Singapore Cyber Landscape 2018

Cybersecurity incidents made some of the biggest headlines in 2018. Data breaches, in particular, were reported across multiple industries. Facebook, Cathay Pacific and Marriott were just some of the high-profile organisations that were hacked and had sensitive information stolen.

Singapore was not spared as well. We were hit by the most serious data breach in our history – 1.5 million SingHealth patients had their non-medical personal particulars illegally accessed and copied. As cyber threats grow in scale and sophistication, it is clearly no longer a question of “if”, but rather “when” an attack will hit us. Even as we strive to make our systems as secure as possible, it is imperative that we respond to an incident swiftly, robustly and decisively. The cyber-attack on SingHealth was a stark reminder for us to push further in our cybersecurity efforts collectively as a nation. On the international stage, Singapore remains firmly committed to the establishment of a rulesbased international order in cyberspace; and condemns all malicious cyber activities, which threaten the safety and security of Singapore and Singaporeans.

2018 also saw significant progress in enhancing Singapore’s cybersecurity. We passed and implemented the Cybersecurity Act, which provides a legal framework for the oversight and maintenance of cybersecurity in Singapore. To nurture a vibrant cybersecurity ecosystem, we launched initiatives such as the Industry Call for Innovation, which laid the ground for long-term, holistic cybersecurity investments, and the Smart Nation Scholarship, to support talented students pursuing a career in cybersecurity. In addition, the establishment of the $30 million ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence underscores Singapore’s efforts to build regional cyber capacity and promote international collaboration.

Singapore marks its Bicentennial Commemoration in 2019. This journey over the last 200 years has seen us develop from a small trading outpost to a global digital hub. As we advance towards our vision of a Smart Nation, cybersecurity is a vital prerequisite and key enabler – the invisible glue that instils trust and confidence in our digital plans. We hope this third edition of the Singapore Cyber Landscape will provide useful lessons from past incidents, so that we can better prepare ourselves for the digital future. Let us keep Singapore’s cyberspace safe and secure, together.