S'pore to groom IT security experts

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/video/index.php

By Saifulbahri Ismail | Posted: 27 September 2011 1125 hrs

SINGAPORE: Three tertiary institutions are enhancing their collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to prepare the next generation of IT security professionals.

It covers a wide spectrum, from developing courseware for IT security modules to undertaking joint research projects.

The collaboration was sealed on Tuesday with the signing of three Memorandums of Understanding (MOU).

It involved the National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore Management University (SMU) and Temasek Polytechnic (TP), together with the Singapore Infocomm Technology Security Authority (SITSA), an agency under the ministry.

TP is launching a Centre of Digital Security Investigations, which will provide a practical training ground for students to be trained in the areas of incident response, monitoring and artefact analysis.

In addition, SMU's School of Information Systems is tying up with the ministry to develop a new undergraduate course on information security management.

Another initiative the SITSA has embarked on is the setting up of cyber security labs.

The labs will provide a realistic environment for students to learn first-hand the latest IT security defences.

Speaking at GovernmentWare 2011 -- an IT security seminar -- Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli said there has to be a strong pool of experts who can defend Singapore's cyber landscape.

"Cyber attacks or cyber terrorism are a relatively new phenomenon not only in Singapore but around the world, and therefore building the expertise and capabilities in our own industry is very important," Mr Masagos said.

"We certainly have people who can do this, but what we need to do is to replicate more of them, not only in terms of quantity but also to enable them to understand how to anticipate future attacks."

GovernmentWare 2011 features an exhibition showcasing the latest solutions and products developed to enhance IT security.

The three-day exhibition is attended by more than 50 organisations from both the public and private sectors.

-CNA/wk

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