Cisco Plans To Join Hands With Taiwanese Government, To Set Up Cybersecurity Centre In Taiwan: Report

Cisco has announced that under its Taiwan Digital Acceleration Plan 3.0, the company will prioritise cybersecurity efforts.

American networking equipment giant Cisco on Monday announced plans to establish a cybersecurity centre in Taiwan. This initiative intends to collaborate closely with the Taiwanese government to boost cybersecurity efforts and enhance workforce training in the sector, the media has reported. The move comes amidst ongoing concerns over cyber threats originating from China, which Taiwan, governed democratically and perceived by Beijing as a part of its territory, has consistently highlighted, news agency Reuters has reported.

These cyberattacks have targeted various Taiwanese entities, including governmental bodies, officials, and technology firms, forming part of broader geopolitical tensions.

Cisco To Prioritise Cybersecurity Efforts

Cisco has announced that under its Taiwan Digital Acceleration Plan 3.0, the company will prioritise cybersecurity efforts. This initiative includes a partnership with the Taiwanese government to train individuals in cybersecurity skills, aiming to mitigate the global shortage of talent in this critical field, the Reuters report added.

Guy Diedrich, Cisco's global innovation officer, was quoted as saying by Reuters that the company intends to undertake significant work in the area of security. This includes establishing a "security innovation centre" in Taiwan. Diedrich, he did not disclose any specific investment amounts for this initiative. "The nice thing about the digital acceleration programme is that there is no ceiling on investments. We continue to make them," he was quoted as saying about the project, that also covers artificial intelligence in areas like transport and sustainability operations at Kaohsiung port in southern Taiwan.

China, however, denies any involvement in hacking activities.

Meanwhile, recently Microsoft's president addressed Congress, acknowledging the company's responsibility for significant security lapses that allowed hackers with ties to China to breach federal government computer networks. Despite these issues, he defended Microsoft's ongoing operations in China.

In his testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee, Brad Smith adopted a humble approach, assuring that Microsoft would address and resolve the security vulnerabilities in its products, which are extensively utilized by federal agencies.