CIL Research Fellow Su Wai Mon has co-authored an article titled “Ensuring Cybersecurity in Ports for Major Port States in Southeast Asia” in the Blue Security Maritime Affair Series.

This paper examines the growing importance of cybersecurity in ports within major Southeast Asian port states, focusing on the practices of Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It analyses how technological advancements and digitalisation in port operations have enhanced efficiency while simultaneously increasing exposure to cyber threats.

The study reviews national regulatory approaches alongside relevant international and ASEAN frameworks governing port cybersecurity, highlighting gaps in coordination and enforcement. It argues that, as ports form part of critical national infrastructure and global supply chains, cyberattacks can cause severe economic and systemic disruptions.

The paper therefore emphasises the need for comprehensive legal frameworks that explicitly criminalise cyber intrusions targeting port infrastructure, strengthen accountability, and promote resilience and regional cooperation, and concludes with policy recommendations to enhance cybersecurity governance across Southeast Asia.

Publication can be accessed here.