Singapore’s DIS established

OPSSG

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1. The establishment of the fourth Service of the SAF in Oct 2022 – the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) – marks a key milestone in the transformation of the Next Generation SAF.

2. The DIS will defend and dominate in the digital domain. As part of an integrated SAF, the DIS will enhance Singapore's security, from peace to war.

3. The DIS is led by Brigadier Gen. Lee Yi-Jin as the 1st Chief of Digital & Intelligence Service.

4. The DIS also runs the Cyber Defence Test and Evaluation Centre and SAF Cyber Defence School. In Mar 2023, the DIS even deployed a 7 man team to Thailand to participate in Ex Cobra Gold. Like it or not, we are at cyber war with state sponsored advanced persistent threats or APTs. The 2018 SingHealth data breach of the heath records of Singaporeans was conducted by an APT.

5. In June 2022, the 16th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) adopted the terms of reference of the ADMM Cybersecurity and Information Centre of Excellence (ACICE). The terms outline four primary workstreams, namely:
(i) setting up a database on cyber malware and information threats;​
(ii) increasing awareness and knowledge such as through think tank and academic exchanges;​
(iii) promoting interactions such as through dialogues and exercises; and​
(iv) supporting the activities of the ASEAN Cyber Defence Network (ACDN).​

6. We need ACICE because ASEAN members are in a cyber war with APTs. We are just too polite to point out the state that has many APTs & actively harming ASEAN in cyber. h/t to @jollyman3 for this RSIS paper.

7. It is not just ASEAN that is affected. China-based Tick APT has deployed custom malware & use other sophisticated tools to gain illegal access to a South Korean IT company. In a recent report, ESET attributed the attack to the Tick group, stating that it exploited the ProxyLogon vulnerability to compromise a South Korean IT company in early 2021.
 
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OPSSG

Super Moderator
Staff member
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1. Gen. Paul Nakasone played an instrumental role in the US Department of Defense and MINDEF concluding a MOU Concerning Cooperation in Cyberspace in Aug 2021.

2. This MOU institutionalised cyber cooperation between both the defence establishments in areas such as information sharing, operational and technical exchanges, and collaboration in regional capacity building efforts.

3. Gen. Nakasone has also been a strong advocate for the expansion of bilateral ties and has enhanced both the breadth and depth of collaboration between our militaries, through regular high-level visits, exercises, and subject matter expert working groups. These interactions have also strengthened the friendship and mutual understanding between personnel from the US Cyber Command and the DIS.
4. Gen. Nakasone, Commander US Cyber Command, is in Singapore from 21 to 24 March 2023, to enhance cooperation with #DIS.

5. Concurrently, there is the Change of Command Parade for the SAF’s Chief of Defence Force (CDF) on 24 March at 1730hrs. The new CDF will be RADM Aaron Beng and he will be the 1st CDF from the navy.
 
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