Blog

By Kenneth Choo Luo Yi, Deputy Director, Cyber and Governance Digital Technology

Embarking on a learning journey can be one of the most significant life investments that allow us to explore our passions, develop our skills, and shape our future in an introspective and transformative way. In this reflective piece, I will share my personal story and the impact continuous learning has had on both my personal life and career, particularly in the realm of cybersecurity. I hope this can motivate others to seize new opportunities and invest in themselves to grow and succeed.

My journey in the world of technology started with managing Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and operations. Then, I became aware of the significant role technology plays in our lives and the increasing need for robust security measures. Having the privilege to work across various industries from Healthtech, and to now Edtech for nearly 20 years, I witnessed the evolution of cyber threats and the potential risks they posed to organisations. This sparked my growing interest in cybersecurity even further. 

I realise that cybersecurity is not just a technical field but a critical aspect for business operations to run seamlessly. By specialising in this field, I play a more direct role in protecting digital systems and data from malicious attacks. I also appreciate the unique community of cybersecurity, where like-minded professionals come together easily to share knowledge and secure the ecosystem as a whole. 

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Throughout my career, various significant milestones shaped my path and propelled me forward in my pursuit of the cybersecurity domain. Having worked in the public and private sectors, I am able to compare the distinct differences, yet equally dynamic and challenging landscapes.

In the private sector, organisations are mainly driven by factors such as sales, profitability, and market competition. As businesses embark on digital transformation and rely on digital platforms to sell their products or provide their services, the need to implement robust cybersecurity measures becomes of paramount importance. However, more often than not, organisations are playing catch-up in this area and face a constant battle against cyber threats such as data breaches and ransomware attacks, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The increased focus on tightened regulation and personal data protection, such as the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), further amplifies these challenges. It can be challenging to achieve a good balance in the investment of cyber measures versus other areas of the business as well, and it is always tough to determine if the investment is adequate. To overcome this issue, the cybersecurity trend in recent years is towards a risk-bask approach, where practitioners identify assets of higher risk by value and apply the appropriate controls based on the risk level. This approach helps provide better guidelines and enables organisations to allocate their cybersecurity resources more effectively.

On the other hand, the public sector operates within a unique landscape with different objectives. At the broad level, it focuses on digitalising Singapore towards becoming a Smart Nation and using technology to improve citizens’ life. At the same time, they are also responsible for securing our critical infrastructure (such as power, transport, healthcare) and protecting our sensitive information from sophisticated attackers. A successful cyber-attack on a government system can have far-reaching and adverse repercussions, impacting citizen safety and the nation's reputation.

It was intriguing to witness the growing importance of cybersecurity in different sectors and the critical need for skilled professionals to safeguard vital information and infrastructure. This demand is still growing positively today and there is a need to have a bigger pool of experts in this domain to ensure businesses have the capability to protect themselves from cyber-attacks, as more companies continue in their digital transformation journey.  

Reach out to our Skills Consultants to find out more about how you can transform your life through learning today!