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Business Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Business Times
Never trust, always verify: Why zero trust is essential for Singapore's cybersecurity
Singapore, a bustling digital and data hub, finds itself on the front lines of an escalating cyber battlefield. Recent announcements from Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam underscore the serious threats from cyberespionage groups like UNC3886 attacking critical information infrastructure. These are not your average opportunistic hackers. We are talking about sophisticated, well-resourced advanced persistent threat (APT) actors that gain unauthorised access to a computer network and target essential services. The intent is clear: espionage, disruption and undermining national security. So, how can nations defend against such formidable and constantly evolving adversaries in today's complex digital landscape? The answer lies in a fundamental shift in our cybersecurity philosophy: zero trust. Beyond the perimeter: why the old ways don't cut it anymore A decade or so ago, securing technology felt simpler. We relied on physical security, strong network perimeters, firewalls and basic identity management. Our applications were often monolithic, tucked safely behind these defences. But those days are long gone. Today, software development is all about distributed, cloud-native, microservices-based applications. We are 'gluing together' countless pieces of existing code, each with its own complex dependencies – forming the software supply chain, which typically encompasses all tools, libraries and processes used to develop and publish software. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up This interconnected nature vastly increases the potential attack surface of our critical systems. Every new component, configuration and connection becomes a potential doorway for attackers. It is no surprise then that we have seen a dramatic hike in common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) – publicly disclosed cybersecurity vulnerabilities found in software or hardware that act as a standardised way to identify and catalogue security flaws. In the first seven months of 2025, almost 27,000 CVEs were reported – an average of 127 CVEs per day. While investments in cybersecurity spending are essential, vulnerability scanners only work against known threats. This leaves us acutely exposed to zero-day attacks like the infamous Log4Shell, which exploit previously unknown weaknesses and leave defenders no time to prepare a response. Even internal bad actors can pose a zero-day threat; true zero trust means verifying even code from 'the inside'. This increasing complexity, coupled with the sheer volume of new vulnerabilities, means configuration errors or omissions in our distributed cloud-native applications can easily introduce exploitable paths. In fact, SUSE's Securing the Cloud Apac 2024 report revealed that IT decision-makers in the Asia-Pacific region experienced an average of 2.6 cloud-related security incidents in the past year, and 64 per cent confirm an incident in the last 12 months. This includes threats ranging from artificial intelligence-powered cyberattacks to edge security breaches, all aiming to disrupt and exploit our cloud environments. This reality underscores the urgent need for a transformative approach. Zero trust, with its 'never trust, always verify' principle, is that transformation. Hidden weapons in our defence arsenal More than a buzzword, zero trust is a strategic approach amplified by modern cybersecurity features. Zero-day exploits: proactive runtime protection As we have seen, UNC3886 and similar APTs frequently leverage zero-day vulnerabilities. While we cannot always predict where the next zero-day attack will strike, zero trust's granular access controls and microsegmentation significantly limit an attacker's lateral movement after a breach. Cloud-native security solutions that protect applications from zero-day attacks at runtime are crucial. These solutions continuously monitor application behaviour, detecting anomalies and blocking malicious code even if it is present. They also halt unauthorised attempts at access and data exfiltration. This means threat actors are stopped dead in their tracks, even against unknown exploits like Log4Shell. Software bill of materials: knowing what exactly is in your software 'ingredients list' In today's interconnected software landscape, understanding what is inside our applications is paramount. A software bill of materials (SBOM) provides a detailed, itemised list of all components, libraries and dependencies used in a piece of software, much like ingredients on a food label. For zero trust, SBOMs are essential. They enable organisations to know precisely what they are deploying, allowing for continuous monitoring of known vulnerabilities within those components. This visibility is critical for identifying potential weak points in the software supply chain that attackers might exploit. By understanding the