• Home
  • About RSIS
    • Introduction
    • Building the Foundations
    • Welcome Message
    • Board of Governors
    • Staff Profiles
      • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
      • Dean’s Office
      • Management
      • Distinguished Fellows
      • Faculty and Research
      • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
      • Visiting Fellows
      • Adjunct Fellows
      • Administrative Staff
    • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
    • RSIS Endowment Fund
    • Endowed Professorships
    • Career Opportunities
    • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
    • Research Centres
      • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
      • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
      • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
      • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
      • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
    • Research Programmes
      • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
      • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
    • Future Issues and Technology Cluster
    • [email protected] Newsletter
    • Other Research
      • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
    • Graduate Programmes Office
    • Overview
    • MSc (Asian Studies)
    • MSc (International Political Economy)
    • MSc (International Relations)
    • MSc (Strategic Studies)
    • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
    • PhD Programme
    • Exchange Partners and Programmes
    • How to Apply
    • Financial Assistance
    • Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
    • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
    • Alumni
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
    • International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
    • SRP Executive Programme
    • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
    • RSIS Publications
      • Annual Reviews
      • Books
      • Bulletins and Newsletters
      • Commentaries
      • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
      • Commemorative / Event Reports
      • IDSS Paper
      • Interreligious Relations
      • Monographs
      • NTS Insight
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • RSIS Publications for the Year
    • Glossary of Abbreviations
    • External Publications
      • Authored Books
      • Journal Articles
      • Edited Books
      • Chapters in Edited Books
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • Op-Eds
      • External Publications for the Year
    • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
    • Great Powers
    • Sustainable Security
    • Other Resource Pages
    • Media Highlights
    • News Releases
    • Speeches
    • Vidcast Channel
    • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsis.sg
Linkedin
instagram instagram rsis.sg
RSS
  • Home
  • About RSIS
      • Introduction
      • Building the Foundations
      • Welcome Message
      • Board of Governors
      • Staff Profiles
        • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
        • Dean’s Office
        • Management
        • Distinguished Fellows
        • Faculty and Research
        • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
        • Visiting Fellows
        • Adjunct Fellows
        • Administrative Staff
      • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
      • RSIS Endowment Fund
      • Endowed Professorships
      • Career Opportunities
      • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
      • Research Centres
        • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
        • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
        • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
        • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
        • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      • Research Programmes
        • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
        • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      • Future Issues and Technology Cluster
      • [email protected] Newsletter
      • Other Research
        • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      • Graduate Programmes Office
      • Overview
      • MSc (Asian Studies)
      • MSc (International Political Economy)
      • MSc (International Relations)
      • MSc (Strategic Studies)
      • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
      • PhD Programme
      • Exchange Partners and Programmes
      • How to Apply
      • Financial Assistance
      • Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
      • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
      • Alumni
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
      • International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
      • SRP Executive Programme
      • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
      • RSIS Publications
        • Annual Reviews
        • Books
        • Bulletins and Newsletters
        • Commentaries
        • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
        • Commemorative / Event Reports
        • IDSS Paper
        • Interreligious Relations
        • Monographs
        • NTS Insight
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • RSIS Publications for the Year
      • Glossary of Abbreviations
      • External Publications
        • Authored Books
        • Journal Articles
        • Edited Books
        • Chapters in Edited Books
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • Op-Eds
        • External Publications for the Year
      • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
      • Great Powers
      • Sustainable Security
      • Other Resource Pages
      • Media Highlights
      • News Releases
      • Speeches
      • Vidcast Channel
      • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
  • instagram instagram rsis.sg
Connect

Getting to RSIS

Map

Address

Nanyang Technological University
Block S4, Level B3,
50 Nanyang Avenue,
Singapore 639798

View location on Google maps Click here for directions to RSIS

Get in Touch

    Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
    RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
    instagram instagram rsis.sg
      RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    RSIS Intranet

    S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
    Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University

    Skip to content

     
    • RSIS
    • Publication
    • RSIS Publications
    • CO13133 | Enhancing ASEAN-wide Cybersecurity: Time for a Hub of Excellence?
    • Annual Reviews
    • Books
    • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • Commentaries
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
    • IDSS Paper
    • Interreligious Relations
    • Monographs
    • NTS Insight
    • Policy Reports
    • Working Papers
    • RSIS Publications for the Year

    CO13133 | Enhancing ASEAN-wide Cybersecurity: Time for a Hub of Excellence?
    Caitrίona Helena Heinl

    18 July 2013

    download pdf
    RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced with prior permission from RSIS and due credit to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email to Editor RSIS Commentary at [email protected].

    Synopsis

    In line with the region’s aim to establish an ASEAN Community by 2015, the ASEAN ICT Masterplan envisions the creation of a global ICT hub. A cohesive and comprehensive effort to tackle cybersecurity issues is a prerequisite for an ASEAN Community and is in the shared interests of ASEAN member states.

    Commentary

    THE ASEAN ICT Masterplan 2015 (AIM2015) envisions creating a global Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hub. The grouping’s ambition is to distinguish itself as a region of high quality ICT infrastructure, skilled manpower and technological innovation.

