Combating cybersecurity threats is a shared responsibility

THIS year's cyber attack on SingHealth has elevated the threat of cyber crime quickly into mainstream consciousness among those living in this global, hyper-connected city. And as cyber attacks become a boardroom matter, there is an urgent need for professionals to be equipped with the right knowledge to navigate this multi-dimensional risk. It's time for academics and industry to work together more closely to fight this complex threat.

To fully appreciate the current dilemma, it's important to first understand the complex cyber crime landscape.

As the world becomes increasingly digital, data is the currency that powers it. Companies utilise big data to gain insights into target audiences, optimise processes, make important business decisions and ultimately increase profits. By placing such importance on data, we create a strong incentive for bad actors to build an industry of cyber attacks exploiting this data. 2017 saw an unprecedented number of hacks, leaks and data breaches in Singapore with an increase predicted for 2018.