Singapore, Malaysia make top 10 cybersecurity readiness

Article By : EE Times Asia

The Global Cybersecurity Index survey evaluates how countries deal with cybersecurity, including their institutions, educational and research capabilities and cooperation in information-sharing networks.

A survey by the U.N. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has revealed that Singapore has a near-perfect approach to cybersecurity. The survey noted that "wealth breeds cybercrime, but it does not automatically generate cybersecurity" and governments should ensure that they are prepared for any cyber attack.

The UN ITU survey also found out that rich countries have holes in their defences that need improvement and some poorer countries are better equipped in handling cybercrimes. Coming in second place of the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index after Singapore is the United States. However, the rest of the top 10 are smaller or developing economies.

"There is still an evident gap between countries in terms of awareness, understanding, knowledge and finally capacity to deploy the proper strategies, capabilities and programmes," the survey said.

Malaysia in top 10

Rounding out the top 10 are Malaysia, Oman, Estonia, Mauritius, Australia, Georgia, France and Canada. India came in 25th while China secured the 34th spot.

The ranking was based on the countries' legal, technical and organisational institutions, their educational and research capabilities, and their cooperation in information-sharing networks.

"Cybersecurity is an ecosystem where laws, organisations, skills, cooperation and technical implementation need to be in harmony to be most effective," the survey said.

"The degree of interconnectivity of networks implies that anything and everything can be exposed, and everything from national critical infrastructure to our basic human rights can be compromised." The survey noted that it was crucial to adopt a national security strategy to combat any possible threats. The unfortunate reality is that half of the countries have not developed a cybersecurity strategy.

One of the countries that ranked higher that its economic development was North Korea, which nabbed the 57th spot and was only let down by its "cooperation" score.

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