Most S'pore public servants will have secure Internet access on work laptops from Nov 2

[kobayashiGT]

Most S'pore public servants will have secure Internet access on work laptops from Nov 2

https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/most-spore-public-servants-will-have-secure-internet-access-without-needing-separate-device

SINGAPORE - The majority of the 146,000 public servants here will be able to access the Internet securely without the need for a separate device come Nov 2, thanks to a new remote browsing technology solution.

Secure Internet Surfing (SIS) will allow public servants to use their work laptops when surfing the Internet for information. They will also be able to log in to social media sites to make text-based posts, as well as open links directly from e-mails and documents, the Smart Nation and Digital Government Group (SNDGG) said on Thursday (Oct 15).

It replaces the current model of Internet surfing separation (ISS) which delinks public servants' work systems from Internet access to safeguard government data.

A total of 108,000 public servants will move over to SIS, with some 18,000 who have to handle classified information continuing to use a separate device. The remaining 20,000 are not under Internet surfing separation.

SNDGG said the roll-out of SIS, which was made possible by recent advances in remote browsing technology, will improve productivity across the public service.

"Different combinations of technologies can now be implemented together to provide multiple layers of security control, and for us to have in place a more advanced and secure system to safeguard government data," SNDGG said.

Remote browsing technology works by creating an isolated container which handles all Internet content accessed by the user and prevents direct interaction between government systems and malware or viruses lurking on the Internet.

The container can also be configured to filter out certain types of content deemed unsafe to further reduce the risks of malware infection and data theft.

Public servants on SIS will also be able to upload files to the Internet, but only for approved websites.

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Woah. liberlize after so long? hahahhahaha.

 

[Volvobrick]

I think the main reason they are now allowed to surf internet and able to copy and paste is

 

 

 

 

they have to surf MCF to get and copy the bestest ideas from the gurus to do their jobs! 

[Sdf4786k]

Have they not learn, you are as strong as your weakest link.

Kanna one idiot for ransome ware and you up lorry liao.

[Victor68]

I am clueless how this secured network works. You mean they communicate only within? If they access out of their network, can enter outside  network means outside can also enter theirs right? 

[Windwaver]

21 minutes ago, Victor68 said:

I am clueless how this secured network works. You mean they communicate only within? If they access out of their network, can enter outside  network means outside can also enter theirs right? 

They finally understand nothing can stop a determined hacker 

 

[1fast1]

After Internet separation, senior officers have had dedicated internet laptops to use (in addition to work laptops which don't have general Internet access). 

There are restrictions aplenty even on the Internet devices. And the work laptops can never be 100 percent secured since they still need push updates etc. Since these work laptops need to be mobile (i.e. can bring home type), they require the ability to connect to home or public WiFi and access corporate resources through a VPN. I've only mildly dabbled in basic hacking stuff decades ago, but anything that can be connected to the Internet is simply not fully secure. So this sort of "separation" will necessarily be a compromise. 

I've been petitioning people for a sandboxing type solution since it's no less secure than what we have in real terms. It's also much more convenient and probably saves organisations money on hardware purchase and maintenance costs. Looks like they came through on it with the virtual/remote browser thing.