STRUGGLE OF ASEAN IN CYBER SECURITY

10.31857/S032150750010451-8

   This article provides an overview of the prevalent struggle in cyber security among ASEAN member states. The author examines the current cyber security problems faced by ASEAN and the factors contributing to their recurrence. ASEAN’s potential GDP growth brought by its rising digital economy is at stake. The region is at a risk of losing billions of dollars over the next few years if no improvements shall be made in the current cyber security structure of the region. The major cyber security incidents in the Southeast Asian region are analysed and the struggle of the governing bodies are revealed. Comparative case studies of cyber threat incidents in Singapore, Myanmar, and Vietnam are performed, showing attacks ranging from small business to giant establishments such as airport and hospitals. The priority level of cyber security highly vary per member state, ranging from Singapore’s top cyber security spending allocation to negligible budgets and awareness in Cambodia and Laos. There is a blatant lack of expertise, community education, and budget allocation for cyber security in the region. Despite the continual efforts of ASEAN to come up with a solid cyber security strategy, the progress in impeded by the prioritisation of other security threats such as political and economical. The shortage of professionals in the field and the lack of understanding and accurate gauging of the situation are also factors that contribute to the current poor state of cyber security in the Southeast Asian region. With this, the region has become an easy target for attacks, not only domestically but internationally as well. As a result, the author concludes that reforms in ASEAN’s cyber security system must be highly prioritised and regional cooperation should be increased.