TECHNOLOGY

AI joins the fight in national cyber defence exercise

12 Nov 2025

AI and closer collaboration among agencies and industry are taking centre stage in this year’s Critical Infrastructure Defence Exercise (CIDeX).

AI joins the fight in national cyber defence exercise — The exercise, organised by DIS and CSA, improves inter-agency collaboration to detect and counter cyber threats. Pictured are Commander Defence Cyber Command and Defence Cyber Chief COL Clarence Cai (left) and Major (NS) Chong Rong Hwa, who mentors the DIS Blue Team.

Story by Sherlyn Quek

Photos by Loh Yu Ze

Held from 11 to 14 Nov at the Singapore Institute of Technology, this year’s CIDeX brings together over 250 participants to train against realistic cyber threats that could disrupt essential services such as power, transport, and communications.

It is the fourth edition of this exercise, which has been held annually since 2022.

The Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS), Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), and 33 other organisations are taking part in the exercise. And for the first time, all 11 Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) sectors are involved.

These CII sectors include aviation; banking and finance; energy; government; healthcare; infocomm; land transport; maritime; media; security and water sectors

Cyber defenders from the Blue Team, which comprise representatives from various agencies, hone their skills in protecting their respective digital infrastructure against live simulated cyber-attacks.

Adapting to AI

This year, exercise planners used an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool to suggest possible attack pathways, allowing them to build upon and craft more realistic training simulations.

Live simulated cyber-attacks — including disruptions to a 5G network, and power supply and rail operations — tested the readiness and coordination of the participating agencies against fast-evolving challenges in the cyber world.

With more than 33 national and civilian organisations taking part, the exercise allows participants to not only sharpen their skills, but also share their expertise.

During their visit on 12 Nov, Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing (centre, in blue shirt) and Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo (In blue jacket) were briefed about the exercise and viewed demonstrations of in-house tools developed by the SAF’s Cyber Defence Test and Evaluation Centre.

"As national cyber defenders, we are also embracing the use of AI to enhance cyber defence, in keeping pace with global cyber threats,” said Commander Defence Cyber Command and Defence Cyber Chief Colonel (COL) Clarence Cai.

“In collaboration with our cyber partners, the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) is developing cyber-AI experimentation and operationalisation capabilities to apply transformative innovations to cyber defence.”

Private sector partners such as Singtel, and global technology companies like Google Cloud and Splunk also played a key role in the exercise.

They gave input to enhance the realism of the attack scenarios, and provided their expertise in a six-day hands-on training programme in the lead-up to the exercise.

Deputy President and Chief Innovation and Enterprise Officer, SUTD, Professor Tai Lee Siang (standing, second from left) and Chief of Staff-Digital and Intelligence Staff, Rear Admiral Yong Wei Hsiung (second from right) at the launch of the Cyber5G testbed on 12 Nov.

Launch of new Cyber5SG Testbed

On the sidelines of CIDeX, the DIS and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) launched the Cyber5G testbed on 12 Nov.

Built with telco-grade components to replicate a full-scale 5G network, it will support cyber training and threat modelling for the telecommunications sector.

The testbed will be housed in a laboratory on SUTD’s campus, and allow researchers and industry partners to study, design and test cybersecurity innovations in a realistic but secure environment without disrupting live 5G networks.

This platform will also enable various agencies – from academia to government and industry partners – to conduct cyber exercises, assessments and specialised training.

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