By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Aug 12: Sarawak is at moderate risk from cyber attacks and as such, actions must be taken to heighten cybersecurity preparedness.
Raising this concern, Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg pointed out a finding from Trend Micro’s biannual Cyber Risk Index (CRI) report which ranked Malaysia at 0.08, indicating moderate-risk vulnerabilities in cyber security.
The CRI measures the gap between the cybersecurity readiness of clients versus their likelihood of being attacked. It is based on a scale of -10 to 10, with -10 representing the highest level of risk and 10 being the safest.
“The CRI also reported that 58 per cent would very likely suffer critical cyber attacks in the next 12 months, 30 per cent had suffered more than seven network and systems infiltration attacks, 14 per cent had their information assets breached more than seven times, and 21 per cent encountered more than seven customer data breaches over the past year.
“Engineers are no exception to this. Eventually, you will have to deal with a huge scale of data in every task and so I am sure you are well aware and understand the risks,” he said when addressing the Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Sarawak Branch annual dinner 2022 at a hotel here tonight.
Therefore, Abang Johari said there is a need to return to the basics, identify critical data at risk, focus on threats that matter most to Sarawak’s economic sectors, and deliver multi-layered protection from comprehensive, connected platforms.
“While we are striving to place ourselves at the forefront of the world’s digitalisation, let us not forget about the risks that come with it such as cybersecurity risks.
“I put up this challenge to IEM Sarawak Branch as one of our local engineering institutions to educate and train engineers for digitalisation and cybersecurity,” he said.
IEM Malaysia Sarawak Branch chairman Dato Ir Janang Bungsu was present at the annual dinner that gathered some 1,000 attendees.
The event also witnessed the launching of IEM Sarawak Branch Digital Innovation and Research Lab as well as presentation of IEM Sarawak Branch’s Best Student Awards to three students for their achievement in SPM and Chairman Awards to five engineering graduates. — DayakDaily
