|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Singapore and the United Kingdom have set their sights on jointly developing a resilient and future-ready cybersecurity profession. This partnership, spearheaded by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (UK-DSIT), emerges as a beacon of hope in the fight against a formidable adversary – cyber threats.
The underlying premise of this collaboration is a shared acknowledgement of the worldwide cybersecurity skills gap. It’s a problem of global proportions that necessitates a united front from the international community. By addressing this gap collectively, Singapore and the UK aim to reduce cyber risks, fortify the security of organisations and individuals, and bolster the cybersecurity workforce to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
At the heart of this initiative is a commitment to improving and advocating for the cybersecurity profession. This commitment was underscored as Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information, Josephine Teo, and UK Cabinet Office Minister, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, convened at the Singapore International Cyber Week 2023. Their discussions reaffirmed the mutual intent of both nations to collaborate and elevate the cybersecurity profession and its associated skills.
Key areas of cooperation include:
- Common Knowledge Base in Cybersecurity: Singapore and the UK are working towards building a shared knowledge foundation in cybersecurity. This may involve a collaborative research endeavour to align the UK Cyber Security Body of Knowledge (CyBOK) and Singapore’s Information Security Body of Knowledge (IS-BOK). By harmonising these knowledge bases, both countries can ensure that their cybersecurity professionals are equipped with a consistent and robust skill set.
- Mapping Knowledge and Skills to Practice: To further enhance the capabilities of cybersecurity professionals, Singapore and the UK are exploring the mapping of qualifications and certifications to the skills and competencies required by the industry. This alignment ensures that the workforce remains attuned to the evolving needs of the cybersecurity landscape.
- Cross-Border Professional Chartership: The possibility of opening the UK Cyber Security Council (the Council) professional chartership to Singapore’s cybersecurity practitioners is under consideration. This move would offer Singaporean experts an opportunity to access the Council, thereby enhancing their professional development and networking opportunities.
- Cyber Skills Dialogue: A dynamic exchange of ideas is fundamental to growth. To this end, both nations are planning a platform for dialogue that will bring together government representatives, industry professionals, and academic experts from both the UK and Singapore. The goal is to enhance the size, diversity, and quality of national cybersecurity workforces.
David Koh, Commissioner of Cybersecurity and Chief Executive of CSA, stressed the urgency of this partnership. He notes that as cyber threats escalate and mutate across the globe, a robust cybersecurity workforce is crucial to tackling these evolving challenges.
The collaboration with the UK-DSIT aims to enhance the quality of the cybersecurity workforce by aligning common skills and competencies. Moreover, it will provide an invaluable platform for professionals from both nations to share insights and elevate the level of professionalism across the field.
Lindy Cameron, CEO of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), emphasised that resolving the cybersecurity skills gap necessitates international cooperation. In recent weeks, the UK Cyber Security Council recognised the first 100 cyber practitioners with professional titles, representing a significant milestone. The ambition now is to work toward international recognition of these standards, and the partnership between the UK and Singapore serves as an auspicious beginning.
