TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) reiterated her commitment to cybersecurity by making her sixth consecutive appearance at CyberSec, Asia-Pacific's largest information security conference, held annually at Nangang Exhibition Center.
In her opening address Tuesday morning (May 14), Tsai said Taiwan has continually developed its cybersecurity capabilities under her administration. She pointed to the creation of the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) as an impetus to promote cybersecurity and Taiwan's digital transformation.
Tsai said that efforts to increase cybersecurity amongst enterprises and individuals will help Taiwan keep up with the global digital transformation in developed countries. Tsai said it would also allow Taiwan to maintain a key position in the global supply chain.
Tsai added that tax incentives have spurred companies to make more investments in cybersecurity and enhance information security. Tsai said such policies allowed Taiwan's information security output to exceed NT$74 billion (US$2.29 billion) in 2023 and steadily move toward the goal of NT$80 billion in output value in 2025.
Tsai said Taiwan is on the frontlines of democracy and faces the expansion of regional authoritarianism and ever-changing threats, requiring major cybersecurity investments. In recent years, Tsai said that Taiwan has strengthened cooperation with more international partners sharing similar concepts and beliefs.
Tsai noted CyberSec 2024, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday (May 14–16), as one example of cooperation between government agencies and the private sector. Through closer participation, Tsai hoped Taiwan could benefit from an improved cybersecurity defense system.
A decade of cybersecurity
Founded a decade ago, CyberSec has seen tremendous growth as the number of participants has steadily increased from 1,500 to 20,000. Held over three days at Nangang Exhibition Hall 2, the conference features 400 cybersecurity companies and includes 300 speakers and talks, per a press release.
Organizer iThome Chair and Editor-in-Chief Merton Wu (吳其勳) said the event has grown rapidly since its founding a decade ago. Wu attributed the growth to both government and private investment in cybersecurity.
Wu said this year's theme is "Generative Future," ushering in a new era of cybersecurity. He said exhibitors cover a range of fields, including AI information security, AIoT & Hardware Security, CISO, DevSecOps, DFIR, fraud, privacy-enhancing technology, SecOps, Web3, cyber talent, secure supply chain, zero trust security, and financial security.
Wu said CyberSec will host 30 different information security theme forums on ransomware, product security, cloud security, information security governance, information security threat research, information security certification, and training. This year, Wu was also proud to announce the launch of CyberSec Global, an online streaming from forums at the exhibition.
Another innovation Wu noted this year was cooperation with Trapa Security to create the CyberSec Arena, which allows computer security teams to launch offensive and defensive exercises on a realistic platform. This allows for simulated APT attacks, allowing security incidents to be detected, investigated, and remedied through countermeasures.
Wu said another addition to the exhibition is a mural chronicling a decade of cybersecurity innovation. He said this graphical representation summarized information security policies, information security incidents, information security technology, and major milestones in the cybersecurity industry from 2015 to 2024. Wu said such visual representation allows for a look back at the past as well as a peek toward the future of cybersecurity.
Diverse cybersecurity exhibitors
The growing popularity of the internet has led to more and more cyber crimes, with more companies paying attention to network and information security. One security threat that has been identified is email, which can become a carrier of malware and other cyberattack techniques that can cause losses to both enterprises and individuals.
Among the more than 500 exhibitors at CyberSec is Openfind, a company that has more than 26 years of experience in cybersecurity. The company has been devoted to the research and development of technologies that can ensure email security.
Beginning with the Japanese market, the company has expanded to overseas markets, including Taiwan. One of Openfind’s specialties is protecting Windows-based workplaces against potential attacks, such as phishing, spam, and viruses.
Openfind has been working with Honda Taiwan as well as municipal governments such as the Hualien County Government. Regarding this municipal organization, Openfind offers protection for cloud mail services, ensuring all email accounts are free from viruses and malware.
While some exhibitors at CyberSec are focused on legacy cybersecurity issues, several companies have set their sights on the future. One topic of popular interest is the rise of quantum computing and how a new generation of computers will make our current cryptography based on passwords and log-in names virtually useless.
Cybersecurity experts warn that unscrupulous organizations or state agents may already be recording the flow of data with the hope of revisiting it at a later date when quantum computing can easily unlock primitive encryption methods. To prepare for the future emergence of large-scale quantum computers, Chelpis Quantum Tech is encouraging companies to keep one step ahead of such threats by committing to post-quantum cryptography.
Chelpis aids companies seeking to migrate to a safer, more secure information technology environment that can withstand attacks from hackers and state agents armed with new quantum computers. In 2023, Chelpis established the Quantum Security Migration Center (QSMC), bringing domestic IT companies, government organizations, academia, and international organizational research units together to promote a quantum security ecosystem.
