Singapore - Ensure security as reliance on cyber-connectivity increases: DPM Teo

SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Wednesday warned that smaller firms have seen a spike in global cyber-attacks and are being targeted as they are deemed more vulnerable.

While large organisations with more than 2,500 employees continue to be the primary target in the first half of 2012, more than a third of global targeted attacks were aimed at small businesses.

Mr Teo said many of these attacks involved industrial espionage and crime, and that the data stolen in these cybercrimes allow competitors to illicitly acquire technology or sensitive business information.

In the past five years, more than 1,000 cybercrime cases -- including hacking, unauthorised access and use of computer services -- were reported under the Computer Misuse Act.

The deputy prime minister, who is also Co-ordinating Minister for National Security, made these points at the 2012 National Security Conference organised by the Singapore Business Federation.

Mr Teo warned that the escalating reliance on cyber-connectivity also made such hyper-connected systems more vulnerable.

He said: "A single security breach or technical failure in just one computer can have knock-on effects on the entire system in a very short time, if systems are not resiliently designed, safeguards are not provided, or staff are not vigilant."

Mr Teo stressed the importance of having companies, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), come together to prevent such an incident from occurring.

He outlined three areas where businesses can enhance their cyber security: employee training and education; regular testing and updating; and making cyber security a management priority.

He said firms which enhance security not only keep their assets, customers and partners secure, but also eliminate weak links in the overall hyper-connected system.

In 2010, the Infocomm Development Authority's annual survey found that a majority of enterprises had increased their adoption of infocomm security measures.

Virus checking or protection software was the most pervasive infocomm security measure among all enterprises, followed by anti-spyware software and firewall.

The survey also showed that there was an increase in both the average number of training days and spending on infocomm security education for employees.

- CNA/wm/ir

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