Asia Cybersecurity Exchange Opening Reinforces Malaysia's Plans for Regional Cyber-Security Hub

Wire

Asia Cybersecurity Exchange Opening Reinforces Malaysia’s Plans for Regional Cyber-Security Hub

With recent data leaks, such as Cambridge Analytica dominating the newspapers, everyone seems to be more careful online; hence, it’s fitting that LE Global Services (LGMS) has initiated the Asia Cybersecurity Exchange opening.

Together with Dato’ Sri Jailani Johari, Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia, and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), LGMS officially fires up this initiative. Called AsiaCyberX for short, it aims to make Malaysia a world leader in cyber-security; this is done through the advocacy and support for more cyber-security entrepreneurship. At the same time, it will also train skilled professionals. This is to ensure they can meet the ever-changing high demands of the cyber-security industry.

Fong Choong Fook, CEO of LGMS, states: “Our ultimate aim is to elevate Malaysia as a hub for cyber-security. Primarily, we will focus on talent development and entrepreneurship.”

One way they hope to do that is through MDEC and LGMS’s new pilot program.240 students from 8 premier tech universities throughout Malaysia will undergo professional training at AsiaCyberX. This is so that they will be career-ready once they graduate. ACE Group Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Ahmad Fuzi Haji Abdul Razak says that this program is possible via a RM200 million fund his corporation has set aside. The 240 students will be given professional certification and be given opportunities to work for local cyber-security companies.

Fong adds, “AsiaCyberX’s mission is to identify undiscovered cyber-security talents and entrepreneurs with huge growth potential. With our training and mentorship programs, we aim to elevate Malaysia’s cyber-security ecosystem to a while new level by strengthening the capabilities of local talent and entrepreneurs.”

He adds that the cyber-security industry lacks talented workers as well as challenged by a lack of trust and a lack of entrepreneurs. As such, AsiaCyberX will also be providing acceleration programs for cyber-security startups. A panel of 21 mentors from various sectors will form a committee to asses the startups.

Dato’ Sri Jailani also pointed out this issue. He mentions that a recent LinkedIn report finds women forming 21% of Malaysia’s cyber-security workforce, compared to the US’s 11%. Despite that, there remains a lack of talent to sustain the increasing demand.

AsiaCyberX is the result of a partnership between LGMS and the ACE Group. ACE Accelerator Network is the sole owner of AsiaCyberX. MDEC supports the AsiaCyberX idea, showing a strong and healthy relationship between the public and private sector. The National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) will also help ensure that AsiaCyberX’s activities fall in line with national issues.

The ACE Group and Cloud Security Alliance also signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the launch event of AsiaCyberX. This MoU sees both parties collaborate in conjunction with the formation of Asia Cybersecurity Exchange.