Asean affirms importance of closer coordination of cybersecurity efforts in region

By Digital News Asia September 19, 2017

Coordination to ensure efforts are focused, effective; and in synergy with one another
Norms will help to enhance trust and build confidence in the use of cyberspace

Asean affirms importance of closer coordination of cybersecurity efforts in region

ASEAN cybersecurity principals agree on the importance of closer coordination of regional efforts and the need to develop basic voluntary norms to guide responsible use of information and communications technologies (ICTs)

Ministers and senior officials from all 10 Asean member states, including the Asean Secretary-General Le Luong Minh, convened on Sept 18 at the second Asean Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity (AMCC), as part of the Singapore International Cyber Week 2017.

Asean affirms importance of closer coordination of cybersecurity efforts in region The AMCC, held at the St. Regis Singapore hotel, was chaired by Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Cyber Security Dr Yaacob Ibrahim (pic, right).

The first session, opened only to Asean member states, saw the conference agree on the importance of enhancing coordination to ensure that Asean’s cybersecurity efforts across its various platforms in countering increasingly sophisticated cyber threats are focused, effective; and in synergy with one another.

Asean member states also expressed their support for the development of basic, operational and voluntary norms of behaviour to guide the use of ICTs in the region in a responsible manner.

These would take reference from the norms set out in the 2015 Report of the United Nations Group of Government Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (UNGGE).

The conference agreed that such norms will help to enhance trust among Asean member states and build confidence in the use of cyberspace so as to harness its full potential to bring about greater economic prosperity.

With the aim of facilitating more comprehensive discussions on cybersecurity, this year’s AMCC included, for the first time, a special session which saw the participation of ministers and senior officials from five Asean Dialogue Partners – Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and the United States.

Taking into account the increasingly inter-connected global economy and the transboundary nature of cyber threats, the special session highlighted the critical importance of international dialogue on cybersecurity, as well as regular and robust inter-regional dialogue and cooperation between Asean and its Dialogue Partners.

Delegates at the conference also recognised the unique role of the AMCC as a regional platform that brings together Ministers from the cybersecurity, telecommunications and other relevant sectors from across the region and around the world.

The conference agreed to continue deepening discussions at the third edition of the AMCC, which will be held in Singapore next year.

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) provides dedicated and centralised oversight of national cyber security functions, and works with sector leads to protect Singapore’s critical services.

It also engages with various industries, and stakeholders to heighten cyber security awareness as well as to ensure the holistic development of Singapore’s cyber security landscape.

The agency is part of the Prime Minister’s Office and is managed by the Ministry of Communications and Information.