At Singapore International Cyber Week 2023, Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG, Minister for the UK Cabinet Office, announced key cyber investments made by the UK government, demonstrating the UK’s increased commitment to the region.
The UK has partnered with its counterparts in the Asia-Pacific region to develop a £13 million (nearly $16 million) program to strengthen the cyber capabilities of ASEAN member states, focusing on key issues such as threat detection, protection of critical national infrastructures, and cybersecurity. Building Cyber Skills.
Deepening Partnership with ASEAN Member States
This series of announcements signals the UK’s commitment to the ASEAN region and its desire to strengthen its cybersecurity partnership with the region. It also follows the decision to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a free trade agreement between 11 countries in Asia and the West.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe emphasized that deepening cybersecurity partnerships could also help consolidate global technical standards on issues such as IoT devices and strengthen international cyber cooperation as cyber threats become increasingly borderless.
Singapore has a crucial role to play in the UK’s goal of working more closely with Southeast Asia on cybersecurity. Singapore International Cyber Week brings together regional and international participants each year to discuss key issues in cyber cooperation, making it easier for countries to work together.
Spotlight on cyber skills
To address the cyber skills shortage, the UK and Singapore have signed a joint statement to strengthen the cyber workforce in both countries and increase the participation of women in the cyber industry.
The two countries aim to establish and harmonize cybersecurity professional standards, open up the UK Cyber Security Council’s professional roster to Singaporean cyber professionals, and promote cyber skills dialogue between representatives from both countries.
The UK will also pilot a UK-Southeast Asian Cyber Women’s Scholarship from January 2024 onwards. The scholarship will select two female candidates from each Southeast Asian country working in cyber to deliver cybersecurity projects with the support of the UK government and cybersecurity experts.
Cyber diplomacy today
Cyber diplomacy is critical for countries to reach consensus on issues such as regulation of cybersecurity products and tools, technical standards, trade and investment.
Collaboration between government, industry, and academia is also necessary to build trust in the new digital reality. For example, when it comes to connected devices, government agencies need to create incentives for industry players to design security features for their products, while academic institutions may help innovate in the design of secure devices.
The UK’s increased commitment to building cybersecurity capacity in Southeast Asia is a positive development. It will help to increase the region’s resilience to cyber threats and promote economic growth.
