Knowledge Hub

As the digital world rapidly evolves, CISOs around the world face the tough challenge of defending their organisations from a constantly expanding range of cyber threats. How can CISOs balance forging ahead with innovation and maintaining security?​​​​

Every organisation today is inextricably connected within a vast web of intricate dependencies. Consider the hundreds of digital devices in a typical office. From laptops to servers, networking appliances to office printers, every one of these devices is built by an external party. These products incorporate hundreds, sometimes thousands, of components sourced from a revolving door of suppliers, who might in turn rely on their network of sub-suppliers. The result is a complex, fluid supply chain laden with a myriad of invisible risks – and where a single weak link could potentially compromise the entire system.

Securing an organisation's assets in today’s increasingly complex landscape has never been more challenging. Modern digital environments are incredibly diverse and extend across a multitude of platforms – from traditional IT assets to public clouds and containers, SaaS applications, mobile devices, and more. As conventional approaches to asset management prove inadequate in the face of this complexity, how can cybersecurity leaders gain a clearer view of their entire digital landscape to properly secure them?

From temporary disruption to potentially causing massive financial damage and irreparable harm to reputation, cyber security has evolved into a strategic priority that can make or break a business. As digital systems become even more sophisticated and interdependent, organisations must do more to adapt and fortify their defences to protect sensitive data, maintain customer trust, and safeguard their bottom line. This means understanding the new dangers and adopting a reinvigorated approach to cyber security.

The relentless pace of technology development is often tailed by the emergence of new cyber threats. Organisations must remain vigilant against these dangers, as they navigate uncharted waters such as generative AI and impending paradigm shifts driven by quantum computers. Christopher Painter of the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise Foundation and Professor Lam Kwok Yan of the Nanyang Technological University share their thoughts about defending against new technological threats and why cybersecurity is the foundation for innovation.  

Ransomware has grown rapidly into a global scourge that affects businesses and government agencies alike. The counter ransomware initiative was set up to combat this scourge by bringing together experts in cybersecurity, law enforcement, and policymaking.  As countries – including Singapore – mobilise their resources, Stéphane Duguin, CEO of the CyberPeace Institute, explains how modern ransomware groups work, the threat they pose, and the challenges faced by law enforcement as they tackle this growing threat. 

CISOs today are confronted with complex, constantly evolving cybersecurity challenges. At GovWare Focus, cybersecurity leaders met with their peers, partners, and policymakers to discuss a broad range of topics, including the importance of collaborative defence, automation, and focusing on the basics when securing networks.

Complying with relevant cybersecurity standards and best practices can significantly bolster an organisation's cybersecurity posture. But how can businesses ensure that their plans are correctly implemented, and how can they tell when standards or best practices are not correctly applied? We speak with Siddharth Deshpande of Palo Alto Networks on how organisations can operationalise cyber best practices and establish trust with internal stakeholders.

Cybersecurity standards are hardly new and are used by organisations to enhance their security posture and mitigate cybersecurity risks. We speak to a CISO and a Director of Digital Policy to learn how regular stakeholder communication, adopting a common language, and fostering an environment of trust are essential when deploying cybersecurity standards.

As Southeast Asian countries digitise and deploy Operational Technology (OT) for managing critical infrastructure, the interconnected nature of these systems poses potential risks. What proactive measures can organisations and governments take to mitigate these dangers? Andre Shori, APAC CISO of Schneider Electric explains the dangers and offers some suggestions on how smart cities can enhance their readiness and resilience.