Policymakers and influencers from Brunei, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand make up the Asia Pacific Public Sector Cybersecurity Executive Council. It aims to improve collaboration between government and private cybersecurity companies. The council, which is made up of policymakers from government and state agencies as well as public-sector cybersecurity specialists, will work together to increase communication and promote the sharing of threat intelligence and technology in order to combat developing cyber threats in the region. The project, according to Microsoft, is based on the necessity for governments to develop cyber-defense strategies and keep the region safe from attacks by working closely with tech companies, given that private enterprises own the majority of the critical technical infrastructure. “In our interconnected world, cyberthreats and attacks are unavoidable, which is why our community’s combined power and collaboration are critical. With founding members that include government officials, politicians, regulators, and industry stakeholders from around the region, [this is] the first step in defending our communities in cyberspace,” said Sherie Ng, General Manager, Public Sector, Microsoft Asia Pacific.