(22 October 2024 – Singapore) To combat escalating fraud and ransomware attacks, Japan has announced it will throw its support behind co-ordinated ASEAN cybersecurity training in 2025.
Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are pushing for more sophisticated cybersecurity training to reinforce supply chain stability. The ASEAN Regional Computer Emergency Response (RCER) Team is led by Malaysia as its first overall coordinator, a role which rotates every two years among the ten member states.
Over 15,000 Japanese companies operate in Southeast Asia, suggesting stronger cybersecurity capabilities in the region could drastically improve resiliency and production efficiency. With an online-savvy population that is quick to adopt new technology, the digital economy in ASEAN is set to hit US$1 trillion by 2030.
Check Point Software Technologies reports that over one in ten APAC enterprises were targeted by ransomware in 2023, a higher percentage than in LatAm, North America or MENA.
“The ASEAN RCER team will go some way to improve cyber-security responses across member nations. While these technologies are very convenient and easy to use, they have also greatly expanded the attack surface area of our respective states” commented Singapore Digital Development and Information Minister, Josephine Teo.
“However, if we stand together, we will be able to strengthen our cyber defences and safeguard our digital future.”