Duncan Looi
CYBER Digital Services, Defence & Security Asia (CyberDSA) 2026 finished on a high note, with its fourth edition marking its strongest showing to date. Held in Kuala Lumpur from October 5-7 under the theme “Advancing Secure AI, Strengthening Digital Trust, and Safeguarding Data Sovereignty,” CyberDSA showcased the expanding and ever-important cyber domain across government, commercial, law enforcement and defence sectors across the region as Malaysia advances its ambition to become an AI Nation by 2030.
The event was officially opened Deputy Minister of Digital Wilson Ugak Anak Kumbong at a time where the race to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) creates the less tangible challenge of securing the data, infrastructure, networks and digital systems on which AI, businesses and essential services increasingly depend. The establishment of AI Malaysia Berhad, the country’s national lead AI agency under the Ministry of Digital, places governance, trust, assurance and national capability alongside adoption and innovation in that agenda. The greater the role of AI, data and connected systems in the economy, the greater the consequence when those systems are compromised.
“An AI nation must also be a secure nation. AI depends on data. Data depends on infrastructure. Infrastructure depends on security. And ultimately, the willingness of people and businesses to participate in the digital economy depends on trust. Remove trust from that equation, and the entire proposition becomes considerably weaker,” the deputy minister said.
This edition featured 167 participating companies from 21 countries, recording close to 9,000 visitors from 55 countries. On top of that, the event hosted 68 foreign delegations from 19 nations, including cybersecurity and communications agencies, defence cyber authorities, law enforcement, critical infrastructure operators, industry experts, regulators, practitioners and various stakeholders over the course of three days.
Companies present exhibited various capabilities spanning system integration, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Security Operations Centre (SOC) capabilities and managed security services, data protection and encryption, cryptography, cyber ranges, threat monitoring and intelligence, network, cloud and endpoint security, telecommunications and satellite capabilities, as well as cyber defence, cyber warfare, electronic warfare and AI infrastructure.
Cybersecurity has moved from just the protection of critical infrastructure ranging from financial systems, telecommunications, energy, water, transportation, public services and increasingly connected cities which generate and rely on huge volumes of data to the preservation of information integrity, maintaining continuity when systems are attacked, protecting sensitive and strategic data, and ensuring critical digital capabilities remain resilient under pressure.
Automation and AI become increasingly deeply integrated into decision-making and service delivery across various services, making data sovereignty ever-more important as cloud infrastructure, AI models and technology ecosystems across jurisdictions raise questions over the residence of data, who can access it and whose rules govern them, all becoming strategic considerations for relevant stakeholders.
The interconnected security environment in this day and age requires the securing of data, networks, endpoints, cloud environments, communication infrastructure and intelligence for detecting and responding to threats in order to protect an organisation, critical infrastructure or national system.
Also a part of the event, Siber Siaga was officiated by the defence minister Khaled Nordin, Chief of Defence Force (CDF) General Malek Razak, Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Command (DCEC) director-general Rear Admiral Fadhil Abdul Rahman alongside other senior officials. Siber Siaga is the Malaysian Armed Forces’ (MAF) main strategic initiative to build comprehensive national cyber resilience. With the theme “Hyperwar:Man, Machine, Decision”, Siber Siaga spearheaded by the DCEC focuses on the MAF’s approach to new-generation warfare involving AI, automation and autonomous systems.
In his speech, the defence minister outlined the four key pillars to beef up cyber resilience, including maintaining human accountability, ensuring system resilience, investing in human capital and strengthening cooperation. Resilience in defences not only involves the prevention of cyberattacks, but the ability to withstand disruptions, recover quickly and continue operations.
Held together with CyberDSA, the ASEAN Cyber Defence Network Meeting (ACDN) brought together delegates from ASEAN member states to exchange knowledge, strengthen regional cooperation and connect with industry perspectives. Additionally, the Military, Law Enforcement, Intelligence & Security Agency Conference (MEISAC) convened key stakeholders around the intersection of security, intelligence, law enforcement and emerging operational challenges.
Show organisers Aerosea Exhibitions Chairman Asmat Kamaludin said: “Four editions later, many of the organisations that supported us at the beginning are still here. Others have joined along the way; companies have returned; and government and defence institutions have continued to place their confidence in this platform. To us, that continuity means a great deal. Because in this industry, trust is not something an organiser can put on a brochure. It must be earned, edition after edition.”
CyberDSA will return for its landmark fifth edition from October 19-21 2027.–-shp/adj/dl (Pix:CYBERDSA, DCEC, MIDAS)
