Taiwan invited cybersecurity experts to share their insights and practical experience from a range of sectors including critical infrastructure, communication networks, industrial computers, information technology and aviation. The experts also discussed broad and in-depth cybersecurity management strategies regarding setting up a joint U.S.-Taiwan cybersecurity defence mechanism.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has always viewed establishing a Taiwan-U.S. cybersecurity cooperation platform as an important element in its promotion of the digital transformation of businesses and the development of technology. Improving an organisation’s cyber defences is a constant ongoing task. Taiwan and the U.S. have also signed a joint declaration on 5G wireless communications networks security in which they stressed the importance of prudent evaluation of hardware and software suppliers to ensure a secure and resilient 5G ecosystem.
The U.S. government also announced the establishment of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) framework to assess its contractors’ security, capability and resilience to eliminate supply chain vulnerabilities. The MOEA has taken the lead in planning a similar mechanism, using the CMMC as a model, to assess the cybersecurity maturity of Taiwan firms to assist them in meeting cybersecurity standards and serving as trusted supply chain partners delivering reliable products and services.
Cybersecurity is one of the key sectors listed in Taiwan’s Six Core Strategic Industries initiative. MOEA has been working to enhance Taiwan’s cybersecurity capabilities through a range of endeavours such as R&D, product security testing, talent training, and the establishment of testbeds. The Ministry will continue actively carrying out measures aimed at fostering the development of a complete cybersecurity ecosystem that meets the U.S.-based National Institute of Science & Technologies’ cybersecurity standards and guidelines.
– Chuan-Neng Lin, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs
In the face of growing global cyber threats, Taiwan has become an essential partner of the U.S. as it works to steadily strengthen its defences. The current U.S. administration has taken several important steps on this front, such as signing a national security memorandum that aims to boost cybersecurity for critical infrastructure and setups an industrial management system on cybersecurity.
The U.S. has continued to boost cooperation with Taiwan, including through various initiatives to assist the public and private sectors in responding to various types of cyberattacks and in enhancing their overall cyber defences. Nevertheless, cyber threats continue to pose a severe challenge to global companies, regarding endless supply chain intrusion risks and borderless ransomware attacks that are difficult to trace. Therefore, advanced deployment and strengthening of cybersecurity resilience are important keys to cultivating a company’s competitiveness.
Taiwan industry should take active countermeasures to ensure supply chain members in key sectors such as semiconductors, IoT, infrastructure and 5G possess fundamental cybersecurity capabilities. Firms should adopt a zero-trust architecture and employ proactive strategies as well as diverse methods to ensure maximum cyber defences.
With the rapid development of 5G, the industry has already moved on from digital transformation to the smart transformation stage, which has greatly increased cybersecurity risks to companies. Taiwan will continue to engage in cooperation with like-minded nations such as the U.S. on establishing cybersecurity joint defence systems for cross-border supply chains and jointly building a defence strategy to realize the long-term goal of global digital economic development.
As reported by OpenGov Asia, cybersecurity is one of the most important of the six core strategic industries founded on the plan. This is evidenced by strong legislative support in the form of amendments to the National Security Act in 2019 and the passage of the Cybersecurity Management Act in 2018.
Taiwan is promoting a partnership between Taiwan’s public and private sectors, as well as like-minded partners in the international community. By sharing information, it is possible to efficiently and swiftly strengthen the country’s digital defences.