provenance – the origins and history – and composition of every software element, zero-trust principles can be applied more effectively, verifying the integrity of each component before it is granted access or permission to execute. SBOMs, therefore, become a foundational element for building trust in the software we consume and deploy, aligning perfectly with the never trust, always verify ethos by exposing hidden risks. Open source: transparency, agility and collaborative defence In the face of sophisticated nation-state adversaries, proprietary, black-box security solutions can be a disadvantage. This is where open source shines. Open-source software, by its very nature, is transparent. Its code is openly available for review by a global community of experts. This transparency leads to faster discovery of vulnerabilities, and patching. Open-source solutions are also adaptable to specific national security needs, allowing for rapid deployment of new defences against evolving threats, increasing overall security resilience. At the same time, it is crucial to acknowledge that while open source offers many benefits, it can also be a source of risk if not managed properly. Regular scanning for known vulnerabilities, diligent patching, and the careful selection of well-maintained and trusted open-source projects can help organisations guard against ever-evolving threats. Building a resilient digital Singapore Cyberattacks by groups like UNC3886 are a stark reminder that our digital defences must be as agile and sophisticated as the threats we face. Implementing a zero-trust architecture – bolstered by features like proactive runtime protection, verified SBOMs and the collaborative power of open source – is a pre-emptive advantage. It ensures that even if an adversary gains a foothold, their mission becomes infinitely harder – safeguarding vital infrastructure and preserving trust so that nations like Singapore can protect and advance their missions as secure digital hubs. The writer is SUSE's chief technology officer for Asia-Pacific, Japan and Greater China
Business Times
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Times
Thailand, Cambodia agree to truce after Trump, Anwar outreach
[PUTRAJAYA] Thai and Cambodian leaders agreed to halt hostilities in their deadliest border conflict in more than a decade, after a push by the US and regional powers for a diplomatic resolution. Thailand's Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet held discussions on Monday (Jul 28) in Malaysia, hosted by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar facilitated the dialogue in his role as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with Washington and Beijing dispatching envoys. Anwar, speaking after the talks, said the sides agreed to a ceasefire as of midnight. The talks mark the first formal dialogue since fresh clashes erupted on July 24, with at least 36 people killed and more than 150,000 civilians displaced on both sides of their 800-kilometre border. Tensions escalated rapidly over the weekend, as heavy artillery fire and aerial strikes were reported, and both sides accused each other of targeting civilian areas. US President Donald Trump had said before the discussions that the Thai and Cambodian leaders had agreed to 'quickly work out a ceasefire.' After separate calls with Phumtham and Hun Manet on Saturday, Trump had threatened that Washington would not do a trade deal with either as long as the fighting continued. Before departing for the talks, Phumtham questioned Cambodia's sincerity in halting fighting as clashes continued into early Monday. The discussions were set to focus on ending the hostilities and maintaining Thailand's sovereignty, he told reporters. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up Thailand has insisted that any ceasefire must include troop withdrawals, an end to lethal force and an agreement to resolve conflict through bilateral mechanisms. Cambodia, by contrast, says it supports an unconditional end to hostilities. The current conflict traces its roots to long-standing disputes stemming from colonial-era maps and treaties that defined the two countries' boundaries. Relations had remained relatively stable since a 2011 clash that left dozens dead, but renewed tensions have triggered fears of escalated fighting. Trump threatened to block trade deals with both countries unless the violence stopped. 'We're not going to make a trade deal unless you settle the war,' Trump said on Sunday, adding that both leaders expressed willingness to negotiate after speaking with him directly. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier that US officials are on the ground in Malaysia 'to assist these peace efforts.' China, the top trading partner for both South-east Asian nations and a major backer of Phnom Penh, is due to participate in the talks, the Cambodian leader said. 'Both President Trump and I remain engaged with our respective counterparts for each country and are monitoring the situation very closely,' Rubio said earlier in a statement. 