A nationwide phishing exercise aiming to strengthen cyber resilience among businesses in Singapore kicked off on Saturday, Feb 15. This initiative involving over 200 large companies and SMEs marks the first-time collaboration between the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Business Federation (SBF). The exercise, part of Exercise SG Ready, urges businesses to enhance their cyber resilience and review their business continuity plans to combat potential cyberattacks and disruptions.
Encouraging Cyber Resilience Across Sectors
Firms from various sectors, including manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and construction, will partake in the phishing exercise over the next two weeks. Exercise SG Ready, a nationwide Total Defence exercise, was initiated last year to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Singapore’s national defence concept. Total Defence in Singapore encompasses military, civil, economic, social, and psychological domains, with digital defence being the newest addition in 2019.
The primary objective of Exercise SG Ready is to prompt individuals, communities, and businesses to assess their readiness for disruptions and implement Total Defence through contingency plans. The exercise, co-led by MINDEF and the Energy Market Authority (EMA), focuses on strengthening Singaporeans’ preparedness for power disruptions. More than 1,000 organizations, including schools, communities, businesses, and government agencies, will partake in various preparedness activities across the two-week period, demonstrating an increase from the previous year’s participation.
Simulated Phishing, Lift Rescues, and Army Operations
During the ongoing two-week exercise, select employees from participating organizations will receive simulated phishing emails tailored to their company profiles. These emails will employ various tactics to entice recipients to follow provided instructions, such as clicking on links. At the exercise’s conclusion, organizations will receive feedback on the phishing exercise results with suggestions for improvement. The phishing exercise is jointly led by Nexus and SBF.
In a separate demonstration, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) showcased lift rescue operations during a simulated power disruption at the SBF Center. SCDF personnel conducted rescue operations using hydraulic tools, with a representative descending down the lift shaft and a dummy being hoisted up in a rescue harness and helmet.
Moreover, at Selarang Camp, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) conducted an operational response exercise involving the recall of army personnel on standby. Standby forces were activated on immediate notice to return to the camp and collaborate with the Singapore Police Force in a joint operation to thwart a simulated threat scenario. Major Caine Liew emphasized the importance of military defense as a core pillar of Total Defence given the evolving global security landscape.
The standby forces’ operations specialist, Third Sergeant Chong Ching Weng, shared his experience of monitoring the activation progress and keeping soldiers informed during the exercise. He highlighted the significance of the exercise falling on Total Defence Day and expressed pride in being part of the military defense as a National Serviceman for the first time. Other activities under Exercise SG Ready included counterterrorism and emergency preparedness exercises by the SPF and the simulated power disruption at 30 prominent buildings through the switching off of facade lights.
The public can access SGReadyGoWhere for details on the exercise timings and locations, underscoring the collaborative efforts to enhance cyber resilience and overall preparedness in the face of potential disruptions.
