Defence Cyber Organisation Will be 2,600 Strong
Singapore is to establish a new Defence Cyber Organisation (DCO) to combat emerging threats and develop sustainable cyber skills, according to comments from Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.
The cybersecurity command centre will be manned by 2,600 troops and will run 24/7, with four key divisions dealing with cybersecurity operations, policy and planning, vulnerability assessment and cyberdefence. Support for DCO is likely to come from the Defence Science and Technology Agency.
The command unit would run under the purview of the defence ministry and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), and the four key units would be led by a colonel, general, or admiral from the two organisations. It also would be supported by scientists and engineers from Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA).
The MoD recently suffered a security breach that compromised personal data of soldiers and civil servants. This breach and the recognition of the escalating and pervasive nature of the cyber threat are seen as primary motivators in the move to create the DCO. A specific ‘cyber vocation’ will be established later this year, enabling the armed forces to enroll soldiers specifically for cyber defence.
Tim Mahon
