KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is aiming to become a centre of excellence for cybersecurity.
It hopes to achieve this through the state-owned Information Communication Technology company, Sabah Net Sdn Bhd, which produces more cybersecurity professionals and job opportunities in Sabah for this purpose.
Its chairman Datuk Mohamed Razali Mohamed Razi said during the Covid-19 pandemic, technology grew by leaps and bounds in the past two years, with cybercrime also rising by 600 per cent.
By 2025, global cybercrime is estimated to cost USD$10.5 trillion (RM46.47 trillion) annually, whereas the global annual cost of cybercrime is estimated to be USD$6 trillion (RM26.55 trillion) per year.
In Malaysia, the Malaysian Computer Emergency Response Team or MyCERT reported 10,016 cybersecurity related cases last year. As for this year, up to May, there were 3,057 cases.
"Based on the exorbitant estimated cost, it cannot be denied that the importance of cybersecurity is enormous", he said in a statement.
Razali said Sabah Net is taking a proactive approach to cybersecurity by using a combination of industry leading tools designed to provide top level of protection for its customers' data and systems.
"I wish to thank award-winning security solutions company Fortinet Malaysia for allowing limitless opportunities to bring positive effects to East Malaysia through Smart Partnership with Sabah Net."
On Friday, Sabah Net and Fortinet formalised the Smart Partnership at Sabah International Convention Centre here.
Also present were the state Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Permanent Secretary, Zainudin Aman, Sabah Net Chief Executive Officer Chin Kah Yi, and Fortinet Malaysia Sales Director Abdul Aziz Ali.
Zainudin said the smart partnership was crucial to address the shortage of professional cybersecurity and create more local jobs besides providing continuous guidance on best cybersecurity practices.
As for the state government, having a centre of excellence for cybersecurity will help to further protect sensitive data.
"It is to enable government digital services to operate without disruptions."
Meanwhile, Chin said Sabah Net looks forward to nurturing at least 100 certified Fortinet engineers in the next 3 to 5 years.
The Fortinet Network Security Expert Certification Program is an 8-level training and assessment programme designed for customers, partners, and employees to help close the cybersecurity skills gap.
"These engineers shall not only come from Sabah Net in-house talents but also engineers from customers and local Fortinet partners in the state."