The high reliance on the virtual world and Internet services has changed almost every aspect of human life. People dependency on the virtual world and Internet services is increasing, not only in Malaysia but all over the world with the spread of Covid-19 pandemic. However, it exposes users to various forms of cyber threats such as fraud, cyberbullying, identity theft, and cyber harassment to users at all levels, including organisations and business entities that can cause significant losses.
Various types of cyber defence tools need to be developed to protect users and organisations from these threats and attacks. They also need to be well managed to prevent organisations and business entities from suffering losses due to unforeseen situations. Therefore, the field of cybersecurity education must be in line with the development of various defence mechanisms to form a sustainable cybersecurity ecosystem.
Thus, CyberSecurity Malaysia and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) have taken long-term measures to strengthen advanced education and professional training in the field of cybersecurity to be in line with the needs of the industry and the market today. Thus, both parties have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to offer cybersecurity training and certification programmes.
The MoA appoints UUM as the training and examination centre of the Global ACE certification scheme in the northern region of Malaysia. Hence, CyberSecurity Malaysia and UUM will offer cybersecurity professional certification courses as a short-term course for executives and information technology managers. Besides, UUM will offer the Master of Science in Cybersecurity starting in 2021 which allows students to graduate with two professional cybersecurity certificates offered by the Global ACE certification scheme. Therefore, graduates of this program will have an added value in which they have an industry-oriented professional recognition.
The collaboration between CyberSecurity Malaysia and UUM is expected to contribute to human resource development in Malaysia. This effort supports the production of a workforce that meets the needs of the current market of cybersecurity-related areas. In fact, the areas have been listed as critical occupation list (COL) in the 2019/2020 as reported by Talent Corp and the Institute of Labor Market Information and Analysis, Ministry of Human Resources. Thus, this collaboration comes at the right time to support the needs and demands of a trained workforce in the field of cybersecurity.
An MoA exchange session was held during the closing ceremony of the Cyber Parenting Seminar: Towards Digital Fluency on 3 October 2020 at Ibnu Khaldun Hall, Institute Kemahiran MARA (IKM) Beseri, Perlis. YBhg Dato ’Ts. Dr. Haji Amirudin Abdul Wahab, Chief Executive Officer of CyberSecurity Malaysia and Professor Dr. Huda Hj. Ibrahim, Assistant Vice Chancellor representing the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Utara Malaysia completed this MoA exchange. The ceremony was witnessed by YB Datuk Zahidi bin Zainul Abidin, Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia.
MoA exchange session between UUM and CyberSecurity Malaysia on 3 October 2020
In the same ceremony, Professor Dr. Huda delivered a letter of appointment as the Adjunct Professor of UUM to YBhg. Dato’ Ts. Dr. Haji Amirudin. This appointment is effective from 15 August 2020 to 14 August 2022. The Adjunct Professor serves as a consultant related to cybersecurity to students and lecturers at SOC. This appointment is expected to strengthen advanced cybersecurity education. Prior to this official ceremony, YBhg. Dato ’Ts. Dr. Haji Amirudin had delivered his first lecture online on 16 August 2020 through Webex and Facebook Live. His lecture entitled “Cybersecurity During the Covid-19 Pandemic” was attended by UUM staff members and students. The lecture advised the audience the cybersecurity threats rise from the Movement Control Order (MCO) and how ones can protect themselves from those threats.
YBhg Dato’ Ts. Dr. Haji Amirudin headed the CyberSecurity Malaysia visit to SOC on 4th October with his other four staff members for discussing the long-term strategies for a sustainable certification programme. They visited Computing Professional Enrichment & Development Division (CoPED); a SOC arm that will offer the certifications programmes as stated in the MoA.
Delegation from CyberSecurity Malaysia visiting Computing Professional Enrichment & Development Division (CoPED) on 4 October 2020.