Hong Kong beefs up defense with cybersecurity scheme

Members can share best practices and insights to boost cyber resilience.

The office of the government chief information officer has launched the Cybersec Infohub, a two-year pilot programme that aims to promote and facilitate exchange of cybersecurity information amongst the public and private sectors and the larger community. 

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Around 229 representatives of cybersecurity firms, tertiary institutions, information technology professional associations, telecommunications and Internet service providers, have already registered with the Infohub, according to a government statement. 

The department also launched cybersechub.hk, a cybersecurity sharing and collaborative platform where members can share information, advice and insights on mitigation measures and best practices with experts across industries. It is also open to the public who can obtain information via the ‘Public Zone’ section.

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Government Chief Information Officer Victor Lam said in a statement that he hopes the Cybersec Infohub could build up a collaborative culture and closer partnership in the local industry to facilitate more effective and prompt reaction to cyber attacks.

A study by Microsoft reveled that cyberattacks could easily wipe out about 10% of Hong Kong's GDP or around $249.6b annually over the next few years. “As companies embrace the opportunities presented by cloud and mobile computing to connect with customers, they take on new risks,” Microsoft Asia chief cybersecurity officer Michael Montoya said in a statement.