UK-Singapore Cybersecurity Discussion – GOV.UK

The discussion was jointly led by David Koh, Chief Executive of Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency, and Will Middleton, Cyber Director in the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Lindy Cameron, CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre, along with senior officials from the Cabinet Office, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Home Office, and the Department for Business and Trade, participated in the dialogue. Additionally, senior representatives from Singapore, including those from the Cyber Security Agency and the High Commission in London, were present.

This dialogue presents a valuable opportunity to further enhance the already strong relations between our countries in cyber cooperation, as highlighted by the UK-Singapore Cybersecurity Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a product of the ambitious UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement.

The discussions covered various topics, including the cyber threat landscape, deterrent strategies against cyber threats, international cyber capacity building, key international cyber policy issues such as those in the UN, and the significance of public-private partnerships in cybersecurity.

Both parties examined avenues for deepening cooperation and aligning strategies concerning Internet of Things (IoT) security, app security, and the development of cyber skills. We emphasized the need for secure applications and app stores and agreed to further investigate the possibility of establishing an international standard for app and app store security. We also reiterated the importance of recognized international standards and norms for IoT, agreeing to continue collaborating on mutual recognition of our IoT schemes and exploring closer cooperation in other IoT areas. Furthermore, we committed to collaborating on mapping the skills and competencies of cybersecurity professionals in both Singapore and the UK.

Both nations reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to supporting international cyber governance and capacity building, particularly in Southeast Asia, through the ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (ASCCE).

We also addressed current trends in cyber threats and identified opportunities to strengthen our cooperation in countering malicious cyber activities that threaten the rules-based multilateral order.

On June 15th, CSA’s Chief Executive David Koh also met with the UK’s Deputy National Security Adviser Matthew Collins to discuss the cybersecurity of critical national infrastructure, and with Director General for Homeland Security Chloe Squires regarding the UK and Singapore’s collaboration as co-chairs of the Counter Ransomware Initiative’s Policy Pillar.

Both parties committed to ongoing meetings under the framework of the MoU as a priority for our international cyber cooperation.