RSA to help create next-gen Singaporean cyber-security pros

• Multi-year effort to train Singaporeans for careers in cyber security and combatting online fraud
• Qualified candidates will train at RSA’s world-class cyber-security and Anti-Fraud Command Centre (AFCC)

RSA, the security division of EMC Corporation, has announced its intent to enter into a multi-year agreement with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) to help accelerate training and workforce development for a new generation of Singaporean cyber-security professionals.
 
The EDB is the lead government agency for planning and executing strategies to enhance Singapore’s position as a global business centre. It is responsible for designing and delivering solutions that create value for investors and companies in the country.
 
The move is in response to the global shortage of qualified cyber-security professionals needed to help defend critical IT infrastructures in civilian and government organisations.
 
“While the threats continue to grow in both number and complexity, there is a global shortage of qualified professionals with the skills required to help defend citizens, business and government from cybercrime and cyber-espionage,” said Vincent Goh (pic), vice president of Asia-Pacific and Japan at RSA.
 
“This collaboration is an excellent step forward to help in the broader efforts of the Singapore EDB to develop a new generation of Singaporean cyber-security professionals,” he said at the RSA Conference Asia Pacific in Singapore.
 
Under the agreement, RSA and the EDB will seek qualified graduates from Singapore universities as well as existing cyber-security professionals to take part in a multi-year residency and repatriation programme designed to train candidates with the latest skills needed for cyber-security and anti-fraud careers.
 
The EDB, in cooperation with RSA, will administer the residency-training programme to bring qualified candidates to RSA’s world-class cyber-security and Anti-Fraud Command Centre (AFCC) located outside Tel Aviv, Israel.
 
This training initiative is part of EDB’s Strategic Attachment and Training (STRAT) Programme, which aims to build up Singapore's manpower capabilities in strategic areas and sectors through overseas training and attachment with leading companies.
 
The programme also builds on RSA’s own multi-pronged efforts around the world to help actively develop skilled cyber-security professionals through its RSA Conferences; academic alliances with educational institutions such as Purdue University; cyber-security certification offerings through RSA Education Services; as well as a new advanced cyber defence training curriculum that will be offered later this year in cooperation with the US Department of Homeland Security.
 
The RSA AFCC, with facilities in Israel and the United States, is a 24-hour services operation staffed by expertly trained cyber-security professionals and fraud analysts who work to detect, track, block and shut down phishing, pharming and mobile-app based attacks perpetrated by online criminals.
 
The centre leverages relationships with more than 13,000 web-hosting service providers, leading browser developers and ISPs (Internet service providers) to help ensure the fastest blocking and shutdown of phishing sites.
 
To date, the RSA Fraud Action service has shut down more than 800,000 online attacks globally.
 
Singapore residency candidates will take part in one or two-year training rotational programmes working alongside RSA cyber-security professionals and anti-fraud research analysts to gain advanced skills required to fight cybercrime and advanced cyber threats in areas such as:

• Phishing, pharming and Trojan attack detection, analysis and shutdown;

• E-commerce and online banking fraud;

• Security management and monitoring;

• Breach preparedness and incident response; and

• Governance, Risk and Compliance

“The Safety & Security Industry Programme Office is focused on developing and strengthening the local and global talent pool to meet the global demand for cyber-security professionals,” said Gian Yi-Hsen, director of the EDB’s Safety & Security Industry Programme Office (SSIPO).
 
“The training done by RSA is strongly aligned with our talent development objectives and we are very glad to collaborate together with them.
 
“Such a collaboration would lead to the creation of good jobs for Singaporeans and creates a readily available talent pool for companies to tap when they set up operations in Singapore,” he added.
 
RSA will open the application process for the cyber security residency programme in the third quarter of 2013.

Gabey Goh reports from RSA Conference Asia Pacific in Singapore at the invitation of RSA. See also Big data approach can help shore up cyber-defence: RSA
 
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