APCERT Cyber Drill 2023 “Digital Supply Chain Redemption”

The Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (APCERT) today has successfully completed its annual drill to test the response capabilities of leading Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRT) among the Asia Pacific economies.

The theme of this year’s APCERT Drill is “Digital Supply Chain Redemption.” This exercise reflects real incidents and issues that exist on the Internet today.

This drill requires for the participating teams to interact locally and internationally, with CSIRTs/CERTs and targeted organizations, to coordinate suspension of malicious infrastructure, analysis of malicious code, as well as notification and assistance to affected entities. This incident response exercise, coordinated across many economies, reflects the collaboration amongst the economies in mitigating cyber threats and validates the enhanced communication protocols, technical capabilities, and quality of incident responses that APCERT fosters in assuring Internet security and safety.

24 CSIRTs from 21 economies of APCERT (Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Bhutan, People's Republic of China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu, and Vietnam) participated in the drill. From the external parties, 11 CSIRTs from 11 economies of OIC-CERT and AfricaCERT participated.

The Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT), as part of APCERT, actively participated in the annual drill exercise to reinforce its partnership with other CISRTs/CERTs in safeguarding regional cyber security and combating emerging threats in the region. Locally, HKCERT strives to raise cyber security awareness in Hong Kong with timely warnings and preventive advice on new technology-related cyber threats and incident response, as well as security trainings for local enterprises and Internet users alike. HKCERT closely works with the Government, different industries, and security practitioners for threat intelligence sharing and collaboration. For example, it recently launched the “All-Out Anti-Phishing” Moving Showroom Campaign to interact with the community in an innovative way using a moving showroom vehicle and raise public awareness of phishing attacks through vivid and interesting daily life examples. In November, HKCERT will organise the “Capture the Flag Challenge 2023” to foster young cyber security talent. Such endeavors aim to position Hong Kong one of the most cyber secure cities globally.

About APCERT

APCERT was established by leading and national Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs) from the economies of the Asia Pacific region to improve cooperation, response and information sharing among CSIRTs in the region. APCERT Operational Members consist of 33 CSIRTs from 24 economies. Further information about APCERT can be found at: www.apcert.org/.