelines, and secure configuration baselines for all ICT systems.
CITC CRF requires licensed entities to establish robust incident response capabilities and business continuity plans to ensure the resilience of telecommunications services. The framework mandates timely incident reporting to CITC, comprehensive disaster recovery procedures, and management of third-party cybersecurity risks across the ICT supply chain.
Incident Response & Reporting
CITC CRF mandates that licensed entities maintain documented incident response plans and report cybersecurity incidents to CITC within specified timeframes. MassiveGRID provides the infrastructure telemetry, real-time alerting, and forensic capabilities needed to detect, contain, and report security incidents in accordance with CITC regulatory requirements.
- Incident response plans aligned with CITC CRF reporting requirements and timelines
- 24/7 security monitoring with automated alerting for incidents affecting ICT systems
- Defined incident severity classification and CITC notification procedures
- Integration with SIEM platforms for centralized event correlation and analysis
- Forensic evidence preservation and post-incident review processes
Business Continuity & DR
CITC CRF requires licensed entities to develop and maintain business continuity and disaster recovery plans that ensure the availability and resilience of telecommunications services. MassiveGRID's HA architecture provides the infrastructure redundancy ICT service providers need to maintain service continuity and meet CITC availability requirements.
- Proxmox HA cluster with automatic VM failover under 60 seconds
- Automated daily backups with configurable retention across multiple data center regions
- Disaster recovery with defined RPO/RTO targets for critical ICT systems
- N+1 redundancy across compute, storage, and network infrastructure layers
- Regular BCP/DR testing, tabletop exercises, and plan validation
Third-Party Risk Management
CITC CRF requires licensed entities to assess and manage cybersecurity risks introduced by third-party vendors, suppliers, and service providers within the ICT supply chain. Organizations must ensure that third parties handling sensitive data or accessing critical systems meet the same cybersecurity standards mandated by CITC.
- Third-party cybersecurity risk assessment and due diligence processes
- Vendor security requirements aligned with CITC CRF obligations
- Contractual security clauses and service level agreements for ICT suppliers
- Ongoing monitoring and periodic reassessment of third-party security posture
- Supply chain risk management program with documented procedures
CITC CRF mandates comprehensive security monitoring, audit logging, and compliance reporting capabilities for all licensed entities. MassiveGRID provides the technical infrastructure to support continuous monitoring, maintain audit trails, and generate compliance evidence while organizations manage training, change control, and asset management processes.
Security Monitoring
Implement continuous security monitoring across all ICT systems and telecommunications infrastructure. CITC CRF requires licensed entities to deploy Security Operations Center (SOC) capabilities, monitor for security events in real time, and maintain visibility into the security posture of all critical assets and network components.
Audit & Logging
Create and retain comprehensive audit logs to enable monitoring, analysis, investigation, and reporting of security events. CITC CRF requires tamper-resistant logging of user actions, system events, and access to sensitive data with centralized log management, time synchronization, and defined retention periods.
Compliance Reporting
Generate and submit compliance reports to CITC as required by the Cybersecurity Regulatory Framework. Licensed entities must maintain evidence of control implementation, conduct periodic self-assessments, and provide compliance documentation to demonstrate adherence to all applicable CITC cybersecurity requirements.
Security Awareness
Establish a cybersecurity awareness and training program for all personnel handling ICT systems and telecommunications infrastructure. CITC CRF requires role-based security training, regular awareness campaigns, phishing simulation exercises, and training on recognizing and reporting cybersecurity threats and incidents.
Change Management
Implement formal change management processes for all modifications to ICT systems, configurations, and telecommunications infrastructure. CITC CRF requires documented change control procedures, impact assessments, approval workflows, and rollback capabilities to ensure changes do not introduce security vulnerabilities or service disruptions.
Asset Management
Maintain a comprehensive inventory of all ICT assets including hardware, software, network devices, and data repositories. CITC CRF requires licensed entities to identify and classify critical assets, track asset lifecycles, implement secure disposal procedures, and ensure all assets are subject to appropriate security controls.
Your CITC CRF Compliance Journey
MassiveGRID accelerates your path to CITC CRF compliance by providing infrastructure that satisfies the technical controls required by the Cybersecurity Regulatory Framework. Here is the typical compliance process for ICT service providers and licensed entities in Saudi Arabia.
Ready to Achieve CITC CRF Compliance?
MassiveGRID's compliance team works directly with ICT service providers, telecom operators, and licensed entities in Saudi Arabia. Contact us to discuss your CITC Cybersecurity Regulatory Framework requirements, scoping, and deployment strategy for meeting your regulatory obligations.