A seminar aimed at providing IT Security knowledge to public health groups, schools, and government sectors was inaugurated by Mr Siraphop Maneerat, Manager of Central Region Sales and Operations at the National Telecommunication Public Company Limited (NT), and Mr Sanae Kamphaeng, Telecommunications Officer of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.
The objective of this seminar is to equip IT officers from government agencies, schools, and local government organisations in the province with the necessary knowledge and understanding to safeguard data and mitigate cyber threats.
NT is prepared to offer a range of services and provide guidance in developing plans and budgets to prevent cyber-attack risks that could significantly impact organisational operations and management.
As the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) reported, Thailand witnessed a significant surge in cybersecurity threats, from 135 incidents in 2021 to over 772 incidents in 2022. The majority of these incidents involved data breaches, particularly through educational and public sector websites.
According to Mr Sanae, a Prachuap Khiri Khan Province Telecommunications representative, many organisations often neglect the regular maintenance of database security and lack proper protocols for handling cyber threats. In such cases, they require dedicated professionals to manage their systems, as threats continuously evolve, and new vulnerabilities emerge.
The Thai government has been concerned regarding the effectiveness of their organisation’s security protocols in mitigating data leaks. They acknowledge that insufficient personnel can result in significant damage. Seeing this, Thai government legislation, namely the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and some Thai enterprises, passed the Cybersecurity Act in 2019.
The Cybersecurity Act aims to establish legal protections and measures to safeguard cyberspace security. One significant aspect of this act is implementing a cybersecurity risk assessment plan to prevent and address cybersecurity threats that could potentially jeopardise national security and public welfare. These threats encompass the economy, healthcare, international relations, and other governmental functions. The act aims to ensure the stability and integrity of these areas in the face of cybersecurity challenges.
Additionally, the Cybersecurity Act gives the Thai government the authority to monitor and access digital data if it determines that cyber threats pose a risk to the critical digital infrastructure of the country. Private organisations operating in sectors such as national security, financial services, and public services are obligated to provide the names and contact details of key stakeholders who own, use, or possess computer systems, comply with the code of conduct and cybersecurity standards as mandated by law, conduct comprehensive risk assessments, and notify stakeholders about any incidents involving cyber threats.
Basic protection needs to be improved in the current digital landscape, where online threats come in various forms. A comprehensive defence system is crucial. This law and issue is truly new for Thailand itself, so NT allows institutions or even individuals to dig for information regarding cyber security further. “Interested agencies can reach out to the National Telecommunication Company for inquiries and guidance regarding IT Security services,” said Sanae.
Thailand is more serious about bolstering its cybersecurity systems to create a safe environment in a digital era. Supporting this, NT has introduced IT Security services to provide system and equipment security for government and private sector agencies.
