Govt sets up new Cyber Security Agency from Apr 1, Yaacob Ibrahim is minister in charge

SINGAPORE - A new Cyber Security Agency (CSA) will be set up by the Government from Apr 1.

Formed under the aegis of the Prime Minister's Office, the CSA will provide dedicated and centralised oversight of national cyber security functions.

The CSA will consolidate and build upon the government's cyber security capabilities, including those currently residing in MHA and IDA, and focus on national cyber security.

These include strategy and policy development, cyber security operations, industry development and outreach. It will also work closely with the private sector to develop Singapore's cyber security eco-system.

According to The Straits Times, the new agency will  oversee 10 critical sectors including power, transport and telecommunications 

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information, will be appointed as the Minister-in-charge of Cyber Security.

Mr David Koh, Deputy Secretary (Technology) at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), has been appointed as the Chief Executive (Designate) of the CSA on 1 January 2015, and as Chief Executive, CSA from 1 April 2015. Mr Koh will assume his CSA and MINDEF appointments concurrently.

The new agency will have 60 dedicated technical and policy development staff, with most to be transferred from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA). 

cynloh@sph.com.sg