Cybersecurity: a condition for sustainable growth

WHEN we think about sustainability, protecting the environment often takes center stage. However, the sustainable development of our society, which is increasingly linked to the digital world, is equally important.

As Malaysia continues its digital transformation, the digital economy is poised to play an even more significant role, contributing 25.5% of the country’s GDP by 2025, up from 23% in 2022.

In this context, cybersecurity appears as a fundamental element, necessary to ensure the resilience and continuity of our digital society.

Protecting the digital fabric of the world

In Malaysia today, digitalization is impacting almost every aspect of life – from utilities, transportation and banking to government services, healthcare and entertainment.

These interconnectedness provide unprecedented convenience, but they also increase our vulnerability to cyber threats. As our dependence on digital infrastructure increases, the importance of cybersecurity increases.

This is not only a technical necessity, but a key safeguard for the very fabric of modern society, ensuring individual protection, economic stability and national security.

Moreover, a nation’s economic health is also inextricably linked to the security of its businesses and citizens. Cyber ​​threats such as ransomware and malware can disrupt business operations, damage brand reputation, undermine consumer confidence and impact financial viability.

For Malaysian businesses, implementing robust cybersecurity measures is essential not only to protect assets, but also to ensure long-term resilience and contribute to the country’s overall economic stability.

Moreover, national security in the digital age extends beyond physical boundaries and into cyberspace.

The rise of cyberwarfare, espionage and terrorism highlights the need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect the resilience of critical infrastructure such as energy, water and transport systems.

These systems are essential not only to maintain political stability and economic health, but also to maintain public trust in institutions.

Without strong cybersecurity, Malaysia’s international competitiveness and sustainability are at risk.

Peerapong: Looking ahead, securing Malaysia’s digital networks and infrastructure will require a comprehensive approach.

Building trust in Malaysia’s digital society

Trust is the foundation of all digital interactions, from online shopping to international diplomacy. However, this trust is fragile, especially in the face of rapidly evolving digital threats such as deepfakes and sophisticated phishing schemes.

These threats undermine trust in digital technologies and can have far-reaching consequences, from fraud to the erosion of public trust in institutions.

Strengthening cybersecurity is essential to maintaining this trust and ensuring that digital technologies continue to serve as a force for good in society.

Cybersecurity measures ensure that the amenities of a digital society do not come at the expense of individual privacy and security. By protecting these elements, we protect not only individuals, but also the trust that underpins our digital economy.

Strengthening society’s cybersecurity

A key element of building trust and increasing cybersecurity is cooperation in the fight against cybercrime. Sharing actionable threat intelligence between the public and private sectors is a key element in dismantling cybercriminal networks.

For organizations, partnerships with transnational entities such as Interpol and the World Economic Forum’s Cybersecurity Center are essential to better address cyber threats and help shape the future of digital security.

Closing the security skills gap

Cybersecurity itself must also be sustainable, which includes two main elements: the continued ability of the cybersecurity sector to function and effectively protect nations, organizations and individuals; and the industry’s efforts to be more sustainable.

For the first element, a key obstacle is a global shortage of approximately four million cybersecurity professionals.

Fortinet is committed to helping fill this cybersecurity skills gap through one of the industry’s largest programs aimed at training one million professionals worldwide by 2026.

In Malaysia, this includes current and past academic partnerships with Sunway University, Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Malaysia Perlis , Multimedia University – MMU Cyberjaya and Universiti Teknologi Petronas to support cybersecurity education.

For the second component, the cybersecurity industry itself is engaging in more sustainable activities to reduce and ultimately eliminate its environmental impact.

Cybersecurity solutions are increasingly being designed to be more energy efficient, require less cooling and take up less space.

This helps cybersecurity customers reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint. Fortinet takes a holistic approach and leverages innovation as part of our commitment to minimize the environmental impact of our cybersecurity products and solutions.

This resulted in 88% lower energy consumption compared to other industry standard processors, an average reduction in product energy consumption of 66%, a 33% reduction in space required, and 100% biodegradable packaging for some products.

Securing Malaysia’s digital future

Looking ahead, securing Malaysia’s digital networks and infrastructure will require a comprehensive approach. This includes streamlining verification processes, implementing advanced threat detection tools, and leveraging automation and artificial intelligence.

Collaboration between the public and private sectors is key to fostering a culture of transparency and collective responsibility. A strong legal and policy framework, supported by widespread public education, will also be essential to identifying and mitigating cyber threats.

At the same time, cybersecurity must be integrated with ESG principles to strengthen business frameworks and promote ethical, sustainable practices. By fostering collaboration and improving these measures, Malaysian businesses will be able to achieve long-term sustainable development.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of cybersecurity depends on the people behind it. While technology provides the necessary tools, trained and vigilant people are the last line of defense against cyberattacks.

By investing in cybersecurity awareness and training, organizations can help make society more resilient, ensuring that digital technologies continue to support Malaysia’s sustainable development and prosperity.

Today, cybersecurity is not only a prerequisite for sustainable business development, but also for the broader digital society.

As Malaysia continues to develop its digital economy, a strong commitment to cybersecurity will ensure sustainable, safe and win-win progress.

Peerapong Jongvibool is Fortinet’s senior director for Southeast Asia.