By Sim YH –
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 19 NOV – With the aim of improving communication, incident response capabilities and collective efforts Asia-Pacific Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs) to reduce cyber threats, Cyber Security Brunei (CSB) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has organized 2024 ITU Regional Asia-Pacific CyberDrill which took place at the Radisson Hotel, in the capital.
Accordingly, the inauguration ceremony of the cyber training was completed by the Deputy Minister (Security and Law) in the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) and Deputy Chairman of the National Cyber Security Committee, Dato Seri Paduka Haji Sufian bin Haji Sabtu.
The three-day cyber exercise which started from 19 to 21 November was attended by representatives from 21 countries in the ASEAN region, the Pacific islands and the Indian sub-continent including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, Kiribati, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Palau, Samoa , Sri Lanka, Tonga and Vanuatu.
CSB Interim Commissioner, Awang Shamsul Bahri bin Haji Kamis stated that it is an honor to work with ITU to strengthen Brunei’s cyber resilience by developing the capacity and capabilities of its various organizations including the Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) through cyber drills (CyberDrill).
In addition, he also stated that he was very excited to contribute to regional development in cyber security through the participation of 21 countries in the event.
In his welcome speech, Awang Shamsul Bahri stated that since the establishment of CSB in August 2020, its mission is to protect every aspect of cyber security, especially the protection of CII in Brunei.
Therefore, the ITU Cyber Training is timely with the enactment of the Cyber Security Law in 2023 where CII under the law is committed to participate in the mandatory cyber training organized by the CSB in the near future.
He explained that it aims to test the level of preparedness of different CII owners in response to significant cyber security incidents.
Meanwhile, the Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava was quoted as saying 2024 ITU Regional Asia-Pacific CyberDrill providing valuable opportunities for cyber security learning, strengthening cyber security capacity and regional collaboration.
The conference also featured the presentation of the Global Cyber Security Index (GCI) 2024; a panel discussion on the state of cyber security in the Asia-Pacific region exploring the current cyber security landscape by experts from CSB, INTERPOL, Palau and Mongolia and a round table session with representatives from the Philippines, Thailand, Nepal and Brunei to exchange views on strategies as well as national cybersecurity best practices.
In addition, the event also offers a Malware Analysis Capability Building session for CSIRTs where the technical training equips participants with advanced malware analysis techniques as well as National Cyber Crisis Management with management training focusing on the implementation and planning of crisis response effective.
At the end of the event, it will feature an intensive cyber exercise that simulates a real-world cyber attack involving about 100 participants including 53 local participants.