Singapore IMDA launches GoSecure cybersecurity programme for Singapore ICT firms

Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will work with Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) as part of an initiative to help ICT companies improve their product security posture and increase their cybersecurity capabilities.

The initiative, called GoSecure, will run from July 2018 to July 2020. According to IMDA, the programme will benefit 200 Singapore-based ICT companies over the two-year period.

Organisations will be able to bring cybersecurity decisions into their product development; identify and resolve vulnerabilities in their products; and use vulnerability assessment services to address vulnerabilities and advanced security threats.

Security-by-Design Consultation: Through a consultation process, ICT companies will acquire knowledge on how best to approach and design their software from ground up in a way that will be as secure as possible.

ICT companies will also undergo exercises such as Threat Risk Assessment and Critical Design Review to help them better appreciate any potential weaknesses of their solution.

Vulnerability Assessment Testing: Through vulnerability assessment testing of their product or solution, ICT companies will be able to define, identify, classify and thereafter, fix discovered security vulnerabilities in their product

According to IMDA, the programme will also involve SIT students and interns, who will be exposed to commercial industry projects. SIT will also launch a corporate mentorship scheme for industry professionals who wish to provide guidance to SIT students during vulnerability assessment testing.

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) will also support the programme by helping to establish the Security by Design curriculum, and to review vulnerability assessment process quality during the initial phase.

IMDA will co-fund the manpower, software, and hardware requirements to run the GoSecure programme.

The GoSecure programme is offered to Singapore and Singapore-based digital solution companies for a nominal fee starting at S$6500. Organisations are welcome to apply now.

IMDA is also working on a number of other initiatives for Singapore businesses.

GoSecure is part of the IMDA's Digital Economy Framework, which sets out to achieve three aims:

• Helping industries and companies ACCELERATE their digitalisation journeys;
• Strengthening Singapore's ability to COMPETE internationally, through open innovation and and the fostering of new ecosystems, enabled by digitalisation;
• TRANSFORM the ICM sector to deepen capabilities in frontier technologies and nurture the next generation of globally competitive digital champions

IMDA says it wants to help accelerate organisations' digitalisation journeys, compete in R-D and AI, and to transform the ICM sector.

"To drive digital transformation to leverage the opportunities brought about by the digital economy, one of IMDA's key strategies is to encourage the adoption of digital solutions throughout the different sectors. With increasing digital adoption comes the need for ICT solution providers to strengthen the reliability of their digital solutions and products," IMDA concludes.