Written by: Allan Salim Cabanlong, Regional Director South-East Asia

On November 22, 2023, at Novotel Manila Phillipines, CyberGuardians Inc organized the “Cyber Dialogue: Capacity Building Needs in the Critical Information Infrastructure Sectors” in collaboration with Women in Security Alliance Philippines (WiSAP) with the support of the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE) Southeast Asia Hub. The dialogue addressed the evolving cybersecurity threats. The event was attended by a diverse group of stakeholders from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS), the National Security Council (NSC), the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), the private sector, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

The forum presented an ideal opportunity for key stakeholders to address the urgent need for improved cybersecurity measures, particularly in the telecommunications sectors. The discussions emphasized the necessity of a unified cybersecurity standards, including the Cybersecurity Knowledge Base (CKB) and Network Equipment Security Assurance Scheme (NESAS), among other ISO/IEC Standards. The event promoted a collaborative and mutual understanding environment among participants by acknowledging the importance of unified cybersecurity standards, namely CKB and NESAS, and emphasizing that ensuring cyberspace security is a collective responsibility. The dialogue was also a testament to the power of diverse perspectives in finding innovative solutions to complex problems in building and retaining cyber institutions.

Key takeaways from the dialogue included the need to strengthen the capacity of these sectors through effective training, education, and awareness programs. There was a shared understanding of the importance of promoting a culture of cybersecurity that includes robust security measures and policies, proactive monitoring, and rapid response mechanisms. The event also highlighted the pivotal role of women in the field of cybersecurity. The partnership with WiSAP underscored the importance of gender diversity in the field, which brings unique insights and approaches to tackling cybersecurity issues.

The dialogue concluded with a commitment from all stakeholders to continue working collaboratively towards the development and implementation of robust unified cybersecurity standards, thus ensuring the security and integrity of the region’s digital infrastructure. The Cyber Dialogue has undoubtedly set a new standard for cybersecurity discussions in the region. It has positioned itself as a beacon for future collaborations and has sparked a serious conversation about the need for a unified and robust approach to cybersecurity.

The meeting was held in partnership with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore during Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW). 

The focus was on the UN development agenda and the role of the region in it, as well as the Southeast Asia cyber capacity building landscape more generally. 

It was great to see that members of the GFCE Community in attendance at the SICW participated in the Southeast Asia regional meeting. 

During SICW, Singapore’s Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Mr. Teo Chee Hean, announced the creation of a GFCE Southeast Asia liaison who will connect the region and ASCCE’s existing efforts more closely with other GFCE members and partners including GFCE Liaisons and Hubs from other regions. 

The Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE), in collaboration with Cyber Security Agency (CSA) Singapore, held the inaugural GFCE Southeast Asia Regional Meeting in October 2021 in the margins of Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW) 2021. This regional meeting brought together over 90 stakeholders from the GFCE community and ASEAN to identify opportunities and challenges for cyber capacity-building in the region and share good practices and knowledge.

On Thursday 28th September 2023 the 4th GFCE Triple-I workshop in India was held at the Indian Institute of Technology in Guwahati (IIT-G) in conjunction with InSIG 2023. 

The GFCE Triple-I initiative facilitates awareness raising and capacity building events in different regions of the world in order to enhance justified trust in the use of Internet and/or email in those regions through multistakeholder cooperation. 

This workshop was fully devoted to supporting the Digital India Action plan, and aimed to bring together local stakeholders with local, national and global experts to explore together what steps to take to enhance justified trust in the use of the Internet and/or email in the region.

Download here the presentations from the workshop.

This virtual assembly drew together over 40 participants from both the Pacific and Southeast Asia regions to set in motion a dynamic dialogue centered around women’s empowerment, equality, and inclusivity in shaping high-level cyber discourses and policies. 

The webinar opened with keynote remarks presented by Mr. Allan Cabanlong, Director of the GFCE Southeast Asia Hub. Allan emphasized the paramount importance of integrating women empowerment, equality, and inclusiveness into the core of cyber discussions. 

Allan was joined by several esteemed panelists of experts and thought leaders from various fields, all dedicated to advancing women’s empowerment and equality in the cyber domain: 

• Mr. Chris Painter, President, Foundation Board, Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE); 
• Ms. Elise Munro, Senior Policy Officer | Cyber & Tech Multilateral Engagement, International Security Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia; 
• Ms. Tupou’tuah Baravilala, Director-General Digital Government Transformation, Cybersecurity and Communications, Ministry of Communications of Fiji; 
• Ms. Vowpailin Chovihien, Counsellor, Peace, Security, and Disarmament Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand; 
• Ms. Priynka P. Sharma, Assistant Lecturer in Computing Science and Information Systems, University of the South Pacific, Main Campus, Fiji. 

With the backdrop of the rapidly evolving digital landscape, the discussions honed in on the pivotal role that high-level deliberations play in molding policies and strategies governing cyberspace. It was underscored that for a sustainable and inclusive digital future, the imperatives of women empowerment, equality, and inclusiveness must be woven into the very fabric of these discussions. 

The discussion highlighted the inextricable link between gender diversity and the security of the digital ecosystem. Panelists illuminated how women’s involvement ushers in fresh perspectives, innovation, and resilience, making them crucial architect Partners of the cyber landscape. In this regard, Australia was heralded for its proactive stance on gender inclusivity within the two regions. The nation’s commitment to gender equality was exemplified in its role as regional donor for the Women in International Security and Cyberspace Fellowship – a joint program by the governments of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States, aimed at ensuring broader representation of women in United Nations negotiations on cyberspace. 

The necessity of collaboration for sustainable change was also highlighted in the discussions. It was agreed that advocating for policy shifts that promote gender equality and diversity in the tech and cybersecurity sector, in addition to working closely with policymakers to incorporate gender-responsive approaches, is crucial for the way forward for all regions.  

As the event drew to a close, Mr. Saia Vaipuna, Director of the GFCE Pacific Hub, delivered the closing remarks that encapsulated the shared aspirations of all the participants. His words resonated with the collective dedication and commitment to champion gender equality in cyber. 

In a world increasingly defined by digital transformation, it was agreed that women’s empowerment, equality, and inclusivity in shaping high-level cyber discourses and policies is critical.