Business

Saturday March 21, 2009

Global group against cyber-threats launches HQ in Cyberjaya

By EILEEN HEE


THE International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Threats (Impact) – the world’s first global public-private partnership against cyber-threats – launched its headquarters in Cyberjaya yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who officiated at the opening of Impact’s global headquarters, says he is confident it will be able to leverage on Cyberjaya’s various advantages to its benefit.

He says that through Impact, the focus of the cyber security world will now be on Cyberjaya and Malaysia, paving the way for Malaysia to become a world leader in this domain.

“The Impact facility, erected with the aid of a RM43mil start-up grant by the Malaysian government, will be the hub of Impact’s international activities,” he told reporters.

The facility will have a built-up of 58,000 sq ft on a 7.8-acre site.

Impact’s core activities come under four key divisions – global response centre, training and skills development centre, centre for security assurance and research, and centre for policy and international cooperation.

It is supported by an international advisory board, which comprises world leaders from industry and academia.

Abdullah says Impact, which was launched in May 2008, was aimed at bridging the gap between governments, the private sector and the academia to work together in facing cyber threats.

“Offences committed in cyber-space through networks of interconnected computers will cause severe real life consequences. Today, a new generation of criminals can cause severe economic, political and social damage on a large scale,” he says.

He says a cyber disruption that causes a nation-wide blackout or the collapse of financial trading systems can undermine even the strongest economies and since the Internet knows no boundaries, no country acting alone can adequately protect itself from cyber threats.

Impact is the brainchild of Abdullah who saw the need for international collaboration against cyber-threats amidst the development of information and communications technology and the world’s increasing dependency on technology.

Apart from international organisations such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), United Nations and Interpol, Impact has key partners from the private sector such as Cisco, F-Secure, Kaspersky Lab, Microsoft, Symantec Corp and Trend Micro.

Meanwhile, ITU secretary-general Dr Hamadoun Toure says cyber-security is one of the most critical issues of this age.

“It is a global issue, demanding a truly global approach and it is gratifying to see and be part of this growing coalition against cyber threats worldwide,” he says.

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