GCSA boon for IT security sector
The Star (29 Aug 2011)

PETALING JAYA:The proposed Global Cybersecurity Alliance (GCSA) is set to be a platform for Malaysia and other countries to exchange ideas and expertise that will lead to a better, more secure cyberspace.

Cybersecurity Malaysia chief executive officer Lt Col (Rtd) Prof Datuk Husin Jazri said the GCSA will focus on developing more IT security products and professionals, as well as raise the awareness for cybersafety.

"There are many questions about cyberspace that we need to answer and I think we will be on the losing end if we don't learn how to deal with it," he said at a media briefing to announce the 12th International Common Criteria Conference here.

The platform will also enable Malaysia to strengthen the local cybersecurity marketplace which Husin said is currently worth RM1bil.

"With expertise from this alliance, we could improve our local IT security products and make the segment a new source of (economic) growth. If such care is taken, the local IT security market may even contribute about RM3bil to the country's gross national income in 2015," he said.

Husin said turning cybersecurity into a new economic area would also create more than 5,000 high-income jobs.

Calling

Another step Cybersecurity Malaysia is taking to boost the IT security industry is by becoming an authorising member of the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA). The CCRA is an international group that ensures IT security products meet the proper standards and certification.

It enables IT product vendors to evaluate and certify their products as ISO standard 15408, which is regarded as the international benchmark for IT security evaluations.

This standard addresses product functionality, development environment, documentation, and product-testing measures.

Husin said Cybersecurity Malaysia has been a participating member of the group since 2007 and hopes that Malaysia will be accepted as an authorising member at the coming 12th International Common Criteria Conference.

"The difference between being a participating member and an authorising one is products that have passed through an authorising member's lab are more likely to be accepted by the global community than those that passed through a participating member's lab," he said.

"This can lower the entry barrier some local businesses may encounter when entering the international market."

If accepted as an authorising member, Malaysia will join an elite group of nations, that includes the United States, Japan, France and Britain, to be able to operate a CCRA-approved certification scheme. Cybersecurity Malaysia is also calling for delegates for the conference, which will run at a Petaling Jaya hotel from Sept 27 to 29.

For more information on the conference, go to http://12iccc.cybersecurity.my/contact.html.