'We want this conflict to end as soon as possible.' With Trump's Aug 1 tariff deadline looming, trade-reliant Thailand wants to avoid antagonizing the US president, especially as its officials have been holding talks to lower the steep 36% planned levy on its exports. Trump has claimed credit for helping halt border clashes earlier this year between India and Pakistan by leveraging trade measures. It's an assertion India has consistently denied but Pakistan has embraced. Thailand's trade talks with the US have included offering expanded access for American goods to narrow a US$46 billion trade surplus. Neighbouring Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam have already secured trade deals with the US in recent weeks. 'President Trump's pressure tactic seems to be working as both the Thai and Cambodian governments are struggling economically,' said Tita Sanglee, associate fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. 'Failure to lower Thailand's tariff rate will be politically costly.' But yielding to a ceasefire agreement when the Cambodian threat to take the territorial disputes to the International Court of Justice is still alive, won't likely be accepted by the Thai public or the military, she said. Cambodia has said it wants the court to help settle the disputed status of four border areas, after a skirmish broke out in May. Thailand doesn't recognise the court's jurisdiction. BLOOMBERG
Business Times
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Times
Thai, Cambodian leaders hold ceasefire talks in Malaysia
[PUTRAJAYA] The leaders of Cambodia and Thailand were meeting in Malaysia on Monday (Jul 28) to try to reach a ceasefire deal on the fifth day of their fierce border conflict, amid an international effort to halt the fighting. The South-east Asian neighbours waging their deadliest conflict in more than a decade accuse each other of starting the fighting last week, before escalating it with heavy artillery bombardment and Thai air strikes along their 817-km land border. Photographs from the Thai and Malaysian governments showed the Chinese and US ambassadors to Malaysia attending Monday's meeting in the administrative capital of Putrajaya, held at the residence of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who chairs the Asean regional bloc. 'The purpose of this meeting is to achieve an immediate 'ceasefire', initiated by President Donald Trump and agreed to by the Prime Ministers of Cambodia and Thailand,' Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a post on X. Hun Manet posted photographs of the meeting, showing a U-shaped formation of tables, with himself and the Thai premier seated opposite each other, Anwar at a head table and Chinese and US officials at separate tables behind Anwar. Anwar had proposed ceasefire talks soon after the border dispute erupted into conflict on Thursday, and China and the United States also offered to assist in negotiations. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up The tension between Thailand and Cambodia has intensified since the killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief skirmish late in May. Both sides reinforced border troops amid a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. Trump said he believed both Thailand and Cambodia wanted to settle their differences after he told both their leaders in weekend telephone calls that he would not conclude trade deals with them unless they ended the fighting. Thailand's leader said there were doubts about Cambodia's sincerity ahead of the negotiations in Malaysia. 'We are not confident in Cambodia, their actions so far have reflected insincerity in solving the problem,' Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters before he left for talks. 'Cambodia has violated international law, but everybody wants to see peace. Nobody wants to see violence that affects civilians.' Cambodia has strongly denied Thai accusations of having fired at civilian targets, saying instead that Thailand put innocent lives at risk. It has called for the international community to condemn Thailand's aggression against it. Even after the peace talks were announced, both sides reported clashes in border areas on Monday. In the Thai province of Sisaket, Reuters reporters came across an evacuated village about 20 km from the border. Splintered wood and twisted beams were all that was left of a house hit by artillery fire after its residents left. Power lines drooped over the damaged house, and debris was scattered by the road. The windows of nearby houses were shattered, scattering broken glass. The area was largely deserted, with stores and restaurants closed, and only military vehicles, tanks and a few cars seen on a nearby four-lane road as random bursts of distant artillery fire pierced the eerie silence. REUTERS
Business Times
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Times
Thailand and Cambodia begin truce talks as fighting drags on
