Microsoft Launches First APAC Public Sector Cyber Security Executive Council With 15 Members

SINGAPORE – On Monday, Microsoft announced the launch of the first Asia-Pacific Public Sector Cyber Security Executive Council to help unify policy makers and governments from the APAC region. Upon its launch, the Cyber Security Executive Council brings 15 participating nations, including, but not limited to Brunei, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

The coalition, according to the US software vendor is a step forward in providing for a significantly stronger cybersecurity framework across the globe, accelerating public-private partnerships in cybersecurity, while promoting a broader sharing of threat intelligence to be better positioned to respond in the event of an attack.

Currently, the APAC region is experiencing a higher-than-average encounter rate for malware and ransomware attacks, with Microsoft reporting a “1.6 and 1.7 times higher respectively than the rest of the world.”

The council is set to meet virtually on a quarterly basis to maintain a continuous exchange of information on cyber threats and cybersecurity solutions, which brings Microsoft’s expert cybersecurity professionals to the table. Its members would be part of a forum that comprised the vendor’s “ecosystem of cybersecurity industry advisors”.

Part of that relationship provides members with access to its security certification training, workshops, and hands-on lab sessions. The aim here was to enhance digital and cybersecurity skills in the participating nations, Microsoft said.

“At the forefront of the council’s vision is the drive to build a community where threat intelligence, technology, and resources can be shared in a timely and open manner,” the company’s blog post shared. “The council is set to meet virtually on a quarterly basis to maintain a continuous exchange of information on cyber threats and cybersecurity solutions.”

Yun Chang Hee, principle researcher of National Information Society Agency Korea’s AI and future strategy centre, said:

“The collective intelligence amongst the Asia-Pacific nations is paramount to jointly share best practices and strategies that will enable us to resolve cybersecurity challenges at a faster pace, and a more proactive manner…with similar threat landscapes, this partnership will ensure that we are steps ahead of the perpetrators, establishing higher standards for the cybersecurity ecosystem,” he added.

“The cybersecurity executive council is an instrumental platform for collaboration between our nations,” said National Cybersecurity Agency Thailand’s group captain and acting Deputy Secretary General, Amorn Chomchoey. “The stronger relationships we will forge via this council will enable us to anticipate threats as early as possible, prevent them before the effects of cybercrime evolves into another ‘pandemic’ for the cyberworld.”