Microsoft launches first cybersecurity council in Asia Pacific
Microsoft launched the first Asia-Pacific听cybersecurity council to build a strong, coordinated response against cybercrime in the region.听听
The听Asia Pacific Public Sector Cyber Security Executive Council听consists of 15 policy makers from seven countries, including the Philippines,听who will boost public-private partnerships in cybersecurity, address cyber threats, and share solutions.听
鈥淐ybersecurity is an important national agenda that cannot rely solely on the back of an IT (information technology) team,鈥 said Dato鈥 Ts. Dr. Haji听Amirudin听Abdul Wahab,听chief听executive听officer of听CyberSecurity听Malaysia and one of the council鈥檚 founding members, during a cybersecurity panel in the Microsoft APAC Public Sector Summit听this May.听听
Cybercrime causes trillions of dollars in financial losses and operational impacts to individual and business victims. According to Microsoft鈥檚听Security Endpoint Threat Report听in 2019, the Asia-Pacific region experienced malware attacks 1.6 times higher and ransomware attacks 1.7 times higher than the rest of the world.听听听
In the Philippines,听internet security firm Kaspersky reported that ransomware attacks on small and medium businesses in the declined听by听15.17% in 2020; it qualified, however, that the dip听was due to a听shift to quality rather than quantity听鈥听meaning more aggressive and targeted attacks.听听
鈥淭he collective intelligence amongst the APAC 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,鈥 said听ChangHee听Yun, a principal researcher of Korea鈥檚 National Information Society Agency.听The coalition, he added,听can听help听members听get ahead of the perpetrators and establish higher standards for the cybersecurity eco-system.听听
A forum for government agencies, state leaders, and cybersecurity industry advisors will allow the council to share their experiences and knowledge relating to cyber threats. Microsoft said that this will build on existing efforts to strengthen partnerships through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise.听鈥斕Bront毛 H. Lacsamana听
