SINGAPORE — To ramp up cybersecurity capabilities in the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean), Singapore will fund a S$10 million Asean Cyber Capacity programme. It will pay for resources, expertise and training to deepen technical skills and enhance response to cyber incidents. 

At a broader level, Singapore can also go towards consultancy work in formulating cybersecurity strategies and even legislation, said Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information, on Tuesday (Oct 11).

He announced the multi-million-dollar programme during the Asean Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity, a day after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong launched Singapore’s Cybersecurity Strategy, of which strengthening cooperation within Asean to fight cyberthreats is an important pillar.

“Cyberspace is borderless and connects Asean beyond our geographical proximity as a region. In fact, malicious actors deliberately target the gaps between our borders and jurisdictions to exploit and target us. We need to work together, beyond our borders, to effectively secure this common space,” said Dr Yaacob.

On why Singapore is taking the lead in this programme, he said: “We recognise that different states have a different state of readiness. We always believe that the weakest link is always an important contribution to our vulnerability. So, what we want to do is to ensure that all Asean member states pay attention, that they don’t become the weakest link.”

He added: “What Singapore wants to do is to bring the conversation among the ministers responsible, so they can do something back home. They are interested to learn from our experience.”

To be launched next April, the $10 million programme will be spread out over five years, and the funds will be used to organise workshops and seminars, among other initiatives. It targets Asean policy officials, diplomats, prosecutors as well as technical operators and analysts.

Dr Yaacob also called on member states to cooperate more closely in international law enforcement, such as by sending more Asean law enforcement officers to partner Interpol on more joint-operations against cybercriminals. 

Announcing that Singapore will sponsor a global initiative called Cyber Green, which uses indicators to assess how healthy a country’s cyberhealth is, Dr Yaacob said Asean member states will be able to access Cyber Green through Singapore for free. 

This sponsorship is worth USS$900,000 over three years, according to Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency.

The Asean ministerial conference is part of the three-day Singapore International Cyber Week, taking place this week.

CORRECTION: We had earlier reported that the Cyber Green initiative is worth S$900,000. It is worth US$900,000. We are sorry for the error.