Security as a business catalyst: CyberSecurity Malaysia
Computerworld Malaysia (June 11, 2013)

Malaysian national agency CyberSecurity Malaysia's 2013 edition of its Cyber Security Malaysia Awards, Conference & Exhibition includes the theme of security as an economic driver and one of its aims is to top the RM11 million (US$3.520 million) worth of deals made in last year's event during business matching activities.

The Cyber Security Malaysia Awards, Conference & Exhibition (CSM-ACE 2013), which will be held on the 13th to 14th of November 2013 at the Royale Chulan Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, has also kept to its target of 300 delegates, even though it also exceeded this with 446 attendees last year, said CyberSecurity Malaysia's chief executive officer Dr. Amirudin Abdul Wahab during a soft launch recently.

According to a KPMG survey at last year's CSM-ACE, the RM11 million worth of deals was made during the event, said Dr Amirudin, adding that this year's theme - 'Securing Cyberspace for Economic Growth" - was to further drive growth and innovation in the local cyber security industry. "Security is one of the drivers of growth under the government's national economic transformation initiatives."

"This year's CSM-ACE theme is in tune with the national Digital Transformation Programme (DTP) - or better known as 'Digital Malaysia' - where cyber security plays an importance role to transform the Malaysian economy and society to achieve a fully developed nation by 2020," he said.

"Malaysia has a well-developed cyber security industry with strong potential to provide global solutions, but is yet to fully capitalise on the lucrative business opportunities. About 10 percent of local IT revenue and 30 percent of export IT revenues are derived from cyber security products and services," said Dr Amirudin, adding that by 2020, DTP has the aim of increasing the contribution of the digital economy from the current 12.5 percent to 17 percent of Gross National Income (GNI) and would be able to create 160,000 new high-income jobs.

"In addition, CSM-ACE 2013 is the only 3-in-1 cyber security event in the country in that it comprises an awards ceremony, a conference, and an exhibition," he said. "As this is a public-private partnership driven event, we are now open to discussing partnerships with industry players."

Face your problem, don't Facebook it

"However, the need for the general public as well as industry for even more vigilance is emphasised by the recent attacks around the world, generated both by state-sponsored as well as organised criminals and everyday cyber bullying," said Dr Amirudin after the media briefing.

"Many sectors of the public are too open online and have grown up in some cases without formal training on how to conduct yourself in the online world," he said. "In common with many other people around the world, some Malaysians forget to question who they are talking to and what should be discussed when online. Too many of us are quick to take everyday problems to the online world."

Dr Amirudin said CyberSecurity Malaysia's programmes offer sound advice as well as online and physical centres for members of the public to report incidents. "This year, we added the CyberSAFE Programme (Cyber Security Awareness for Everyone) as one of the activities in order to focus on educating Malaysian Internet users on the importance of cyber security and to inculcate the positive use of the Internet. The CyberSAFE programme started way back in 2009 and has since reached out to more than 114,000 people nationwide."

"The weakest link is still the human factor rather than the technology," he added. "It is best to face your problems, don't Facebook them."

"This year, the event is expected to again attract participants from the government, critical national information infrastructure (CNII) organisations, academia as well as information security industry players," said Dr Amirudin, adding that the event was being held in conjunction with World Innovation Forum programme.

"For this year, we have included early bird registration fees," he said. "Registration fees are being applied for the first time to keep a focus on the business aspects and economic opportunities of security whereas last year's discussions tended to emphasise standards and compliances."

The participation fee for the two-day conference is RM899 (US$287) per person and is HRDF (Human Resource Development Fund) claimable. The early bird's rate is RM699 (US$223) per person if registration is made before 31 July 2013. For more information, visit - visit www.csm-ace.my

Source : http://www.computerworld.com.my/