Shaping the New Cyber Order: Highlights from SICW 2026

The 11th Singapore International Cyber Week (SICW 2026) brought the world's cybersecurity community to Singapore from 12 to 15 October 2026. Drawing over 15,000 attendees from more than 100 countries and regions, 300 speakers, and 300 exhibitors at GovWare, the event once again demonstrated Singapore's standing as a premier global platform for cybersecurity dialogue. Under the theme "Cyber at a Crossroads: Shaping the New Cyber Order", policymakers, industry leaders, and technical experts convened to confront the most pressing cyber challenges of our time.

Prominent international speakers this year included Ms Izumi Nakamitsu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs; Ms Elina Valtonen, Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs; and Ms Liisa-Ly Pakosta, Estonia's Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs. Through high-level engagements, including the SICW Summit, ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity and discussions on cyber diplomacy and emerging technologies, the event reinforced the importance of international cooperation in strengthening global cyber resilience.

Ms Izumi Nakamitsu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, delivered a Special Address at the High-Level Plenaries on Diplomacy at SICW 2026 on 15 October 2026.

Ms Liisa-Ly Pakosta, Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs of Estonia, delivered the keynote speech at the SICW Summit on 12 October 2026, which focused on the theme “Cyber at a Crossroads: Shaping the New Cyber Order”.

Senior Minister K Shanmugam delivered the Opening Address at the Opening Ceremony of SICW 2026.

Strengthening Singapore's National Cyber Resilience

This year’s SICW opened with the launch of Singapore's Cybersecurity Strategy 2026 (opens in new tab), which outlines Singapore's whole-of-nation approach to strengthening cybersecurity, guided by the vision of a secure, trusted and resilient cyberspace that empowers our digital way of life. Launched by Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security, and Minister for Home Affairs, Mr K Shanmugam during the Opening Ceremony of SICW 2026, the Strategy focuses on defending critical infrastructure, securing the wider cyberspace, strengthening capabilities for emerging technologies and enhancing resilience through global partnerships.

CSA also announced enhancements to the National Cybersecurity Command Centre (opens in new tab), strengthening Singapore's ability to detect, assess and respond to sophisticated cyber threats through improved situational awareness and coordinated incident response.

Strengthening International and Regional Cybersecurity Cooperation

SICW 2026 reinforced Singapore's commitment to strengthening international partnerships and regional cyber resilience. At the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity, Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information and Minister-in-charge of Cybersecurity and Smart Nation Group, announced Singapore's commitment of an additional S$30 million over five years (opens in new tab) to strengthen regional cybersecurity capacity-building and address emerging threats.

Mrs Josephine Teo with ASEAN representatives at the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Cybersecurity.

Singapore also deepened bilateral cybersecurity cooperation through the 4th U.S.-Singapore Cyber Policy Dialogue (opens in new tab), which addressed evolving cyber threats, critical infrastructure protection and emerging technologies. Cybersecurity cooperation with India and Poland was also strengthened, reflecting Singapore's continued efforts to foster international partnerships and collective responses to shared cyber challenges.

Preparing for Emerging Technologies and Future Cybersecurity Challenges

The Hon. Sean Cairncross, United States National Cyber Director, delivered the Opening Plenary Keynote Speech at SICW 2026.

During this year’s Opening Plenary Keynote Speech, The Honourable Sean Cairncross, National Cyber Director of The White House, shared his perspectives on the evolving cyber landscape, the opportunities and challenges of rapid technological advancement, including superintelligence, and the need for stronger international cooperation to secure cyberspace. 

With AI and quantum technologies reshaping the cybersecurity landscape, SICW 2026 also featured a series of engaging panel discussions which highlighted the need for organisations to prepare for emerging risks.

Panellists at the “Upholding Trust in the Age of AI: Detecting and Disrupting the Next Generation of Scams” High-Level Panel at SICW 2026 discussed how AI is transforming the scam landscape and the importance of early detection, connected defences and cross-sector collaboration in countering emerging threats.

Panellists at the “Race to the Frontier – AI and the Future of Cybersecurity” High-Level Panel at SICW 2026 discussed the evolving cybersecurity landscape, the challenges of securing rapidly advancing AI technologies and the importance of international cooperation and shared responsibility.

On the emerging area of quantum computing, CSA announced quantum-safe migration timelines and launched the Quantum-Safe Kickstarter Grant (opens in new tab) to support organisations in preparing for quantum-related threats. Critical Information Infrastructure owners are expected to complete migration by 2031, while other organisations exposed to quantum risks are encouraged to do so by 2035.

Mrs Josephine Teo delivers her Opening Address on Day 2 of SICW 2026, highlighting Singapore's quantum-safe migration plans.

SICW 2026 also featured a tabletop exercise on agentic AI security and control (opens in new tab), bringing together international stakeholders to examine emerging AI security risks and explore safeguards for increasingly autonomous systems. Participants highlighted the need for system-level safeguards to address the risks of increasingly autonomous agents, while identifying potential areas for public-private and international collaboration.

Panellists at the “Demystifying the Quantum Imperative” High-Level Panel at SICW 2026 discussed the urgency of quantum-safe migration and practical challenges in preparing for emerging quantum threats.

Developing Cybersecurity Talent

Recognising the importance of human expertise, CSA announced plans for a national Cybersecurity Professional Accreditation Framework (opens in new tab) to strengthen professional standards and support cybersecurity career development. The initiative is part of Singapore’s Cybersecurity Strategy 2026, which identifies the development of a future-ready cybersecurity workforce as a key national priority.

CSA also released a report on the impact of AI on cybersecurity jobs (opens in new tab), highlighting the importance of continuous skills development as AI transforms cybersecurity roles. The report provides keen insights to support workforce planning, hiring, skills development and career progression in Singapore’s cybersecurity sector.

Mr Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, at the SICW 2026 Workforce Development Panel.

Supporting Enterprises

CSA also released the Singapore Cybersecurity Health Report 2025 (opens in new tab), which found that almost nine in 10 organisations surveyed experienced at least one cybersecurity incident in 2025. While reported business impacts have declined, gaps remain in the adoption of essential cybersecurity measures. 

To help organisations better respond to and recover from cyber incidents, a new Cyber Incident Helpline (opens in new tab) was also launched, providing initial incident triage, advisory support and referrals to relevant cybersecurity resources and services. The Cyber Incident Helpline is part of the Cyber Resilience Centre, launched last year to help organisations - particularly SMEs - strengthen their cyber resilience through initiatives such as cybersecurity health clinics, workshops, and practical guidance.

Mr Tan Kiat How (third from left) together with representatives from SBF, SGTech, SCCCI and CSA at the SG Cyber Safe for Enterprises event during SICW 2026.

Conclusion

Taken together, SICW 2026 underscored that in an era of growing geopolitical competition and rapidly evolving technological threats, coordinated action — across governments, industry, and international partners — remains essential to securing a trusted and resilient digital environment.

For more information about SICW 2026, visit www.sicw.gov.sg (opens in new tab). Details on GovWare's exhibitions can be found at www.govware.sg (opens in new tab).