The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) is taking proactive steps to reinforce the nation’s cybersecurity posture by partnering with global tech giants Google and Microsoft. This pivotal move was unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat during his opening keynote at the Singapore International Cyber Week event held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre.
These collaborations will be facilitated through separate memorandums of understanding and will encompass cyberthreat intelligence sharing, joint operations against cybercrime and malicious activities, exchanges on emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), and capacity-building initiatives. The CSA emphasizes the collective responsibility shared by governments and industry players in creating a stable and secure cyberspace, reaffirming Singapore’s dedication to close cooperation with key stakeholders while extending an open invitation to other industry leaders for potential partnerships.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat emphasized the mutual interest of major tech companies in establishing a secure, trusted, and inclusive digital domain to maximize their reach and impact. He encouraged public-private partnerships to develop solutions that benefit the broader public good.
Michaela Browning, Google’s Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Asia-Pacific, expressed the company’s commitment to enhancing cybersecurity resilience in Singapore. She highlighted the potential of generative AI for both security risks and defenses, provided its development and regulation are approached with responsibility.
Microsoft Singapore’s Managing Director, Lee Hui Li, echoed the sentiment of international cooperation in addressing emerging cyber threats and underlined the importance of AI innovation.
Singapore is also set to introduce the SG Cyber Leadership and Alumni Programme, a global cyber training initiative that will offer foundational, advanced, and executive-level courses, commencing in March 2024. The program aims to foster networking and knowledge exchange among participants from across the world and will be supported by a three-year extension of Singapore’s $30 million funding commitment for cyber-capacity building, running from 2024 to 2026.
In his address, Deputy Prime Minister Heng outlined three essential elements for Singapore’s role in shaping the emerging global digital order:
- Fostering partnerships across borders and sectors, including initiatives with the United Nations and digital economy agreements with other nations.
- Establishing frameworks and shared rules for constructive discussions, focusing on both technical interoperability and international norms to ensure peaceful coexistence in the digital realm.
- Building cyber capacity for security and resilience, particularly assisting less digitally advanced countries to harness the benefits of digitalization.
Heng emphasized the importance of collective action, collaboration, and trust-building to create a secure, prosperous, and inclusive digital future.
