Advancing Cybersecurity Resiliency in the Age of AI and Quantum

From October 12 to 15, Singapore hosted Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW) under the theme of “Cyber at a Crossroads: Shaping the New Cyber Order.” With the increasing scale of cyber threats, discussions highlighted the implications of AI, protection of Critical Information Infrastructure (CII), and broader preparedness for emerging technologies, including quantum-related risks. As emerging technologies risk making traditional cyber defense strategies outdated, Singapore has called on countries across the region to help promote stronger safeguards capable of addressing emerging risks alongside greater public-private cooperation, transparency, and information exchange.

In parallel, Singapore chaired the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity (AMCC) and co-chaired the U.S.-ASEAN Cyber Policy Dialogue. During AMCC, officials welcomed the ASEAN Cybersecurity Cooperation Strategy (ACCS) 2026–2030 and discussed further operationalization of the ASEAN Regional Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) and its Information Sharing Mechanism (ISM). ASEAN Member States called for the development of interoperable technical standards, acknowledging existing policy approaches and best practices, such as Singapore’s Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme to enhance IoT security for consumer devices. 

Since 2018, Singapore has invested S$30 million (US$23.4 million) to support the ASEAN Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (ASCCE). Singapore has now committed an additional S$30 million in funding over the next five years to strengthen regional capacity via ASCCE, which will focus on programs addressing key issue areas such as AI-related cybersecurity risks, CII protection, and cyber incident response.

Singapore’s Refreshed Cybersecurity Strategy and Quantum Guidance

Recognizing the shifting cyber risk landscape, Singapore launched an updated Cybersecurity Strategy 2026 on October 13. To advance a more proactive, scalable, and AI-enabled approach to cyber defense, the strategy highlights the importance of raising cybersecurity standards across organizations, businesses, and individuals, and increasing capabilities for AI, quantum, and other frontier technologies. This includes enhancing Singapore’s National Cybersecurity Command Centre (NC3), developing a national Protective Domain Name Service (PDNS), and strengthening the Cybersecurity Act, Cybersecurity Code of Practice, and sectoral obligations. The government also intends to invest in AI harness training, providing the government with the flexibility to integrate the best-available AI models into its cybersecurity workflows.

Singapore is also accelerating its quantum-safe migration timeline, urging CII owners to complete quantum-safe migration by 2031. Other organizations exposed to quantum-related risks to complete migration by 2035. Further quantum-related guidance and a Quantum-Safe Kickstarter Grant will be launched to enable this transition. A recent advisory from the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) now encourages organizations to have a migration plan in place by the end of 2027. 

At the regional level, Singapore reaffirmed its commitment to deepening cooperation with non-state actors and other governments, advancing rules-based cyber cooperation and co-creating solutions. Beyond organizing SICW annually, Singapore plans to establish the Digital Defense Symposium (DDS) as a key platform to convene senior defense officials, academia, industry, and partners from ASEAN Member States and key partner nations to encourage dialogue on shared digital and information security challenges.

Looking Ahead

Quantum readiness and the transition to AI-enabled cyber strategies across the region remain in the early stages. Aside from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam have identified quantum readiness as a growing priority, but regional cooperation remains nascent. The refreshed ACCS recognizes AI and quantum as distinct risk categories, identifying the development of a regional quantum-safe migration playbook as a potential deliverable for ASEAN to consider.

As Singapore prepares for its 2027 ASEAN Chairmanship, recent developments in AI security and quantum-safe migration guidance signal greater opportunities for regional cooperation and leadership. Building upon past work leveraging the ASEAN Cybersecurity Assessment Model, the Council will look towards identifying greater engagement opportunities for member companies, cybersecurity officials, and defense counterparts in 2027.