CyberSecurity, Akamai sign MoU
The Star (4 Oct 2011)

PETALING JAYA:CyberSecurity Malaysia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Internet content delivery network provider Akamai Technologies, to develop capabilities in the area of information security.

CyberSecurity Malaysia is the national cybersecurity specialist centre and an agency under the purview of the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.

The formal agreement, which is touted as the first of its kind in the world, seeks to provide a framework for collaboration and resource sharing when addressing the issues of cyber-based threats.

The move is in line with recent calls made by the Government for the strengthening of bilateral and multilateral cooperation among members of the Apec Telecommunications and Information Working Group (Apec Tel) to counter negative acts which threaten the stability of governments.

Speaking to reporters at a press briefing, CyberSecurity Malaysia CEO Lt Col (Rtd) Prof Datuk Husin Jazri said the initial focus of the MoU would be on areas in which both parties could easily work together.

These areas include capacity building and development of IT security measures, awareness programmes, sharing of threat data for strategic intervention and R&D where possible.

Also present was Akamai Technologies public sector senior director Francis Trentley, who noted there is an understanding at a global level for processes and procedures to coordinate efforts against the borderless nature of cyberthreats.

He added that while the types of threats have not changed significantly in recent years, the scale and method of distribution have - with Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) and malware attacks being the most common two.

"CyberSecurity Malaysia are presenting themselves as a leader by taking this first significant step forward," said Trentley.

Husin said there were three main areas of concern when it came to cyberthreats, namely national security and government infrastructure; public safety (identify theft and cyberbullying); and privacy issues surrounding intellectual property and data protection.

Trentley noted that Akamai, as one of the world's largest platform provider, is in a unique position to see the global picture in terms of data and threat flows.

"When someone gets attacked via IPs from another country, the challenge has always been who do we give the information of the attack to?" he said.

Trentley added agreements such as the MoU with CyberSecurity Malaysia would facilitate the establishment of a framework for escalation to relevant local organisations.

Both parties are now in the midst of discussing proposals and setting targets for the partnership.