SAF’s digital service inaugurates two new commands to sharpen cyber-security edge – The Straits Times

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s armed forces on March 18 officially launched two new commands to better protect the country’s “digital backbone” and critical information technology infrastructure against hostile cyber threats.

The Defence Cyber Command and SAF C4 and Digitalisation Command (SAFC4DC) fall under Singapore’s fourth military service – the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS).

In a speech at a ceremony in Hillview Camp to inaugurate the new commands, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the move is timely, given the alarming increase in the frequency, sophistication and scale of cyber threats.

“Cyber threat actors have refined their methods, used advanced techniques – they also use AI, zero-day exploits and ransomware to target critical infrastructure in healthcare, energy and government sectors,” he noted.

The Defence Cyber Command will consolidate Singapore’s cyber-security capabilities by bringing together the Cybersecurity Task Force and the Defence Cyber Organisation under a single command, Dr Ng said.

“They will deal with hostile digital threats against Singapore to safeguard our digital backbone and essential services,” he added. 

Meanwhile, the SAFC4DC will bring under its command the Digital Ops-Tech Centre, which supports the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) by engineering digital products that can drive new fighting concepts or improve existing workflows.

It will also establish the SAF AI Centre alongside the existing C4 Operations Group, which manages the SAF’s strategic networks and resources, including driving its cloud-related developments.

Dr Ng said the SAFC4DC will drive the SAF’s development and adoption of best-in-class digital technologies such as cloud, artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G.

“By consolidating software and hardware capabilities, the SAFC4DC will accelerate digital transformation across the SAF and enhance operational effectiveness,” he added.

Rear-Admiral (RADM) Yong Wei Hsiung, Chief of Staff (Digital and Intelligence Staff) and head of DIS operations, said during a media briefing that various entities within DIS have been placed into two discrete commands for better unity of command and clarity of mission.

At the same time, the setting up of the new SAF AI Centre is designed to enable the incorporation of AI into wider SAF operations and raise the level of AI literacy within the armed forces.

Military Expert (ME) 6 Shawn Kan, head of the SAF AI Centre, said its focus is threefold: to enable the use of safe, reliable and robust AI across different domains; employing AI for a wide range of operations into a wide audience; and building expertise through partnerships and strengthening the SAF’s workforce.

He added that the centre’s task is to keep the SAF at the forefront of AI, and capitalise on the technology to transform daily administration and operations.

Safeguarding Singapore’s digital backbone

In flagging the exponential rise in cyber threats, Dr Ng said the SAF must step up to the challenge of protecting the country against such threats.

He noted that Singapore’s security sector is not immune to these threats, recalling the 2017 breach of Mindef and SAF portals used by NSmen and staff, and the more recent ransomware attack on HomeTeamNS servers.

And while these attacks did not degrade the capabilities or performance of key roles of either the SAF or Home Team, they are a reminder that there are both state and non-state actors probing for vulnerabilities in Singapore’s digital defences, Dr Ng said.

The new Defence Cyber Command will be involved in not just the SAF’s cyber-security activities, but all of Singapore’s.

Dr Ng said it will have to work with other partners in the Government and industry to boost the resilience of the nation’s digital systems.

“Therefore, it will establish a dedicated Cyber Protection Group that will work closely with the CSA (Cyber Security Agency of Singapore) and other relevant agencies to enhance our national cyber defence,” he added.

This new group will support the CSA and work with industry partners to raise the level of protection for Singapore’s cyber ecosystem, RADM Yong said.

Senior Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin Lim, who commands the group, told reporters that it will build on the existing partnerships that the DIS has previously established, and explore new areas of collaboration with other government agencies.

These efforts include training to hone cyber-defence competencies and sharpen the skill sets of Singapore’s front-line cyber incident responders, as well as at interagency exercises such as the Critical Infrastructure Defence Exercise, or Cidex.

RADM Yong said these interactions have been encouraging, with his counterparts fully aware of the need to work together.

“Cyber security is a team sport, and you are only as secure as your weakest link,” he added.

Dr Ng said that to date, about 500 national servicemen have been deployed across both commands in cyber, software engineering, AI, cloud infrastructure and engineering appointments.

“As the cyber threats and SAF’s capabilities grow, many more NSmen can step forward to build our digital defence,” he added.

He also highlighted the need for the DIS to partner the private sector to keep up with rapid innovation in cyber security and digital technologies.

Concluding, Dr Ng said the inauguration of the two new commands is a positive and important step forward for the DIS and the SAF.

“I commend the leaders for this development that gives confidence to Singaporeans that Singapore’s critical digital infrastructure can be kept secure and resilient.”

Join ST’s WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.