Setting safeguards for tech outages starts in peacetime: Josephine Teo

Govt regularly stress-tests its systems; firms urged to update business continuity plans

- Gabrielle Andres

Preparations for crises like the recent global tech outage often start in peacetime, when things are going reasonably well, said Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo.

At such times, safeguards are put in place to prevent incidents from occurring, and plans are drawn up to respond when “things go very wrong”, she wrote in a Facebook post on July 21.

“It is precisely when things are going reasonably well that we must take action to fortify our defences,” Mrs Teo said, adding that the Government regularly stress-tests its systems through tabletop exercises.

The July 19 tech outage was related to a software update by cyber-security firm CrowdStrike. It affected nearly 8.5 million Microsoft devices, or less than 1 per cent of all Windows machines, according to a Microsoft blog post on July 20.

Companies worldwide, including airlines, banks and media outlets, reported disruptions to their services and operations. In Singapore, services at Changi Airport and Singapore Post were among those affected.