CQR, a Saudi-based cybersecurity firm specializing in operational technology (OT), has officially launched FENNEC, a next-generation cybersecurity platform designed to protect the industrial backbone of Saudi Arabia and other critical infrastructure in the region. The locally engineered platform is the first of its kind to integrate full-stack OT visibility with embedded AI monitoring, promising to reduce the compliance effort for asset owners by up to 90%.
A Locally Engineered Solution for Regional Challenges
At a time when traditional IT tools are often ineffective in securing legacy industrial infrastructure, FENNEC provides an end-to-end solution tailored specifically for complex OT environments. Designed and built in Saudi Arabia, the platform addresses the unique needs of sectors like oil and gas, water utilities, and manufacturing plants. It shifts industrial cybersecurity from a reactive posture to one of active defense.
“This is exactly the kind of cyber-physical innovation our region needs—technology that understands the local environment and is capable of meeting it with precision,” said Shane Shin, Founding Partner at Shorooq. “FENNEC isn’t just a tool – it’s a strategic advantage for the operators securing our most vital infrastructure.”
Streamlining Compliance and Enhancing Defense
FENNEC was developed with local and international standards at its core, natively supporting key frameworks such as the NCA’s OT Cybersecurity Controls (OTCC), Aramco’s SAEP-99, IEC 62443, and ISO 27001. The platform’s bilingual audit reporting, automated evidence gathering, and pre-configured policy templates allow industrial operators to meet national security regulations with significantly less manual effort.
Unlike IT-centric systems, FENNEC is designed for OT and IoT infrastructure, enabling it to discover and report vulnerabilities at the software and firmware levels that lead to previously unidentified risks. This architecture also supports zero-trust enforcement and micro-segmentation without requiring additional hardware or causing production downtime.
AI-Powered Monitoring for OT Environments
FENNEC’s built-in AI Monitoring and Security Operations Center (SOC) modules deliver continuous threat detection and response for both connected and air-gapped environments. The platform automatically correlates alerts and maps them to the MITRE ATT&CK for ICS framework, providing AI-generated root cause analysis and response suggestions. All telemetry data remains under the customer’s control, ensuring full alignment with national data sovereignty policies.
The platform has already been piloted in energy and industrial facilities across Saudi Arabia, where operators reported a 90% reduction in audit preparation time. They also noted a significantly faster mean-time-to-detection and smoother coordination between their IT and OT security teams.
About CQR
CQR is an emerging leader in OT cybersecurity, dedicated to protecting critical infrastructures with a unique product-centric approach. By transforming expert knowledge into deployable solutions, CQR sets out to enable professionals across the spectrum to manage OT cybersecurity threats. Based in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, CQR operates at the intersection of technology and safety, ensuring essential services remain resilient against potential disruptions.
Source: Zawya