    In support of these plans, member states should spur the creation of a cybersecurity hub of excellence in the region as part of a wider comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.

    Lack of region-wide cohesiveness

    National and regional moves to adopt comprehensive cybersecurity strategies have been somewhat slow and fragmented across the globe. To date, ASEAN’s efforts to adopt a comprehensive regional framework for cybsersecurity are equally piecemeal.

    This lack of region-wide cohesiveness does not help the region’s security and impairs the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint to become a single market and production base, a highly competitive economic region, and one that is fully integrated into the global economy. Indeed, an ASEAN-wide comprehensive cybersecurity framework has yet to be developed, official public documents are vague, the 2013 schedule for ASEAN official meetings does not include cybersecurity, and the precise extent of discussions and proposed initiatives is difficult to ascertain.

    Creating a regional hub of cybersecurity professionals

    Congruent with ASEAN’s aims to develop a workforce with high-level ICT proficiency, member states should develop a pool of cybersecurity professionals to effectively respond to regional and international cybersecurity challenges. This could be achieved through a range of approaches and programmes including ASEAN cybersecurity scholarships (like those proposed under the Mactan Cebu Declaration and AIM2015 for the creation of an ASEAN ICT Scholarship programme to attract ICT talent); education on cybersecurity issues at the earliest possible age as well as incorporation in school curricula; the further development of “ASEAN Cyberkids Camp”; and initiatives to encourage and attract talent to choose ICT as a career.

    Innovative initiatives like CoderDojo could also be considered by ASEAN member states as a novel way to attract young talent for the purposes of regional cybersecurity. CoderDojo is a cost effective and largely community-driven global movement sweeping across Europe and the United States with more than 15,000 children learning to write software in more than 35 countries. Currently, there is one CoderDojo in the ASEAN region (CoderDojo Bandung, Indonesia), five in India and eight in Japan. It runs free not-for-profit coding clubs in local communities and regular sessions for young people to learn how to code and develop websites, apps, and programs in a fun environment.

    In China for instance, one out of three school children already want to be a “hacker” when they grow up – hackers are the new cool, the new rock star. To attract such young talent, “Dojos” also organise tours of technology companies and introduce guest speakers to talk about their careers. Its focus on young girls and women in technology at DojoCon2013 in April this year is particularly noteworthy for the ASEAN region.

    ICT experts and innovators

    AIM2015 calls for the establishment of a database of ICT experts and innovators within ASEAN, which could be harnessed for cybersecurity professionals. Furthermore, accrediting IT and cybersecurity professionals with a regionally-recognised certification should also be considered to allow for regional cohesiveness. As it stands, ASEAN has completed eight Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) to facilitate the free movement of skilled labour in the region, albeit to varying degrees of cooperation in recognition of qualifications. However, of the eight professional groups listed, computer scientists and IT professionals are not listed (although engineering services are included).

    It is also worth considering the European Commission’s recent proposal under the February 2013 Cybersecurity Strategy of the European Union of a roadmap for a “Network and Information Security Driving Licence”. If implemented, this would be a voluntary certification programme to promote enhanced skills and competence of IT professionals. Furthermore, the Commission plans to organise with the support of the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) in 2014, a “cybersecurity championship” where university students across the region will compete in proposing network and information security solutions.

    Finally, to stimulate a culture of security and data privacy by design, the Commission recommends the introduction of training on network and information security, secure software development, and personal data protection for computer science students.

    Fostering a “win-win solution”

    Such measures will further increase the attractiveness of ASEAN for foreign direct investment and enhance the region’s competitiveness. ICT is regarded as a growth sector for the region, employing nearly 12 million people and contributing more than USD32 billion to ASEAN’s GDP, with figures expected to increase by 2015.

    These initiatives will also address the development divide, help alleviate poverty, and create employment opportunities in line with the social development goals of the ASEAN Community and the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.

    While there is no one-size-fits-all approach for this developing area, it is in the common interests of ASEAN states – and the wider international community – to adopt such regional initiatives for cybersecurity to tackle cross-border cyber threats. The current lack of region-wide cohesiveness and a comprehensive framework is detrimental not just to the realisation of the ASEAN Economic Community but also to the overall security of the ASEAN region.

    Significantly, it will also impede current and future international cooperation efforts on cybersecurity that are required to deal effectively with the cross-border nature of cyber incidents.

    About the Author

    Caitríona H. Heinl is a Research Fellow at the Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS), a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University.

    Categories: Commentaries / / Southeast Asia and ASEAN

    Last updated on 04/04/2017

    RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced with prior permission from RSIS and due credit to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email to Editor RSIS Commentary at [email protected].

    Synopsis

    In line with the region’s aim to establish an ASEAN Community by 2015, the ASEAN ICT Masterplan envisions the creation of a global ICT hub. A cohesive and comprehensive effort to tackle cybersecurity issues is a prerequisite for an ASEAN Community and is in the shared interests of ASEAN member states.

