Background

The ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Cybersecurity and Information Centre of Excellence (ACICE) was established in June 2021, mooted against a backdrop of rapid digitalisation and increasing prevalence of cyberattacks, disinformation and misinformation. Together with the Information Fusion Centre (IFC), the Changi Regional HADR Coordination Centre (RHCC) and the Counter-Terrorism Information Facility (CTIF), the four centres demonstrate MINDEF/SAF's commitment to strengthen multilateral cooperation in tackling emerging and non-traditional threats in the domains of cybersecurity and information, maritime security, HADR and counter-terrorism.

Logo of ACICE. ACICE's logo incorporates the ASEAN emblem colours and illustrates the close collaboration and networking which ACICE facilitates.

Objectives of ACICE

Threats in the cybersecurity and information domains could impact critical infrastructures, fracture social cohesion within and across states, and undermine trust in governments. To combat these threats, ACICE is underpinned by three key thrusts, namely information sharing, capacity building and confidence building. To this end, ACICE seeks to (a) share information, research and analysis on cyber, information and other threats relevant to the defence sector; (b) promote cooperation against cyber and information threats; and (c) serve as a platform where ASEAN defence officials, experts and industry players can come together to exchange views and share best practices on tackling the cyber and information threats.

Structure of ACICE

ACICE comprises three centres: the Cybersecurity Centre, the Information Centre, and the Research Centre. The Cybersecurity and Information Centres will host and facilitate information sharing among the regional and international experts from the cybersecurity and information domains. The Research Centre will collaborate with think tanks and academic institutes to conduct longer-term research on the impact of developments in digital and information technologies on defence. ACICE will also partner local and international experts to organise conferences, dialogues and consultations to raise the collective knowledge and expertise in the cyber and information domains.

Existing Initiatives by ACICE

Since September 2021, ACICE has sent out monthly reports to raise awareness and knowledge on potential threats to regional security arising from the cybersecurity and information domains. These reports are also published on ACICE's website .

In February 2023, ACICE also launched a Malware Information Sharing Platform (MISP) where ASEAN Member States (AMS) can access, read and share information on cyber malware and other relevant cyber threats. The timely sharing of cybersecurity threat information leverages the collective knowledge of AMS for early warning, timely response and mitigation of cyberattacks.

Next Steps for ACICE

ACICE's construction is underway and it is expected to be launched formally in the third quarter of 2023 and will be located at the Changi Command and Control Centre (CC2C), Changi Naval Base, Singapore.

ACICE will continue to expand its network and partnerships with regional and international experts from the defence sector, academic institutions as well as industry players. An ACICE Experts Panel, comprising academics and industry experts, will also be established later this year to promote rigour and diverse perspectives in discussions and exchanges on relevant cybersecurity and information issues.