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In cybersecurity or rather cyber-warfare, funds are needed to upgrade hardware, technology and communications before assembling trained men dedicated to defend or attack. Recently, the United States (US) government has put this strategy to broad uses much like the military rearmament for any foreseeable future cyber-warfare.

Cyber-warfare policy worth USD700 billion

On Monday, 18 Sep 2017, the US Senate has passed a bill worth a “whoppy” USD700 billion war chest to create the country’s first ever cyber warfare policy. The draft was dubbed as a defense authorization bill and involved the use of offensive digital weapons as well as spending USD500 million in the modernization of federal information technology.

The modernization and technological software upgrade will come as handy as previously the US government sector was ranked lowly, at the bottom two places or 16th out of 18 industries compiled by the SecurityScorecard, a security risk rating agency.

Protection of strategic resources.

After the pumping many greenbacks into development of offensives cyber-weapons, US has also developed battle plans in protecting strategic resources of raw materials like oil and natural gases.

As such, the US Department of Energy (DOE) had introduced 20 cybersecurity projects to protect the American electric grid, and oil and natural gas infrastructure. Award up to USD50 million will be granted by DOE to support early stage research and development of next-generation tools and technologies in protection of strategic energy resources.

So far, the department has invested more than USD270 million over the past seven years in cybersecurity research development, and demonstration projects that are led by industry, universities and DOE’s National Laboratories.

Australia joins the rearmament race

US is not alone in the rearmament race of cybersecurity, the Australian government has pledged AUD50 million (USD39.7 million) over the seven years to build up its cyber security capability through a new cybersecurity cooperative research centre (CRC).

Additional funding of AUD89 million or USD70.8 million for the CRC will come from other channels such as from around 25 industry players, research and government partners. All these funds are part of the grander Australia’s AUD 240 million Cyber Security Strategy which formed the defensive shield in preventing attacks from any state-sponsored attackers or from any organized crime syndicates. Furthermore, the country has branched out to liaise with its “cyber-allies” in the region such as Singapore for a “joint cybersecurity exercise.”

Small is beautiful

Cybersecurity funds for Australia may seem like a dwarf as compared to more holistic “defense and attack” strategy adopted by US. But the notion is clear, each country should do its part and set aside resources for cybersecurity.

As a city-state, Singapore plays its part in cybersecurity with an upfront injection of USD12 million under its National Cyber Security R&D Program. The funding will go to finance around 9 public-private research projects in data protection and encryption as well as analysis report on malware attacks. The island-nation has recently prioritized cybersecurity in its borders and the topic even make it ways into its National Budget 2017.

Small it may be, but cybersecurity in Singapore is armed to its teeth. The city-state is ranked high and always placed among the top ten attacking countries by Threatmap, a web agency that tracks malicious cyber-attacks across the globe. In 18^th to 19^th September 2017, Singapore was even crowned as “numero uno” consecutively for being the top cyber attacker of the world.

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Japan to set up cyber security bureau

Recently, Seiko Noda, the Internal Affairs and Communications Minister of Japan stated that there is a “growing risk” for machines and equipment to be hijacked by digital means.

We will make stronger efforts in (cyber security) talent development and other cyber security issues,

commented Noda during an interview with The Nikkei.

The urgency of cyber security was felt as Noda takes the matter into Japan’s fiscal 2018 budget draft to provide funding for the creation of a bureau specialized in cyber security. In addressing this new frontier, the Japanese policy-makers realized that they are way behind tech-leaders such as U.S. and Israel in term of attracting potential cyber-security talents and personnel.

U.S. Government ranks 16 out of 18 in SecurityScorecard report

Despite being top of the game in technology-wise, Japan is not the country that unprepared for cyber-security. In fact, the U.S. government was inadequate for the task as well in protection of sensitive information and digital data, according to SecurityScorecard, a security risk rating agency.

In a recent report from SecurityScorecard, the agency placed the U.S. government on the 16th position when comparing it with the security practices of 18 industries. For the report, SecurityScorecard reportedly reviewed 552 local, state, and federal organizations to see how their security practices stacked up across 10 key categories.

The two industry ranked behind the U.S. government are namely telecom and finally sitting at the last place, education sector.

However, historical records from SecurityScorecard showed the U.S. government actually improved its rating for languishing at the bottom place before moving two places up to 16th.

ENISA seeks funds to manage European cyber security

The European countries felt the heat too in shoring up their defense against malicious cyber-attacks. Interestingly, debt-ridden Greece raised the issue in European Commission seeking for more funding on cyber security for Athens-based European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA).

According to Vassilis Maglaras, the secretary general for communications of Greece’s ministry for digital policy, told local media that the ENISA should take on a “bigger role” and “only role” in cyber security of European Union (EU). To expand its scope, the ENISA needs fresh funding which currently is capped at EUR 11 million annually.

“It’s an organization (ENISA) that had a mandate that was irrelevant 15 years ago, it was very small because the info-communication technology sector was not so developed. But now it’s a very huge issue so it has to have more money,” explained Maglaras.

In his opinion, a stronger, better funded ENISA is equivalent to safer Europe, not just to Greece alone. However, one of the main barriers for an integrated cyber-security system pointed to the unwillingness of each EU member to share sensitive information with ENISA.

However, all these will change when a new ruling for EU cyber security legislation comes into effect next year where EU members are required to open up and share more information.

Asia unites in cyber defense

Closer to home, Indonesia and Australia have both initiated steps in cybersecurity measures and both initiatives are linked with the city-state of Singapore. For instance, the Singaporean government has invited Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Indonesian president for the upcoming Singapore International Cyber Week 2017, held during 18-21 September 2017.

Since we have established a national cyber agency, we will need more input. So I’m interested to attend the event in Singapore to talk about cyber security issues. Jokowi told local media.

Since June 2017, Indonesia has inaugurated its national cyber agency named Cyber Body and National Encryption Agency (BSSN) and the agency is scheduled for operation by September 2017.

Similarly, Singapore has also established agency specialized in mitigating cyber risks, called the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) of Singapore. The CSA has then signed an agreement with Australia’s Cyber Security Agency in cooperation for protection of critical information infrastructure.

Under the agreement, both countries will hold “joint cybersecurity exercise” to test their capability in facing the common threat. In addition, the two countries have in mind to host a “cyber-risk reduction workshop” for all the countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by the end of 2017.

Verdict

As the saying goes, out of adversity comes opportunity. In this case, it seems that in face of adversity, countries unite to fight a common enemy, namely cyber threats. Indeed, this new threat that cyber threats pose can be anonymous, faceless, cross boundaries and yet bring devastating losses to data integrity, financial wealth and even safety of human lives.

The world leaders have since recognized this threat and pitch a defense plan against it. However, the best form of defense actually start from the individual, thus – Are you prepared for cyber-warfare?

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