In 2023, Malaysia’s government faced a significant cyber threat landscape, with over 1,500 cyber attacks targeting the infrastructure systems of various ministries. According to the Prime Minister‘s Department, a total of 1,547 attacks were recorded as of September, all of which were successfully detected and neutralized. This achievement is credited to the proactive measures taken by the National Cyber Security Agency (Nacsa) and the National Security Council (NSC), who continuously monitor potential threats and respond swiftly to incidents.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Dr. Zaliha Mustafa, emphasized the importance of these efforts in ensuring the resilience and security of the government’s cyber infrastructure. The establishment of the National Cyber Coordination and Command Centre (NC4) plays a crucial role in this initiative, providing agencies with best practice recommendations and up-to-date cybersecurity measures, including advanced antivirus software. The NC4 also focuses on developing service continuity plans to ensure that operations can continue smoothly in the event of a system compromise.
Statistics reveal a notable decrease in the number of cyber attacks targeting government agencies, dropping from 4,378 incidents in 2022 to 1,633 in 2023. This reduction highlights the effectiveness of the government’s ongoing cybersecurity initiatives and the improved capabilities of agencies to thwart potential threats. Dr. Zaliha’s recent parliamentary reply underscored the government’s commitment to enhancing security measures and addressing any vulnerabilities within the ministries.
As part of the government’s strategy to fortify cybersecurity, NC4 plans to implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) across agencies and conduct regular reviews of network segmentation. These measures aim to mitigate risks and prevent security breaches from escalating across networks. With these comprehensive efforts, Malaysia is reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding its digital infrastructure and maintaining the integrity of its governmental operations against cyber threats.
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