Singapore's cyber defence looks to be in good hands with the Singapore Government announcing the new five-year infocomm security roadmap (2008 – 2012) even as it embarks on the final year of the current three-year Infocomm Security Masterplan.

Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts highlighted the focus of the new Infocomm Security Masterplan (2008 – 2012), which will look at more international collaborations and secure Singapore's Next Generation National Infocomm Infrastructure

This was revealed by Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts at the annual Infocomm Security Seminar for public officers, organised by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

The new Infocomm Security Masterplan will build on existing efforts to collaborate with other governments to combat cyber threats. It will also secure Singapore's ultra high-speed and pervasive Next Generation National Infocomm Infrastructure (NGNII) to provide a secure and trusted environment for the creation of new value-added services such as location-based marketing, goods tracking and localised information services and the pervasive adoption of online services such as those in the areas of banking, healthcare and education.

Explaining the need to plan ahead for the new Infocomm Security Masterplan, Dr Balakrishnan said, "We cannot afford to be complacent, especially with new and dangerous threats evolving and growing at such an alarming rate. Instead of taking one step forward, we need to be many steps ahead in our efforts to combat cyber threats."

One outcome is the establishment of the Cyber-WatchCentre, which went 'live' last in March 2007. One of the first in Asia, the centre monitors cyber threats real-time and round-the-clock. By mid 2008, the centre will ensure end-to-end security for all public officers, allowing government agencies to better anticipate cyber attacks and respond to them speedily.

Mr Peter Ho, Head of Civil Service and Chairman of National Infocomm Security Committee, urged the public sector to set an example to the rest of the nation by working together and by adopting a pro-security mindset

Another instance is the collaboration with international partners, given the global nature of cyber threats. "For the past few years, Singapore has actively collaborated with overseas Computer Emergency Response Teams, where we engage in frequent exchanges of experiences and ideas in order to explore collaborations to curb cyber threats. We have also recently forged close relationships with the French," he said. Last June, Head of Civil Service and Chairman of National Infocomm Security Committee, Mr Peter Ho, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the French General Secretary of National Defence, Mr Francis Delon, to share information and assessments on cyber threats.

At the Infocomm Security Seminar 2007, Mr Peter Ho urged everyone to work together to keep Singapore's infocomm environment secure. "Every infocomm user has a role to play, such as the adoption of security practices in their online activities, and in their daily contact with infocomm devices. In the public sector, we have a responsibility to set an example to the rest of the nation by working together and by adopting a pro-security mindset," Mr Ho added.

For more information:

• Learn about how the Singapore Government makes use of infocomm to
  create a secure and trusted online environment.