In Saudi Arabia, where Vision 2030 is accelerating digital transformation across every major industry, the stakes for cybersecurity have never been higher. To safeguard the Kingdom’s digital infrastructure and national interests, the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) has enforced a comprehensive regulatory framework to protect critical sectors such as energy, finance, healthcare, and telecommunications.

Why NCA ECC Compliance Matters More Than Ever

With the release of the updated NCA Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC) framework in 2023, organizations in Saudi Arabia are now required to implement strict cybersecurity measures, regularly assess risks, and report incidents, or face significant penalties for non-compliance.

The NCA ECC framework forms the backbone of the Kingdom’s national cybersecurity strategy. It outlines baseline requirements for both government-affiliated entities and many private-sector organizations, covering everything from access control and asset management to incident response and data protection

The True Cost of Noncompliance

Failing to comply with security regulations can lead to more than just penalties. A breach tied to poor internal controls can result in:

• Reputational damage that erodes public and stakeholder trust
• Operational disruption due to downtime or legal investigation
• Financial loss, with the average cost of a data breach in regulated industries reaching $6M+, 22% higher than the global average (IBM 2023)

Common Gaps in Implementation

Despite growing awareness, many organizations focus their compliance efforts on traditional infrastructure: firewalls, antivirus, and secure endpoints. Data doesn’t need to be stolen from a server to be compromised. Sometimes, it can be photographed, shared on screens, or captured as a screenshot. This is especially risky during:

• Remote work and hybrid setups
• Third-party vendor access
• Day-to-day collaboration on sensitive platforms
  
  

These types of leaks put organizations at risk of failing to meet key ECC controls. Lack of traceability also complicates risk control, audits, and incident response.

How DataPatrol Supports NCA ECC Compliance

DataPatrol’s screen watermarking solutions help close a compliance and security gap that traditional tools fail to address. By overlaying dynamic, user-specific watermarks (including name, IP, timestamp, and other metadata) directly on screen content, it:

• Discourages screenshots and leaks
• Increases user accountability
• Supports traceability in investigations
• Runs silently, without impacting productivity

DataPatrol solutions work across both web and mobile environments, making it ideal for organizations with distributed teams, vendor access, or remote operations, which are all common scenarios in Saudi Arabia’s digital economy.

Reduce Risk and Strengthen Compliance

According to the NCA ECC, organizations must implement preventive and detective measures that reduce risk and ensure data is protected in all usage scenarios, including during user access. Here’s how DataPatrol aligns:

• Data Leakage Protection
  Watermarking prevents data from being captured or misused via screenshots or screen recording, a key vector for leakage that is often overlooked.
• Monitoring User Activities
  Dynamic watermarks tied to user identity help log and trace activity. If a leak occurs, the watermark serves as an audit trail.
• Insider Threat Management
  By visibly reminding users that their activity is being tracked, watermarking acts as both a deterrent and an awareness tool, essential for mitigating insider risk.
• Protection of Sensitive Data
  Screens displaying confidential or classified data remain visibly marked, helping to enforce classification and reduce accidental sharing.

Supporting Audits, Training, and Compliance Culture

Beyond technology, screen watermarking supports broader compliance efforts by reinforcing a culture of awareness and accountability. Whether it’s an employee onboarding session, a third-party audit, or an internal compliance review, visible watermarking shows that data protection is an active practice embedded into daily operations.

In a regulatory landscape that grows more rigorous each year, NCA ECC compliance has become a security imperative for businesses operating in Saudi Arabia. While many organizations have invested heavily in infrastructure, protecting what’s visible on screen is just as critical.

Datapatrol’s screen watermarking solution provides Saudi organizations with the visibility, control, and traceability needed to meet NCA standards and stay ahead of internal risk.

See how it works in action
Request a demo.