[KUALA LUMPUR] Thailand and Cambodia's leaders opened peace talks Monday (Jul 28) in Malaysia, seeking a ceasefire after five days of combat along their jungle-clad frontier that has killed at least 35 people. More than 200,000 people have fled as the two sides fired artillery, rockets and guns in a battle over the long-disputed area, which is home to a smattering of ancient temples. The flare-up is the deadliest since violence raged from 2008-2011 over the territory, which is claimed by both sides because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907. Hours ahead of the talks, an AFP journalist in the Cambodian city of Samraong – 17 kilometres from the fraught frontier – reported hearing a steady drumbeat of up to 10 blasts a minute. US President Donald Trump – who both nations are courting for trade deals to avert the threat of eye-watering tariffs – intervened over the weekend, and said both sides had agreed to 'quickly work out' a truce. Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet began their talks in the administrative capital Putrajaya around 3.15pm. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up They met at the residence of Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim, serving chair of the Asean bloc of which Thailand and Cambodia are both members, who earlier told media he would focus on an 'immediate ceasefire'. Washington's top diplomat Marco Rubio said State Department officials were on the ground in Malaysia to assist the 'peace efforts' while Cambodia said a delegation from its close ally China would also attend. But ahead of the summit, Thailand and Cambodia traded fresh fire and barbed accusations. Cambodia's defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said it was 'the fifth day that Thailand has invaded Cambodia's territory with heavy weapons and with the deployment of a lot of troops'. As he departed Bangkok airport, Phumtham told reporters he did not believe Cambodia was 'acting in good faith' and called on the country 'to demonstrate genuine intent' in the meeting. In Thailand's Surin city – 30 kilometres from the border and a hub of evacuees fleeing the fighting – 58-year-old Lamduan Chuenjit shared her leader's scepticism. 'I hope the negotiation goes well today and ends with a ceasefire,' the cleaner told AFP while sweeping a shopfront. 'But I do wonder how trustworthy Cambodia is.' On the eve of the talks, Thailand's military said Cambodian snipers were camped in one of the contested temples, and accused Phnom Penh of surging troops along the border and hammering Thai territory with rockets. It said there was fighting at seven areas in the rural region, marked by a ridge of hills surrounded by wild jungle and fields where locals farm rubber and rice. 'The situation remains highly tense, and it is anticipated that Cambodia may be preparing for a major military operation prior to entering negotiations,' the Thai military statement read. Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn marked his 73rd birthday on Monday, but a notice in the country's Royal Gazette said his public celebrations scheduled for Bangkok's Grand Palace have been cancelled amid the strife. Trump has threatened both countries with high levies in his global tariff blitz unless they agree to independent trade deals – but said he would 'look forward' to signing them once 'peace is at hand'. Each side has already agreed to a truce in principle, while accusing the other of undermining peace efforts and trading allegations about the use of cluster bombs and targeting of hospitals. Thailand says eight of its soldiers and 14 civilians have been killed, while Cambodia has confirmed eight civilian and five military deaths. The Thai military said it had returned the bodies of 12 Cambodian soldiers killed in combat. More than 138,000 people have fled Thailand's border regions, while around 80,000 have been driven from their homes in Cambodia. With the skirmish inflaming nationalist sentiments, Thailand warned its citizens to 'refrain from any kind of violence, whether in speech or action' against Cambodian migrants living in the country. AFP
Business Times
a day ago
- Business
- Business Times
Trade talks with US in trouble as Thai-Cambodia conflict escalates
[BANGKOK] After months of uncertainty over the tariff fate imposed on its exports to the US, a deadly border clash between Thailand and Cambodia has now added fresh geopolitical risk to an already tense trade standoff as Bangkok scrambles to avoid punishing new duties. Fighting broke out on Jul 24 along the Thai-Cambodian border, killing at least 32 people and displacing over 200,000 civilians. The violence comes as Thailand struggles to finalise a trade agreement with Washington, even as regional peers like Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines have secured deals that cap US tariffs at 19 to 20 per cent. Both Thailand and Cambodia, which run sizeable trade surpluses with the US, face tariffs of 36 per cent on their exports to the American market starting Aug 1 if no deal is struck. For Thailand, one of the most export-reliant economies in the region, such a steep rate – among the highest globally – would deal a heavy blow to its already faltering economy. US President Donald Trump on Saturday said both sides had agreed to a ceasefire, following calls with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. He added on Truth Social: 'They are also looking to get back to the 'Trading Table' with the United States, which we think is inappropriate to do until such time as the fighting STOPS.' Although fighting continued, both sides reportedly agreed to let Malaysia, Asean's current chair, mediate the conflict. According to reports, the two prime ministers are expected to travel to Malaysia on Monday for initial talks. