APCERT Cyber Drill 2024 “APT Group Attack Response: Where is Wally?”

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 Asia Pacific economies.

The theme of this year’s APCERT Drill is “APT Group Attack Response: Where is Wally?” This exercise reflects real world cyber security threats to our economies from Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actors, the most sophisticated and well-resourced type of malicious cyber adversary.

The participating teams reviewed its procedures for responding to APT threat actors. 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. The drill supports APCERT’s vision of a ‘safe, clean and reliable cyber space in the Asia Pacific Region through global collaboration’ enabling teams to practice their own incident response procedures in a safe and controlled environment.

22 CSIRTs from 18 economies of APCERT (Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Bhutan, People's Republic of China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam) participated in the drill. From the external parties, 3 CSIRTs from 3 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 training 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 will organise the “Together, We Create a Safe Cyberworld” Cyber Security Week in September with two signature events, including Tram Promotion Campaign in Hong Kong Island and Fun Day at Tsuen Wan D·Park to interact with the community innovatively and raise public awareness of cyber attacks through vivid and interesting daily life examples. In November, HKCERT will organise the “HKCERT CTF 2024” to foster young cyber security talent. Such endeavors aim to position Hong Kong as 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/.