SET-listed digital solutions provider Turnkey Communication Services (TKC) has signed an exclusive memorandum of understanding with EC-Council, a global leader in cybersecurity education and certification, to establish a joint venture to act as a security operation centre (SOC) for enterprises as well as offer comprehensive training programmes in Thailand.
The move caters to rising demand for cybersecurity services as Thailand's critical infrastructure rapidly evolves.
According to Jay Bavisi, chief executive of EC-Council Global Services, the world is threatened by cybercrime, which has made a huge impact on the global economy.
"Compared by value, cybercrime would be the third-largest economy in the world following the GDP of the US and China. Cyberthreats cause more than US$8.5 trillion in damage annually and the rate of cyberthreats has grown from single digits to 15%," he said.
However, the prosecution rate for cybercrime is very low at only 0.05% of total cybercrime in the United States.
Mr Bavisi said Thailand and Asean face cyberthreats, but their response and training of personnel is still very low.
"This collaboration with TKC Group is an opportunity for Thailand to develop its capabilities in countering cyberthreats, including the creation of a defence operations centre and personnel development to deal with the challenges," he said.
EC-Council has 20 years of experience in 174 countries. It has trained over 380,000 certified security professionals from such organisations as the US Army, Microsoft, IBM and the United Nations.
Its training programmes, such as Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO) and Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI), have gained widespread acclaim for their comprehensive curriculum and practical approach. These programmes will soon be available in Thailand through TKC, empowering participants to enhance their cybersecurity knowledge and capabilities.
Sayam Tiewtranon, chief executive and managing director of TKC, said the two parties plan to finish the first phase construction of the joint venture company by the last quarter at a cost of $3 million to 5 million. Training courses will be available by the end of the year.
The collaboration between TKC, TKC subsidiary IBS and EC-Council seeks to provide the SOC to critical infrastructure sectors, including finance, transport, energy, telecommunication, hospitals and public services. The security training programme which covers a wide range of upskill courses are targeted at the staff of critical infrastructure and university students.
TKC is also in talks with 10 state universities to integrate its security skills training into their teaching courses.
Mr Sayam said TKC group would hold a 51% share in the joint venture company, in line with related laws in Thailand.
"The strategic partnership with EC-Council is a long-term collaboration and the JV model reflects the strong ambition to jointly develop cybersecurity in the country. The expansion of the JV would be phase by phase," he said.
Mr Sayam said the JV company is to fortify the cybersecurity landscape of Thailand and empower individuals and organisations with the necessary knowledge and skills to combat emerging cyberthreats.
"In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, cybersecurity has become an essential and strategic imperative for countries and organisations. The speed at which the world economy is being digitalised requires trust in order to scale digital transformation, smart nations and e-commerce," he said.
"By joining forces, EC-Council and TKC aim to create a formidable synergy that combines EC-Council's extensive cybersecurity expertise with TKC's deep understanding of the local market and its technology-driven services," Mr Sayam said.
This collaboration will ensure that businesses and individuals in Thailand have access to world-class cybersecurity services and training programmes, equipping them with the essential tools to safeguard their digital assets effectively.
