Driving secure innovation

Give an overview of ST Engineering’s operations and offerings.

ST Engineering is founded in 1967 and headquartered in Singapore.  We are listed company on Singapore Exchange with more than 26,000 employees and has global operations across Asia, Europe, Middle East and US. Company has a diverse portfolio across commercial aerospace, smart city, digital solutions, defence, public and cyber security.

Established in 1999, ST Engineering’s cybersecurity capabilities began with focus mainly on developing cybersecurity hardware-defined encryption solutions. Fast forward till today, we deliver a comprehensive suite of cybersecurity solutions, backed by deep domain expertise and proven track records, have offered end-to-end cybersecurity capabilities across three key pillars: Products (Hardware and Software), Services (Managed Services and Professional Services) and System Engineering. We have established specialisation in designing, implementing and operating Security Operations Centres (SOCs) across IT, OT and Cloud environments for government, Critical Information Infrastructures (CII) and enterprises. Having implemented more than 20 major SOCs, our teams of experts have gained extensive experience and now specialise in Threat Content Development, Threat Intelligence and Command & Control Dashboards.

We are also committed to cultivating cybersecurity excellence. Our cyber training and exercise academy has trained over 2,500 professionals from 200 organisations. Beyond talent development, we also drive strategic innovations with institute of higher education such as National and University Research Labs, Strategic Technology Centres, and Engineering Centres, to ensure that we deliver future-ready cybersecurity solutions that stay ahead of emerging threats.

 How does ST Engineering plan to leverage its expertise in cybersecurity to address the growing demand and opportunities in the Middle East market?

In the Middle East, there are two key areas where demand and opportunities align with ST Engineering’s cybersecurity expertise:

1.  Economic growth and diversification: As Middle Eastern countries invest in smart cities, digital infrastructure, and advanced technologies to diversify their economies beyond oil and gas, the demand for advanced cybersecurity solutions to safeguard data and critical systems is rapidly increasing in tandem with these digitalisation efforts. Such growth presents opportunities for technology providers like us to step up and offer our expertise to enhance operational efficiency while ensuring top-tier security across the region’s expanding digital landscape.
2. Government initiatives and investments: In 2023, the cybersecurity market in the MEA region was valued at $2.5 billion. For instance, the UAE is set to allocate $1.5 billion in 2024 to bolster its cybersecurity infrastructure, while Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority has dedicated over $500 million to fortifying national cyber defences.

We have adopted a proactive cybersecurity strategy designed to secure information and critical infrastructures while safeguarding public safety and the environment. By adhering to globally recognised cybersecurity frameworks by NIST in the five key areas – identification, protection, detection, response and recover, our approach ensures operational efficiency through standardised processes and well-defined protocols.

What key industry trends do you see shaping the technology and cybersecurity space in the Middle East, and how is ST Engineering positioned to leverage on these trends?

The technology landscape in the Middle East is shaped by several key trends:

1. Smart Cities and IoT: The development of smart cities relies on integrating IoT devices to enhance infrastructure and services. However, this integration also heightens security risks, exposing systems to potential cyberattacks and data breaches, which can compromise both data integrity and public safety.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): AI and ML are revolutionising decision-making and automating tasks across industries. However, they also empower cybercriminals to refine their attack strategies, making threats more sophisticated and harder to detect.
3. 5G rollout: The rollout of 5G is fuelling innovation and economic growth but it also introduces new vulnerabilities, heightening the potential for cyber threats and exposing networks to greater risks.

Amidst emerging trends and disruptive technologies reshaping the cybersecurity landscape, no single product or combination of products can sustainably secure an organisation long term. Instead of layering protection software and systems that have become increasingly complex to manage, organisations need a holistic cybersecurity system – one that evolves organically to counter dynamic cyber threats. This is the approach of ST Engineering: protecting our digital world with a balanced combination of products, processes and technology, driven by cybersecurity experts across operations, training and research development.

With over two decades in the technology and security space, ST Engineering is well-positioned to share our innovations in combating these emerging threats with AI-enabled cybersecurity solutions, and quantum safe encryptors. These advancements empower our customers to mitigate risks and operate their devices securely, anytime and anywhere.

How does ST Engineering prioritise Innovation and R&D, particularly in the context of addressing regional challenges in the Middle East?

ST Engineering partnered with National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore University of Technology (SUTD) and A*Star in a first of its kind groundbreaking research collaboration. This five-year partnership will bring together up to 100 researchers alongside approximately 200 ST Engineering scientists and engineers. Together, we aim to work on 20 to 30 research projects simultaneously, driving innovation and advancements across various fields.

ST Engineering is committed to investing in R&D and increasing spending on cutting edge digital technologies to more than 75 percent of our R&D budget over the next few years. Our investment for cybersecurity technology focuses on:

1. Advanced threat detection: Developing sophisticated systems for identifying and responding to emerging cyber threats.
2. AI and machine learning: Leveraging AI and ML to enhance security measures, automate threat detection, and improve response times.
3. Cybersecurity solutions: Innovating new products and solutions to address data protection, network security, and critical infrastructure defence.
4. Integration and automation: Creating integrated systems that streamline and balance cybersecurity operations and automate threat management processes.

These investments ensure ST Engineering can provide cutting-edge solutions and maintain robust security capabilities for our clients across various sectors.