BlackBerry, Putrajaya sign long-term cybersecurity deal
Published on: Saturday, November 18, 2023
By: FMT
The software and services agreement was signed by MCMC executive chairman Mohamad Salim Fateh Din (left) and BlackBerry Cybersecurity president John Giamatteo. Also present was communications and digital minister Fahmi Fadzil (standing left). (Bernama pic)
SAN FRANCISCO: The Canadian firm BlackBerry Ltd has signed an agreement with the Malaysian government under which it will provide cybersecurity software and set up a “world-class” cybersecurity centre of excellence in Kuala Lumpur.
The centre will be the company’s first in the Asia-Pacific region, the company said in a statement reported by Bernama.
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BlackBerry said the deal will support the integrity of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission while upskilling the nation’s workforce with advanced cybersecurity technology and training.
The statement quoted Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as saying Malaysia “must forge international partnerships that embrace cutting-edge technology to ensure it will continue to grow, prosper and keep the nation’s data and citizens safe”.
He said Malaysia should also invite foreign investments that could rapidly scale up and train a world class cybersecurity workforce.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said cybersecurity is a key pillar of Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy, which aims to advance peace, security, and cooperation in the region. He said Malaysia is an important bilateral partner of Canada.
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According to the statement, the deal with Malaysia includes software to predict and prevent cyberattacks, secure communications, protect government data among a roaming workforce, and for critical event management and incident response.
BlackBerry said its cybersecurity centre in Kuala Lumpur to be set up next year will offer specialised training to advance Malaysian cybersecurity capacity and readiness, with the goal of reducing the country’s shortfall of 12,000 cyber professionals.
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The company said the Canadian government plans to work closely with BlackBerry, the government of Malaysia, and the cybersecurity centre to deliver cybersecurity capacity-building assistance to Southeast Asia under Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
The centre will offer cybersecurity education and training, as well as “always-on” cyber threat intelligence and incident response teams to help the country safeguard against malicious cyber activity targeting businesses, governments, and infrastructure.
“The centre also will enhance intelligence sharing between nations and expand BlackBerry’s global threat intelligence network,” it said.
BlackBerry Cybersecurity president John Giamatteo will oversee the deployment of BlackBerry software in Malaysia and the establishment of the cybersecurity centre.
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