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Ensuring a safe, secure digital environment

Rokiah Mahmud

In the aspect of digitalisation, the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) pays serious attention to ensuring a safe and secure digital environment for users including government, business and the public.

This was shared by Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha at the Legislative Council session on March 25.

He said the efforts are in line with the Digital Economy Masterplan 2025 of which cybersecurity is one of the strategic enablers to support the digital economy, especially in ensuring data security, infrastructure, and networks from cyber threats.

The minister shared that as an overview of these threats, throughout 2022, the Brunei Computer Emergency Response Team (BruCERT), an agency under Cyber Security Brunei (CSB), received 496 reports. From the total 33 per cent (165 cases) was related to social media, 20 per cent (104 cases) related to scams, and the remaining cases linked to malware, hacking, cyberbullying and others.

In this regard, according to the minister, CSB has introduced initiatives in addition to their continuous efforts to disseminate awareness, knowledge and advice. These include the Cyber Security Order, strengthening coordination and governance at the national level in cybersecurity through the National Cyber Security Committee, and providing legal frameworks for the protection of personal data.

CSB along with the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) also implemented individual and joint initiatives regarding the transition to an increasingly digital way of life.

The initiatives include organising programmes to improve digital knowledge and skills of users such as the infocommunications technology (ICT) skills training programmes and ‘Digital for All’ implemented by AITI.

The programmes aim to educate the public on digital literacy and basic ICT skills. The programmes were introduced in 2019 and have involved the Senior Citizens Activity Centre (PKWE), village consultative councils (MPK), youth and children group under the Community Development Department (JAPEM), on basic ICT skills, e-commerce, digital marketing applications, and cybersecurity for daily use.

The minister added that other ICT programmes are also being offered such as workshops on e-commerce, digital marketing and cybersecurity participated by JAPEM; the learning programmes on Microsoft Office, cybersecurity, and graphic design for youth and children below 12 years old; as well as basic coding programmes using the Scratch and Microbit have also been introduced.

In addition to providing ICT infrastructure and ensuring a secure and reliable digital environment, the MTIC has also focussed its efforts in developing the ICT industry, particularly to enhance skills in the latest technology and provide opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to develop a workforce with necessary skills in the current and future technology.

At the same time, AITI has collaborated with representatives from government agencies, ICT industries and higher learning institutions in developing the Brunei ICT Industry Competency Framework. The aim is to ensure that local ICT professionals have attained relevant skills to carry out their roles as well as develop their careers by providing national standards for job roles, competency and required types of training and certification.

Additionally, AITI has also implemented Coding.Bn, a technical training programme designed to equip participants with coding or programming skills necessary for the industry and their future career development.

The six-month programme includes a three-month job placement with local or foreign organisations aimed at improving participants’ job prospects upon completing training programmes.

All these, the minister said, are catalysts and enablers of a more digital way of life and daily needs. The implementation of three main flagship projects under the Digital Economy Masterplan 2025 being carried out including the National Information Hub (NIH) Project, serves as a repository for general data. So far, 10 data providers and 11 data users from various government agency stakeholders having been using the platform.

Secondly is the Digital Identity Project which improves the existing e-Darussalam system and will use digital identity verification for online login to access several government services. This service will also be extended to business sectors to enable digital business transactions.

Thirdly, the Digital Hub, which provides a platform that enables integration between various existing payment systems, thus making digital payments easier and faster for users.

Moving on to the efforts to promote a culture of innovation among students, educational institutions, the public sector, and businesses in the country, the ministry in collaboration with AITI and other partners will continue the Brunei ICT Awards (BICTA) programme. This programme is one of the drivers of innovative products and digital solution development in line with current developments and needs.

The programme has been proven to yield significant results, with some of the products initially presented as ideas or prototypes and later successfully advanced to commercial stages and penetrated competitive markets.

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