What challenges remain in Malaysia security?

With Malaysia moving more and more toward internet of things (IoT)-enabled smart technologies, the issue of cybersecurity has become a priority. Furthermore, there are still certain challenges in the Malaysian security market that need to be overcome.
 
In terms of cybersecurity, Malaysia has become increasingly aware of the danger and risks that network security issues bring, especially now that more IoT devices are being deployed. “The United Nations’ ITU report on global cybersecurity index says that, in terms of country readiness, Malaysia ranks No. 3 after Singapore and the United States,” said Mohamed Anwer bin Mohamed Yusoff, Head of Cybersecurity Industry Engagement and Collaboration at Cybersecurity Malaysia. “There's still a lot more that must be done, for example we need to look more on the manufacturing side, what specific concerns they are having, and we have to address the SME market. That's very important.”
 
While the Malaysian security sector appears to be on the road to recovery after a lackluster 2018, there are still various challenges, chief among them intensified competition. Against this backdrop, security companies need to strategize to stay ahead. One way for them to win out is through the quality of service that they provide to customers.
 

“If you look around, our competition is everywhere. So how do we win out? We are known to give the best service. In terms of technical service, we do have an in-house repair team. Anything that needs repairing, we can provide,” said Yap Tuck Khong, Senior Manager with AA Security and Automation.
 
“When you and your competitor offer similar products, service to customer then becomes key,” said Huckel Zheng, MD of Hikvision Malaysia. “For us, we do our own after-sale service to ensure timeliness and service quality. Last year we opened our official service center in Kuala Lumpur, and this year we plan to open more in more locations, including Penang and Johor Bahru.”
 
Meanwhile, with technology evolving rapidly, security players and end users being ill-informed about the latest developments can be a challenge. “We are doing a lot of roadshows to engage our customers from different states of Malaysia,” Yap said. “Somehow we feel that we need to educate them in terms of how to market the product. Then they take the knowledge and market it to the end users.”
 
“When technology evolves, it becomes a challenge, something new for the key players,” said Teh Khay Leong, President of the Malaysian Fire Protection Association (MFPA). “When you talk about smart buildings, sometimes the players are not so exposed to this, and they don't have a clear idea on what this is all about. So it’s up to the association to organize seminars and explain to them what's coming forward to our country with regard to this type of technology. That’s why we have these seminars once or twice a year.”
 
Finally, amid increased competition, how to draw and retain talent has become an important task. “Currently, our production of new engineers is not fast enough. For example, if we want to go into e-commerce, if we want to go into Industry 4.0, we need more talent,” said Ir. A. H. Yong, President of The Electrical and Electronics Association of Malaysia. “I'm involved in Southeast Asia regional academic development with respect to science and technology. We want to build a free flow of talent, which means I can employ engineers from Thailand and I can send my scientists to Indonesia for training, all with the objective of building a stronger talent pool.”