DIFC, Mastercard to step up cybersecurity efforts DUBAI, February 2, 2021 Mastercard has launched its Global Cyber Forward programme in partnership with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre and largest FinTech hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region. According to an industry study, the threat of direct and indirect cyberattacks on global businesses is significant over the next five years, with an estimated $5.2 trillion in revenue potentially being at risk, while another study reported that 50 per cent of global businesses are not prepared to deal with cyberattacks, reported Emirates news agency WAM. This partnership between DIFC and Mastercard will help boost cyber readiness and resilience across the financial industry, enabling effective cyber security oversight through the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) Threat Intelligence Platform (TIP) that was launched in January 2020. The Global Cyber Forward programme combines Mastercard's cutting-edge capabilities in cyber security with those of leading public sector organisations to create secure digital eco-systems at a national, local and city-level.