SINGAPORE – A cybersecurity expert said that AI alone cannot keep pace with evolving cyber threats, emphasizing the need for resilience systems at the 2025 Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW).
Sam Liew, the chief executive and Deputy CEO of NCS, shared his insights during a Govware session, noting that AI and cyber resilience must work together to effectively defend against increasingly sophisticated attacks.
He said that without resilient systems in place, AI could not be fully relied upon. Conversely, resilience, without AI, may struggle to keep up with emerging threats.
“To stay ahead of escalating threats, organizations must invade security at every stage of AI development,” Liew said.
He cited the rising AI-powered cyberattacks in Singapore. Frontier Enterprise found 56 percent of organizations that reported AI-driven incidents in 2024. However, in the same report, it showed only 18 percent of the organizations felt confident in their cybersecurity defenses.
“Hence, as you can see, cybersecurity is no longer just about building firewalls for stronger locks. It’s about cyber resilience,” He said.
Liew defined cyber resilience as the “ability to anticipate, withstand, recover, and adapt” at the front of cyber adversity.
He illustrated the point with a success story from the Singapore Ministry Manpower contact center, where NCS gave an AI assistant to support analysts overwhelmed by large volumes of routine alerts.
The system automatically grouped similar incidents, highlighted unusual activity, and summarized calls with 95 percent accuracy.
Furthermore, this reduced after-call work by 54 percent, allowing staff to focus on critical threats while ensuring securing of sensitive data.
“But the success was not just due to the AI model’s capability, it rested on reliant cyber design as well,” He noted.
He stressed that as organizations integrate AI into their operations, they must also build systems capable of withstanding and recovering from disruptions at every level.
With this, Liew outlined five best practices for scaling AI securely: starting with clear objectives, selecting the right models and data, embedding strong security measures, building trust through governance and human collaboration, and continuously monitoring and updating systems.
These principles reflect the broader work of NCS, which helps governments and enterprises across the region integrate AI responsibly while strengthening the resilience of their digital operations.
Liew shared these insights at GovWare, a premier cybersecurity conference for government and enterprise leaders, held as part of the 2025 SICW.
