Cyber-security critical to nation building, sovereignty: Deputy Minister

• Secure infra will attract more investments and contribute to nation’s economic growth
• Malaysian organisations urged to ensure digital assets are protected and safeguarded

IN the wake of breaches with Malaysia’s domain registrar and a spate of cyber-attacks in Singapore, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah (pic) noted the importance of a secure infrastructure for the nation.
 
“At the national level, an ICT infrastructure and supply chain that are sophisticated and secure will attract more investments and contribute greatly to the country’s economic growth,” he said at the official opening ceremony of the recent Cyber Security Malaysia – Awards, Conference and Exhibition (CSM-ACE 2013) in Kuala Lumpur.
 
“A robust digital economy is essential for overall economic growth. The cyber security industry plays a critical role in fuelling economic growth and job creation in Malaysia. In essence, cyber-security is critical to Malaysia’s nation building and sovereignty,” he added.
 
Abu Bakar cited a report by Gartner which says that Malaysia’s total information technology (IT) spending for 2013 is expected to reach RM61.9 billion (US$19.3 billion) this year, up 6.4% cent from 2012, and that worldwide IT spending is forecast to reach US$3.8 trillion in 2014, a 3.6% increase from 2013.
 
He urged Malaysian companies to ensure their digital assets are protected and safeguarded against cyber-security risks such as data loss, damage, cyber-attacks and other cyber-criminal acts.
               
“In a highly competitive market place, the anxiety about security breaches will undoubtedly influence customer choices. Customers will go to companies which can demonstrate a track record of good cyber-security practices,” he said.
 
With the theme ‘Securing Cyberspace for Economic Growth,’ CSM-ACE 2013 which runs Nov 13-14, focused on the strategic role of cyber-security in powering Malaysia’s economy. The 3-in-1 event consists of an awards ceremony, a conference and an exhibition, CSM said in a statement.
 
The conference acts as a platform for researchers and industry practitioners to discuss cyber-security policies at national and global perspectives, with an aim towards developing more robust governance and compliance mechanisms, said CyberSecurity Malaysia chief executive officer Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab (pic).
 
The exhibition showcases the latest cyber-security solutions and provides a one-stop platform for business matching as well as trade and investment opportunities, he claimed.
 
The highlight of CSM-ACE 2013 will be the conferment of Malaysia Cyber Security Awards 2013 to recognise highly talented information security professionals, homegrown SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and organisations for their contributions to the Malaysian cyber-security industry.
 
The awards presentation will take place at the closing ceremony of CSM-ACE 2013 this evening (Nov 14).
 
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