Teo Nie Ching urges govt agencies to conduct cybersecurity audits amid rising hacking threats

Malaysian Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching has urged all government agencies to conduct cybersecurity audits to identify vulnerabilities in their digital systems and infrastructure, in light of rising hacking threats associated with international conflicts. Teo stated that this measure is crucial to ensuring that security systems, including firewalls, can effectively protect data and prevent intrusions by malicious parties.

While the National Cyber Security Agency (Nacsa) leads the country's cybersecurity efforts, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is ready to assist government agencies in conducting the audits. Teo emphasized that efforts to strengthen cybersecurity should extend to the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and associations, especially those that rely on the internet and store data online.

All organizations, particularly those operating critical infrastructure like hospitals and banking systems, should allocate dedicated funds for cybersecurity audits. Teo cited previous hacking incidents targeting local authority systems to underscore the importance of preventive measures and safeguarding digital data. She also advised organizations using artificial intelligence and cloud computing services to set aside part of their budgets to bolster cybersecurity.