More can be done to improve cyber security for Singapore’s companies and organisations, said Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo. Beyond strengthening digital infrastructure like cloud services and data centres, the cyber security of Singapore’s companies is important as it provides services that people use and defines their online experiences, she added. Mrs Teo was speaking at a conference organised by Temasek-backed cyber-security firm Istari on March 20.
Her remarks came on the back of a recent survey by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), which found gaps in the cyber-security preparedness of local organisations. The survey, which covered more than 2,000 entities across 23 industries and seven charity sectors, found that the majority of these organisations had encountered at least one cyber incident in the year prior to being surveyed, such as ransomware attempts. The survey queried organisations on the cyber-security measures they have adopted in five areas, such as using secure configuration settings for hardware and software, controlling access to data and services, and updating software on devices and systems. In each of the five areas, organisations on average adopted about 70 per cent of essential measures. While the adoption rate is “reasonably encouraging”, CSA believes that partial adoption of the measures is inadequate, Mrs Teo note