Axiata Group Berhad (“Axiata” or “the Group”) has signed separate Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with CyberSecurity Malaysia and MDEC to collaborate on enhancing Malaysia’s cybersecurity and digital resilience.
Launched in August 2022, the Axiata Cyber Fusion Centre (ACFC) is a forefront player in the cybersecurity field, offering real-time threat monitoring, proactive threat hunting, and strong protection for digital assets. The ACFC is designed to safeguard digital trust and business resilience through a comprehensive suite of protective, detective, and rapid-response capabilities.
The MoUs were signed in the presence of YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital. The signatories included Vivek Sood, Group CEO of Axiata Group Berhad; Dato’ Ts. Dr. Haji Amirudin Abdul Wahab, CEO of CyberSecurity Malaysia; and Ts Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of MDEC.
These organizations acknowledge the crucial role of cybersecurity as a key enabler for leveraging digitalization benefits in Malaysia. They have committed to promoting digital transformation, innovation in cybersecurity, and resource sharing to identify and counter cyber threats. Additionally, they aim to foster the development of international cybersecurity norms and standards.
Their collaboration focuses on building a secure and resilient digital tech ecosystem to support Malaysia’s digital aspirations. The partnership includes:
- Joint Consultations and Cyber Risk Assessments: Conducting collaborative reviews to combat malicious activities, address cross-border incidents, and share best practices in cybersecurity governance and risk management.
- Capacity Building: Enhancing national cyber resilience by designing and delivering cybersecurity programs with technical tools and guidance.
- Threat Intelligence: Strengthening connections between the organizations to securely share threat intelligence and expertise, improving incident response effectiveness.
- Commercialization Support and Industry Exposure: Identifying commercial opportunities and fostering cross-industry networking and knowledge exchange.
- Talent Development and Digital Talent Incubation: Creating a shared platform for insights and expertise exchange, focusing on cybersecurity talent development through workshops, training, and knowledge sharing to future-proof Malaysia’s digital economy.
The ACFC, equipped with active defense and offense capabilities, provides robust and preventative cybersecurity measures. Serving clients across six countries and various industries, it offers 24/7 monitoring. In recognition of its efforts, the ACFC was named CyberSecurity Project of the Year 2023 by CyberSecurity Malaysia and, in August 2024, won the Cyber Security Innovation of the Year Award for its advanced cybersecurity platform, HELIOS (Heuristic Engine for Leveraging Intelligence, Attribution, and Operational Security).
Aligned with Malaysia’s digital aspirations, Axiata is committed to accelerating the digital transformation of both private and public sector organizations in Malaysia through world-class technology, innovation, and services. As a leading regional telecommunications and digital conglomerate, Axiata aims to remain at the forefront of cybersecurity developments, leveraging its presence across ASEAN and South Asia to manage critical business events and solutions.
Commentaries:
- YB Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital: “Cybersecurity is the cornerstone of Malaysia’s digital economy. I am pleased that CyberSecurity Malaysia and MDEC have partnered with Axiata to ensure the security of Malaysians, our public and private sector organizations, and our national infrastructure in the cyber realm. Public-private partnerships like these are among the most effective strategies for combating cybercrimes and enhancing responses to cyber-attacks.”
- Vivek Sood, Group CEO of Axiata: “Through the Axiata Cyber Fusion Centre, we have formed key alliances with CyberSecurity Malaysia and MDEC, reinforcing our commitment to enhancing cybersecurity capabilities. The MoUs signed today will strengthen knowledge sharing, global threat intelligence, and the digital upskilling of Malaysia’s cybersecurity workforce. Our efforts in these areas position us to build a resilient digital tech ecosystem that supports and protects Malaysia’s digital economy.”
- Ts Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of MDEC: “As we drive the growth of our digital economy through the Malaysia Digital (MD) national strategic initiative, MDEC remains committed to cultivating strong partnerships and facilitating holistic development. Our collaboration with the Axiata Cyber Fusion Centre will enable us to deliver added value to Malaysian organizations and reinforce trust in the digital ecosystem. Through our Saya Digital campaign, we aim to raise fraud prevention awareness among the public as part of our nationwide outreach program.”
- Dato’ Ts. Dr. Haji Amirudin Abdul Wahab, CEO of CyberSecurity Malaysia: “The Axiata Cyber Fusion Centre supports the government’s efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s cybersecurity infrastructure. Telecommunications is a critical sector, and the ACFC plays a vital role in driving situational awareness and catalyzing public-private partnerships to enhance cyber resilience within the nation’s ecosystem.”
