APU safeguards SMEs from cybersecurity risks with Cybersecurity as a service

By Digital News Asia February 5, 2024

Unit established after discussions with Cybersecurity Malaysia & MRANTI
Introduced 'Cybersecurity as a Service', offering SMEs affordable, high-quality consultancy

Eddie Chong (2nd from right) CEO of Pixalink, lauded FSeC-CaaS for its impeccable serviceability. He is accompanied by Prof Vinesh Thiruchelvam (3rd from right), CIEO of APU; Prof Simon Scott (right), director of Research & Innovation of APU; Dr Julia Juremi (3rd from left), head of FSeC; and Pixalink’s delegates (from left) Moses Lau Yi Hieng and Ching Cheng Kang.

In an era where cybersecurity threats pervade every sector, the business community finds itself particularly vulnerable. Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) stated in a recent statement that the repercussions of a cyberattack on a business are not only immediate but can also cast a long-lasting shadow.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are especially at risk, facing potential losses in competitive advantage, credit rating, and increased cyber insurance premiums due to systematic cybersecurity attacks or risks. Recognising the pressing need for proactive cybersecurity measures, the Forensics and Cyber Security Research Centre (FSeC) at the university has taken a bold step to introduce 'Cybersecurity as a Service' (CaaS), a commercial response unit aiming to provide SMEs with a cost-effective yet high-quality consultancy service.

According to APU, this unit was established after discussions with Cybersecurity Malaysia and the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology & Innovation (MRANTI) regarding FSeC’s strength, and has set a new standard in industry-oriented consultancy services.

Leading the charge is Professor Dr. Vinesh Thiruchelvam, APU’s chief innovation and enterprise officer, and the advisor of FSeC. He said, “FSeC-CaaS showcases APU's academic prowess by delivering industry-level professional consultancy services based on industrial competency.”

The startup recently achieved a milestone by completing a penetration test for its inaugural client, Pixalink Sdn. Bhd., a Malaysian SME specialising in a cloud-based customer acquisition software called 'Explore.' Its CEO, Eddie Chong, lauded FSeC-CaaS for its "impeccable serviceability."

FSeC-CaaS's strength lies in its dedicated team of cybersecurity professionals complemented by top-performing students from APU’s

Cybersecurity Bachelor and Master’s degree programmes. The team reflects FSeC's commitment to nurturing graduates with practical skills in digital forensics, cybersecurity, and privacy.

Venturing beyond academia, FSeC-CaaS offers a range of cybersecurity services to SMEs, including penetration testing, security audits, network configuration, and forensic analysis. Positioned as a startup among Malaysian Higher Education Institutions, FSeC-CaaS not only provides professional training programmes to APU students but also addresses market demands for high qualified cybersecurity workforce and services.

To find out more, visit FSeC-CaaS’s website