Smart Nation, But will We Be Secure?

The Straits Times

14 October 2016

Shashi Jayakumar and Benjamin Ang

The launch this week of Singapore’s Cyber-security Strategy by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong marks a milestone in Singapore’s cyber development and aspirations.

The pillars of the strategy – building a resilient infrastructure, creating a safer cyberspace, developing a vibrant cyber-security ecosystem, and strengthening international partnerships – bring definition and much-needed clarity to Singapore’s trajectory in this arena. But while the unveiling of the strategy marks a milestone, challenges lie ahead.

Our citizens have developed a normalcy expectancy – the belief that we will be shielded from high signature, unexpected or disruptive events. As PM Lee noted when launching the SGSecure initiative in response to terrorist threats against Singapore, the first question people ask (on terrorism) is “What is the government going to do about it?” Just as Singaporeans have relied on the Government for physical security for decades, there is a propensity to similarly rely on the Government for cyber security.

The Government will do its part for cyber – securing systems and networks, protecting citizens’ and official data, and working with the relevant private-sector companies in critical sectors including energy, banking, healthcare and transport, to improve their response and recovery plans.

But worldwide, it is becoming patently clear that the national authorities alone cannot guarantee cyber security. So where do the concomitant interests in ensuring cyber security lie?

… Dr Shashi Jayakumar is head of the Centre of Excellence for National Security at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University.
Benjamin Ang is coordinator of the Cybersecurity Programme at the Centre of Excellence for National Security at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

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