Singapore and UK to Collaborate on Cyber Skills Enhancement

Singapore and the United Kingdom, represented by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (UK-DSIT) respectively, express their intention to jointly build and develop a cyber security profession that is clearly defined and future-proofed.

The Governments of Singapore and the United Kingdom recognise that the cyber security skills gap is a global issue that will require a collaborative approach from the international community. Addressing this gap will reduce cyber risk to organisations and citizens across our economies and support the growth of the sector workforce in the coming years.

Accordingly, Singapore and the United Kingdom recognise the need to work together to improve and champion the cyber security profession. Earlier today, Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity, Mrs Josephine Teo, and UK Cabinet Office Minister, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, met on the sidelines of the Singapore International Cyber Week 2023. The two ministers had a wide-ranging discussion on Singapore-UK cyber cooperation and reaffirmed a mutual intent to collaborate on developing the cyber security profession and skills.

Both countries have agreed to cooperate on the following:

• Building and aligning a common knowledge base in cyber security. This may include a joint research project to align the UK Cyber Security Body of Knowledge (CyBOK) and Singapore’s Information Security Body of Knowledge (IS-BOK).
• Mapping knowledge and skills required to areas of practice in cyber security. This may include work to eventually map qualifications and certifications to the skills and competencies needed by cybersecurity professionals in Singapore and UK.
• Exploring the possibility of opening the UK Cyber Security Council (the Council) professional chartership to cyber practitioners in Singapore who may be keen to apply. This includes introducing the Council to UK businesses located in Singapore.

• Facilitating a cyber skills dialogue. This will bring together representatives from across government and industry, as well as academic experts, from the UK and Singapore to engage in dialogue with the aim of improving the size, diversity and quality of both national cyber workforces.

Mr David Koh, Commissioner of Cybersecurity and Chief Executive of CSA, said: “As cyber threats continue to escalate and evolve globally, we need a strong cybersecurity workforce to tackle these threats more effectively. Our partnership with the UK-DSIT will improve the quality of our cybersecurity workforce through the alignment of common skills and competencies. Cybersecurity professionals from both countries will also benefit from the chance to come together to exchange views and raise the level of professionalism.”

Lindy Cameron, CEO of NCSC, said: “Resolving the cyber security skills gap will only be achieved with international collaboration. I was delighted that two weeks ago the UK Cyber Security Council recognised the first 100 cyber practitioners with professional titles. Our ambition should be to work towards international recognition of these standards and the UK- Singapore partnership is the start.”