    Commentary

    THE ASEAN ICT Masterplan 2015 (AIM2015) envisions creating a global Information and Communications Technology (ICT) hub. The grouping’s ambition is to distinguish itself as a region of high quality ICT infrastructure, skilled manpower and technological innovation.

    In support of these plans, member states should spur the creation of a cybersecurity hub of excellence in the region as part of a wider comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.

    Lack of region-wide cohesiveness

    National and regional moves to adopt comprehensive cybersecurity strategies have been somewhat slow and fragmented across the globe. To date, ASEAN’s efforts to adopt a comprehensive regional framework for cybsersecurity are equally piecemeal.

    This lack of region-wide cohesiveness does not help the region’s security and impairs the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint to become a single market and production base, a highly competitive economic region, and one that is fully integrated into the global economy. Indeed, an ASEAN-wide comprehensive cybersecurity framework has yet to be developed, official public documents are vague, the 2013 schedule for ASEAN official meetings does not include cybersecurity, and the precise extent of discussions and proposed initiatives is difficult to ascertain.

    Creating a regional hub of cybersecurity professionals

    Congruent with ASEAN’s aims to develop a workforce with high-level ICT proficiency, member states should develop a pool of cybersecurity professionals to effectively respond to regional and international cybersecurity challenges. This could be achieved through a range of approaches and programmes including ASEAN cybersecurity scholarships (like those proposed under the Mactan Cebu Declaration and AIM2015 for the creation of an ASEAN ICT Scholarship programme to attract ICT talent); education on cybersecurity issues at the earliest possible age as well as incorporation in school curricula; the further development of “ASEAN Cyberkids Camp”; and initiatives to encourage and attract talent to choose ICT as a career.

    Innovative initiatives like CoderDojo could also be considered by ASEAN member states as a novel way to attract young talent for the purposes of regional cybersecurity. CoderDojo is a cost effective and largely community-driven global movement sweeping across Europe and the United States with more than 15,000 children learning to write software in more than 35 countries. Currently, there is one CoderDojo in the ASEAN region (CoderDojo Bandung, Indonesia), five in India and eight in Japan. It runs free not-for-profit coding clubs in local communities and regular sessions for young people to learn how to code and develop websites, apps, and programs in a fun environment.

    In China for instance, one out of three school children already want to be a “hacker” when they grow up – hackers are the new cool, the new rock star. To attract such young talent, “Dojos” also organise tours of technology companies and introduce guest speakers to talk about their careers. Its focus on young girls and women in technology at DojoCon2013 in April this year is particularly noteworthy for the ASEAN region.

    ICT experts and innovators

    AIM2015 calls for the establishment of a database of ICT experts and innovators within ASEAN, which could be harnessed for cybersecurity professionals. Furthermore, accrediting IT and cybersecurity professionals with a regionally-recognised certification should also be considered to allow for regional cohesiveness. As it stands, ASEAN has completed eight Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) to facilitate the free movement of skilled labour in the region, albeit to varying degrees of cooperation in recognition of qualifications. However, of the eight professional groups listed, computer scientists and IT professionals are not listed (although engineering services are included).

    It is also worth considering the European Commission’s recent proposal under the February 2013 Cybersecurity Strategy of the European Union of a roadmap for a “Network and Information Security Driving Licence”. If implemented, this would be a voluntary certification programme to promote enhanced skills and competence of IT professionals. Furthermore, the Commission plans to organise with the support of the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) in 2014, a “cybersecurity championship” where university students across the region will compete in proposing network and information security solutions.

    Finally, to stimulate a culture of security and data privacy by design, the Commission recommends the introduction of training on network and information security, secure software development, and personal data protection for computer science students.

    Fostering a “win-win solution”

    Such measures will further increase the attractiveness of ASEAN for foreign direct investment and enhance the region’s competitiveness. ICT is regarded as a growth sector for the region, employing nearly 12 million people and contributing more than USD32 billion to ASEAN’s GDP, with figures expected to increase by 2015.

    These initiatives will also address the development divide, help alleviate poverty, and create employment opportunities in line with the social development goals of the ASEAN Community and the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.

    While there is no one-size-fits-all approach for this developing area, it is in the common interests of ASEAN states – and the wider international community – to adopt such regional initiatives for cybersecurity to tackle cross-border cyber threats. The current lack of region-wide cohesiveness and a comprehensive framework is detrimental not just to the realisation of the ASEAN Economic Community but also to the overall security of the ASEAN region.

    Significantly, it will also impede current and future international cooperation efforts on cybersecurity that are required to deal effectively with the cross-border nature of cyber incidents.

    About the Author

    Caitríona H. Heinl is a Research Fellow at the Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS), a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University.

    Categories: Commentaries

    Last updated on 04/04/2017

    Back to top

    Terms of Use | Privacy Statement
    Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
    This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
    OK
    Latest Book
    CO13133 | Enhancing ASEAN-wide Cybersecurity: Time for a Hub of Excellence?

    Synopsis

    In line with the region’s aim to establish an ASEAN Community by 2015, the ASEAN ICT Masterplan envisions the creation o ...
    more info