The Singapore government is implementing new measures to bolster the cybersecurity of critical information infrastructure (CII) owners. These measures include sharing classified threat intelligence, providing proprietary threat detection systems developed by the Centre for Strategic Infocomm Technologies (CSIT), and ensuring baseline security safeguards for digital products sold in Singapore. Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How highlighted that these initiatives aim to level the playing field between defenders and attackers and strengthen the ability to detect malicious activities.
This will strengthen their abilities to detect malicious activities in their networks, said Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How.Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results.
SINGAPORE: The government will help critical information infrastructure owners defend against cyberattacks with new measures, including equipping them with proprietary threat detection systems. Speaking in parliament on Monday , Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How said that these moves will help CIIOs level up and hold their own in a fight against advanced persistent threats. "Typically, national security is the exclusive domain of governments, such as developing cutting-edge technological systems and training skilled operators to deal with various threat scenarios," he said. "We have decided to avail some of the government’s expertise to the private sector, to level the playing field between the defenders and the attackers." The proprietary tools, developed by the Centre for Strategic Infocomm Technologies , will complement commercial threat detection systems used by CIIOs. The CSIT isThe government is putting in place new measures to help critical information infrastructure owners “level up and hold their own” in the fight against advanced persistent threats. This includes selective sharing of classified threat intelligence and equipping them with proprietary threat detection systems to strengthen their ability to detect malicious activities in their networks, with possible funding support if needed. This was announced by Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How in parliament on Monday . The authorities will also ensure that digital products sold in Singapore have “baseline security safeguards” that make them harder to compromise. For a start, the minimum cybersecurity requirements for all routers - and possibly IP cameras - sold in Singapore will be raised from what is known as CLS level one to the equivalent of CLS level two. Authorities have started deploying these tools in selected CII systems and will progressively deploy them across the rest, Mr Tan said. While CIIOs may need to incur costs to integrate these tools into their systems, the government will also consider funding support if needed, he added. The government will also selectively share classified threat intelligence to help CIIOs better spot and respond to threats that are attacking their system, Mr Tan said. “Even with these measures in place, we must be prepared that some threats will go undetected. This is why defenders must remain vigilant and constantly enhance their capabilities.”not in Singapore’s best interest Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo subsequently revealed that all four of Singapore's major telecommunication operators were theSingapore’s response to the attack, known as Operation Cyber Guardian, began after the telcos reported suspicious activities within their networks to the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore and the Infocomm Media Development Authority . UNC3886 has been described by Mandiant, a cybersecurity firm owned by Google, as a"China-nexus espionage group" that has targeted prominent strategic organisations on a global scale. The Chinese embassy in Singapore has expressed its “strong dissatisfaction” at the claims linking the country to UNC3886, calling them “groundless smears and accusations against China”.Singapore wants to take full advantage of AI's ability to be democratised - for its benefits to spread widely, said Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo. This is why the government is creating the National AI Impact Programme to turn AI's possibilities into reality, she said in parliament on Monday . It wants to encourage those who have not started to take the first step and help those already using AI to move beyond basic applications over the next three years. The programme aims to support 10,000 local enterprises to integrate AI into their business processes. This will create a sizeable pool of early adopters, with multipliers in the community sharing their experiences and knowledge. For a start, the government will support 100,000 workers to become AI bilingual. They will be pathfinders for meaningful AI upskilling for others to emulate. The initial focus will be on professions that are highly exposed to AI and serve multiple industries. By accelerating AI adoption, strengthening technology governance and building discernment amongst the people, the government is positioning Singaporeans to seize the opportunities and make progress together, said Mrs Teo.Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said in her speech that another risk Singapore faces is the spread of disinformation and misinformation, fueled by technologies like artificial intelligence. "As a diverse society, we are particularly vulnerable to online falsehoods that erode trust in our society and institutions," she said in laying out her ministry's spending plans for the coming year.reach over 90 per cent of Singaporeans. They remain highly trusted by the public, more so than reputable international and online media outlets," she said.to maintain their reach and strengthen their fact-checking capabilities.", MDDI will support efforts to keep public service media content visible and easily discoverable," she added. "We are studying approaches in other countries and will consult the industry to ensure that initiatives are implemented reasonably and effectively." In a media factsheet, CSA said it will require CIIOs, auditors conducting audits for CIIOs, as well as licensed cybersecurity service providers providing penetration testing and managed security operations centre monitoring services, to meet Cyber Trust Mark requirements. The CTM serves as a mark of distinction for organisations to prove that they have put in place good cybersecurity practices and measures that are commensurate with their cybersecurity risk profile. Currently, CIIOs are required to adhere to higher standards set out in the Cybersecurity Code of Practice for their CII systems. The new requirement for CIIOs to meet CTM Level 5 – the highest tier of certification – is meant for non-CII systems owned by the CIIOs.CII auditors will be given until the end of 2026 to obtain this mark at the organisation level for systems that support its business operations or services. “With Singapore’s rapid digital transformation, many businesses are becoming increasingly reliant on technology,” said CSA and IMDA. “It is important for organisations, especially CIIOs and their vendors that have access to sensitive data or critical systems, to adhere to a common set of standards to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats.”For one, it will ensure that the digital products that are sold in Singapore have"baseline security safeguards" that make them harder to be compromised, he added. Currently, all residential routers sold in Singapore must meet CLS level 1 requirements, such as having unique default passwords, vulnerability management processes and keeping software updated. While CLS Level 1 provides basic protections, the evolving cyber threat landscape requires more robust defences, said CSA and IMDA in a factsheet. “Current Level 1 requirements, while addressing fundamental vulnerabilities, are insufficient against more sophisticated attacks that exploit weaknesses in data encryption, authentication mechanisms, and secure storage,” added the authorities. Last year, Singapore took part in a global operation, where it was found that attackers infected over 2,700 Singapore devices, including routers.“Residential routers are common targets for malicious cyber actors because these devices serve as gateways to home networks and can be exploited to either gain access to other connected systems on the networks or become bots to launch attacks on other systems,” the agencies said. Under Level 2 requirements, manufacturers must ensure that residential routers incorporate stronger security measures such as secure communications, secure storage of sensitive data and robust authentication mechanisms to better protect users' data and privacy. These measures also reduce the risk of devices being compromised by malicious cyber actors, said CSA and IMDA.Routers currently in use will not be affected by the change, with more details about the transition and implementation period released when ready. Given that IP cameras are also another"common target" for cyber threat actors, Mr Tan said that CSA will also explore requiring IP cameras to meet CLS Level 2 standards. CSA will also continue to monitor and review if more digital devices should be required to meet minimum cybersecurity standards, he added. We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast, secure and the best it can possibly be.
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