Singapore cites collective responsibility for cyber security

By eGov Innovation Editors | Apr 24, 2011

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SINGAPORE -- The inaugural Cyber Security Awareness Day in Singapore highlighted collective responsibility for information security.
 
"The proliferation of computers is visibly apparent in Singapore, with over 84 per cent of households having access to a computer at home, and over 82 per cent of households with Internet access at home today. Many have jumped on the social networking bandwagon, but not all of us realise that cyber attacks use social networking to gain access to sensitive corporate and personal information," said Lui Tuck Yew, Minister for Informaition, Communication and the Arts (MICA), in a speech during the Information Information Security Seminar 2011 at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront last week.

"In this regard, end-users have become a critical component in the security equation and are often our first line of defence against these malicious activities," he added.

The Information Security Seminar, championed by the Cyber Security Awareness Alliance, is one of the highlights of the security awareness day, whose aim is to raise awareness for computer security issues the need for personal responsibility in adopting secure online practices.

The Cyber Security Awareness Alliance maintains a portal, www.gosafeonline.sg, to promote and inculcate safe infocomm practices.

"I encourage users to visit this one-stop resource center to learn how to stay safe and secure online," Minister Lui Tuck Yew said.

He said the Singapore government has invested heavily in securing its critical systems to support key public services as part of its Infocomm Security Masterplan, with the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) having issued a Code of Practice last February for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to develop new capabilities to manage current and emerging cyber threats.

Acknowledging the cross-border nature of cyber threats, the Minister also disclosed that the government has signed two collaborative agreements with IDA's counterpart government agencies in Japan and the Republic of Korea.

"Such arrangements will enable our countries to share early and pertinent information about cyber threats, undertake joint development and training in enhancing technical capabilities, as well as enhance the security of our respective national infrastructure," he said.