Singapore has launched a new S$70 million Infocomm Security Masterplan (MP2) aimed at building up the nation's resilience and competencies to deal with emerging cyber threats.

Dr Balakrishnan: The second Masterplan will engage both the public and private sectors even more deeply in securing Singapore's cyber space.

The five-year Masterplan was announced by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, at the annual Infocomm Security Seminar organised by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

MP2 follows from the first Infocomm Security Masterplan, which was launched in 2005 to provide a roadmap for developing infocomm security capabilities at the national level.

"While the first Masterplan is aimed largely at providing the public sector with measures to counter infocomm security threats, the second Masterplan will expand on that and engage both the public and private sectors even more deeply in securing Singapore's cyber space," said Dr Balakrishan.

One of the initiatives in MP2 which reaches out to the public, private and people sectors is the formation of the Cyber Security Awareness Alliance, which seeks to raise awareness and adoption of cyber security measures among individuals and businesses through educational workshops, seminars and collaterals.

Government agencies and the private sector will also participate in cyber security exercises which will test the nation's ability to respond to, and recover from, cyber attacks that cause widespread disruptions.

To address the unique security requirements of key economic sectors, MP2 will also focus on the development of sector-specific infocomm security programmes. Eschewing the one-size-fits-all approach, the Government will work with critical infrastructure owners in both public and private sectors to develop customised solutions, starting with the infocomm and energy sectors which support the vital operations of many other key industries.

Beyond local efforts, the Government will continue to exchange information and explore collaborations with other governments to combat cyber threats and foster close working relations. For instance, Singapore will be hosting Meridian 2008, a key infocomm security conference in October this year. Meridian is a platform for governments around the world to gather and exchange ideas and best practices in the protection of critical infocomm infrastructures.

On the competencies front, IDA has expanded its National Infocomm Scholarship Programme to offer scholarships in infocomm security. The scholarship gives students the opportunity to study infocomm security at the tertiary level, with stints at leading infocomm security multinational corporations, local companies and Government agencies. The IDA, together with infocomm companies, will offer up to 20 scholarships in infocomm security over the next five years.

IDA has also partnered government agencies and industry players to form the Association of Information Security Professionals (AISP, www.aisp.sg), which is aimed at enhancing the standing of the infocomm security profession in Singapore. Through the AISP – the first such association in Asia - Singapore hopes to build up a critical pool of competent infocomm security professionals. The AISP has over 120 members to date, and the number is expected to grow to 900 by 2011.

• For the full text of Dr Vivian Balakrishnan's speech, click here.