Fortinet teams up with CSA to boost Singapore's cybersecurity

Fortinet has partnered with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) to enhance the nation's cybersecurity capabilities.

The collaboration was formalised through a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) signed at the Operational Technology Cybersecurity Expert Panel (OTCEP) Forum 2024.

The agreement outlines several critical areas of cooperation designed to bolster Singapore's defences against evolving cyber threats. Key elements include the sharing of cyber threat intelligence, enhancing detection engineering, and collating threat landscape insights. By providing CSA with early warnings of new vulnerabilities and emerging threats, Fortinet aims to enhance the nation's cybersecurity posture and enable swift responses to potential risks.

Assistant Chief Executive (National Cyber Resilience) of CSA, Dan Yock Hau, emphasised the importance of the partnership. "With cyber threats evolving and growing at a rapid pace, it is imperative that we stay ahead by building capabilities and by gathering and sharing valuable threat intelligence," he stated. Hau underscored the necessity of collaborating with strong industry partners, such as Fortinet, to enhance Singapore's ability to manage cyber threats effectively.

Fortinet, known for driving the convergence of networking and security, will also aid in detection engineering and threat hunting. By pooling resources and expertise, both organisations aim to strengthen Singapore's capabilities in these critical areas. Fortinet will share aggregated statistical data and insights about the cybersecurity landscape with CSA, allowing for coordinated efforts to protect critical information infrastructure and fortify the nation's cyber defences.

Vishak Raman, Fortinet's Vice President of Sales for India, SAARC, SEA, and ANZ, highlighted the urgency of addressing the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals. "Singapore continues to face a significant number of cyber-attacks targeting critical infrastructure, financial sectors, and personal data of citizens. Cybercriminals are increasingly sophisticated, using tactics such as generative AI to enhance their success rate," he said. Raman added that the collaboration with CSA is vital in exploring opportunities for sharing threat intelligence and improving detection and response capabilities. "This partnership underscores our commitment to protecting Singapore's digital landscape and maintaining the security and resilience of our nation's cyberspace," he remarked.

The MoC represents the mutual commitment of both Fortinet and CSA to protect Singapore's digital environment. Through this partnership, the organisations aim to evaluate and enhance the nation's ability to respond to and mitigate cyber threats. By combining Fortinet's extensive expertise in cybersecurity with CSA's key role in safeguarding Singapore's cyberspace, the partnership aspires to make substantial improvements in national cyber resilience.