SINGAPORE – The first commissioner of Cybersecurity in Singapore urged ASEAN countries to view cybersecurity as the key to reaping the benefits of technology today, saying that the first step is to address it.
David Koh, also the first and current chief Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), said that cybersecurity opens up the gates to educational, social, and economical opportunities.
Seeing cybersecurity as the key to these gates more than it being an “existential threat” will not only redefine cybersecurity approaches within one ASEAN country, but to all other countries within the region.
“If you don’t address cyber security, then it’s 650 million people in ASEAN who will be connected to all the scams, all the malicious crime, etcetera. So, the two come together,” Koh told reporters during an exclusive media briefing.
In a report by Kaspersky, a cybersecurity company in Russia, it was found that they have intercepted 13 million web threats against businesses in Southeast Asia in 2023.
Moreover, amid rapid digitalization, ASEAN countries have taken necessary cybersecurity efforts, moving beyond preventive measures to adopt more holistic strategies that strengthen digital resilience across sectors.
Singapore’s leadership in this area provides a valuable framework for neighboring nations, including the Philippines, to enhance their cybersecurity practices and bolster their digital infrastructure.
On this note, he likened cybersecurity to car brakes, explaining that if a country wants to “drive fast,” it must have “good brakes.”
Furthermore, Koh said that cybersecurity is a “team sport,” and everybody needs to take part in addressing this issue.
He added that cybersecurity is no longer just responsibility of the government, but a private sector responsibility as well.
The Singaporean cybersecurity commissioner also highlighted the citizens’ responsibility in making sure their presence in the cyberspace is secured.
“Everybody should understand that they need to take responsibility for their parts. And if we work together, we can create a much better outcome for all,” Koh said.
Koh has spoken about maintaining a collaborative space for ASEAN member states (AMS) during the Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW) 2024, which was held from October 14 to 17. The theme “Trust and Security in the Digital Era” drove discussions for the 9th installation of SICW.
Amid the geopolitical tensions around the world, the summit brought delegates and ministers from AMS, Brazil, China, European Union, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the United States this year.