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up Growth on the line Economists had already projected GDP growth of less than 2 per cent this year under a best-case scenario of 10 to 20 per cent US tariffs. That forecast is now expected to be downgraded to below 1 per cent if the full 36 per cent rate takes effect. Thailand's economy remains heavily export-driven, recording around US$300 billion in exports last year. The US accounted for 18 per cent of those shipments – one of the highest shares in Asean, behind only Vietnam and Malaysia. During the first six months of 2025, Thailand's exports grew 15 per cent year-on-year, with much of that attributed to front-loading by US clients. Exports to the US were up 41.9 per cent in June. Thailand's second main engine of economic growth is tourism, a sector now facing fresh headwinds as a sharp drop in Chinese visitors, spooked by security concerns, has been further compounded by the border conflict. The kingdom's tourism arrivals in the second quarter fell 12 per cent year on year, after falling 5 per cent in Q1 of FY2025, driven by weakness from North Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and China (down 40 per cent), according to government figures. Arrivals are expected to reach 32-33 million, compared with 35 million in 2024. Sluggish domestic factors And unlike many neighouring countries, Thailand's domestic consumption remains sluggish, crippled by high household debt (88 per cent of GDP), which cuts into spending. 'If you cannot improve your competitiveness in the export sector, and you have high household debt, it constrains your ability to build your economy through domestic channels because already people have to pay a lot of their incomes to service their debt,' said Kim Eng Tan, Senior Director for Asia Pacific sovereign ratings at S&P Global Ratings, at a recent Bangkok conference. While Thailand has a well-diversified range of export items, including automobiles and auto parts, agricultural commodities, processed foods, electrical appliances and electronics, it has lagged in moving up the value-added ladder in electronics, nowadays the main driver of export success. In this sector Thailand already faces stiff competition from Asean neighbours, which now look like they will face lower tariff rates in the important US market. 'The impact of tariffs on Thailand will actually depend on the tariffs imposed on its competitors,' said Louis Kuijs, chief economist for Asia-Pacific at S&P Global Ratings, speaking at the same event. Most of the Asean economies are competitive in the US market, so it matters less how competitive Thailand is compared to US factories – which are unlikely to reopen – and more how it stacks up against other Asean exporters. Thailand is also competing with China in the US market. 'A lot depends on the tariff rate on China as it is Thailand's main competitor in the US market,' said Kirida Bhaopichitr, Research Director at the Thailand Development Research Institute. 'China is Thailand's main competitor in 18 of the top 20 Thai exports to the US,' she pointed out. The final tariff rate on China is expected to be announced on Aug 11. Political risks Thailand's future efforts secure a deal with the US are further complicated by its own political disarray, which the conflict with Cambodia has added to. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from her post by Thailand 's Constitutional Court on Jul 1, after a supposedly private conversation with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen was leaked, in which she called him 'uncle' and criticised the Thai commander of the border region. Paetongtarn is the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister and billionaire businessman once known to have close personal ties with Hun Sen. Thailand's political scene has arguably been shaky for the past two decades, with much of the divisiveness centered around power struggles between powerful politicians, such as Thaksin, and the elites identified with royalists, the military and entrenched business groups. 'We have to wait for a government that is able to get its policy vision lengthened to the extent that it is able to implement polices to deal with some of the problems,' said S&P's Tan. He added, 'But this development (US tariffs) is not likely to change the metrics in such a way that we may have to change our outlook, because overall the Thai metrics are still quite resilient. But it is not helpful.'
