Microsoft launches Asia cyber security executive council

• Council joined by 15 policy makers from Asia Pacific, including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia
• Coalition to meet virtually on quarterly basis to exchange information, best practices

MICROSOFT has launched the Asia Pacific public sector cyber security executive council, which the company said will bring together a coalition of policy makers from government and state agencies, as well as technology and industry leaders.

The coalition is aimed at building a strong communication channel to address cyber threats and sharing best practices, Microsoft said in a statement.

Joining the council are 15 policy makers from Brunei, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, supported by cybersecurity professionals from Microsoft, it added.

The council is set to meet virtually on a quarterly basis to maintain a continuous exchange of information on cyber threats and cybersecurity solutions.

The council is predicated on the notion that no single entity can effectively fight cybercrime, Microsoft said.

The collective marks a commitment towards accelerating public-private partnerships in cybersecurity, while promoting a broader sharing of threat intelligence to be better positioned to respond in the event of an attack, it added.

The APAC region continues to experience a higher-than-average encounter rate for malware and ransomware attacks, at about 1.6 to 1.7 times higher respectively than the rest of the world.

“Cybersecurity is an important national agenda that cannot rely solely on the back of IT team. It should be a priority and responsibility of all individuals, as we continue to see cyber-criminal activities rise exponentially with the proliferation of data and digital connectivity,” said Haji Amirudin Abdul Wahab (pic), chief executive officer of CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM).

“This coalition certainly establishes stronger partnerships with industry leaders and practitioners that will allow us to fortify our security postures and combat cybercrime.”

As part of the Council, government agencies and state leaders will join a forum that includes Microsoft and its ecosystem of cybersecurity industry advisors.

The aim of the forum is to share best practices, learn from Microsoft security certification trainings, dedicated workshops, and hands-on lab sessions, with a goal of driving improvements to the digital skills of the workforce to reduce the talent gap in cybersecurity across the participating nations.

The members of the Asia Pacific Public Sector Cyber Security Executive Council will share experiences and knowledge relating to cyber threats and will work to drive greater collaboration and cooperation between countries.

This effort will build on existing efforts to strengthen cybersecurity partnerships in the Asia-Pacific, including through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Global Forum on Cyber Expertise.

“Cyberthreats and attacks are inevitable in this interconnected world, which is why our collective strength and collaboration as a community is imperative,” said Sherie Ng, general manager, public sector, Microsoft Asia Pacific.

“Our joint mission is to build a strong coalition, to strengthen our cyber security defense.”