The 11th annual Taiwan Cybersecurity Conference (CYBERSEC 2025), held from April 15th to 17th at the Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 2, showcased Taiwan's unwavering commitment to digital security and its burgeoning role as a global cybersecurity leader. This year's event, themed "Team Cybersecurity: We Are All Part of the Team," attracted over 20,000 attendees from academia, government, and the private sector, solidifying its position as Asia's largest cybersecurity conference. The conference's success reflects a concerted national effort, spearheaded by President Lai Ching-te, to bolster Taiwan's cybersecurity defenses and foster a robust domestic cybersecurity industry.
Presidential Commitment: Cybersecurity as National Security
President Lai Ching-te's fourth consecutive address at the conference underscored the government's dedication to prioritizing cybersecurity as a cornerstone of national security. His speech emphasized the crucial need for indigenous cybersecurity product and service development, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign technologies and mitigate associated risks. This commitment aligns perfectly with the government's long-standing "Cybersecurity is National Security" strategy, a proactive approach that has fueled significant investment in cybersecurity startups and innovation.
The President highlighted the escalating cyber threats Taiwan faces, citing a staggering 2.4 million daily intrusion attempts last year – double the previous year's figures. Recent ransomware attacks, such as those perpetrated by "Crazy Hunter," targeting hospitals, schools, and publicly listed companies, vividly illustrate the urgent need for a strengthened national cybersecurity posture.
President Lai detailed the government's multi-pronged approach to enhance cybersecurity capabilities. This includes:
- The Cybersecurity Industry Development Action Plan: Launched during his tenure as Premier, this plan established information security as a national security priority.
- The Cybersecurity Management Act: This legislation provides the legal framework for a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy.
- The establishment of the Digital Development Ministry and the National Cybersecurity Research Institute: These institutions play critical roles in coordinating national cybersecurity efforts and fostering research and development.
- "Cybersecurity as National Security 2.0": This national strategy, launched during President Tsai Ing-wen's second term, represents a significant step towards a more proactive and resilient cybersecurity approach.
- Inclusion of cybersecurity in the six core strategic industries: This underscores the government's commitment to fostering innovation and growth within the cybersecurity sector.
- The establishment of the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee: This committee brings together public and private sector experts to address critical cybersecurity challenges.
President Lai also unveiled the newly released "National Cybersecurity Strategy 2025," outlining a three-pronged approach for the period 2025-2028:
Strengthening Whole-of-Society Cybersecurity Resilience: This involves strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing public-private partnerships, and improving training and education to foster cybersecurity awareness across all sectors.
Enriching the Cybersecurity Industry Ecosystem: This focuses on promoting indigenous research and development, nurturing the competitiveness of domestic companies, and expanding international collaboration. Government support, through venture capital funding, regulatory adjustments, and the provision of testing environments, has already spurred innovation among young Taiwanese teams, resulting in several homegrown companies achieving prominence in the global cybersecurity market.
Building Next-Generation Cybersecurity Technologies: As AI, big data, IoT, 5G, and future 6G technologies rapidly proliferate, the government aims to proactively research advanced defense strategies and future technologies to build a continuously upgrading protection mechanism.
The President's address concluded with a strong emphasis on the need for proactive defense measures, especially against cyberattacks leveraging AI and other advanced technologies. The government's ongoing revisions to the Cybersecurity Management Act aim to create even stricter regulations and guidelines to mitigate risks.
US-Taiwan Partnership: A Cornerstone of Regional Cybersecurity
Raymond F. Greene, director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), emphasized the strong partnership between the US and Taiwan in cybersecurity. He highlighted the critical role Taiwan plays in the global supply chain and the importance of its cybersecurity posture for regional stability. Mr. Greene underscored that cybersecurity is not merely an IT issue; it is inextricably linked to national and economic security.
Mr. Greene cited a FortiGuard report revealing that in the first half of 2023, the Asia-Pacific region experienced a staggering 412 billion malicious threats, with over half (55%), or approximately 224.8 billion, targeting Taiwan. This translates to nearly 15,000 attacks per second, placing Taiwan at the forefront of regional cyber threats. He emphasized the crucial nature of the US-Taiwan partnership in mitigating these risks.
The AIT's collaboration with Taiwan focuses on supporting Taiwan's security, resilience, and connectivity, with cybersecurity serving as the foundation. Mr. Greene cited a recent five-part cybersecurity event series spearheaded by the AIT, focusing on protecting the semiconductor supply chain from cyber threats. This initiative involved four innovative US cybersecurity firms and the FBI, sharing expertise in digital crime investigation and risk management. This underscores the importance of cross-departmental and cross-industry collaboration in enhancing Taiwan's cybersecurity defenses.
A significant announcement from Mr. Greene was the completion of the traditional Chinese translation of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0, a joint effort between the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Taiwan's Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI). This collaboration signifies the commitment of both nations to cybersecurity standardization and highlights the deep integration between Taiwan and the US in supply chain security and risk management models. The availability of the framework in traditional Chinese is expected to facilitate its adoption by Taiwanese businesses and organizations, allowing them to leverage internationally recognized best practices.
Mr. Greene stressed the vital role of Taiwan in global high-tech supply chains, particularly in semiconductors and electronics. The implementation of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework will not only bolster Taiwan's position as a leader in these sectors but also strengthen the US-Taiwan partnership. He emphasized that cybersecurity is not just about passive defense; it requires proactive trust-building and development. The collaborative effort between the US and Taiwan aims to create a more open, secure, and inclusive digital world.
Taiwan Cybersecurity Conference: A Showcase of National Strength
Wu Chi-hsun, chairman of the Taiwan Cybersecurity Conference and editor-in-chief of iThome, highlighted the conference's evolution from a small gathering to Asia's largest cybersecurity event, attracting over 20,000 participants. He attributed this growth to the unwavering support of the Taiwanese government, from President Tsai Ing-wen to President Lai Ching-te, as well as the dedication of the cybersecurity professionals and industry players.
President Tsai Ing-wen's consistent presence at the conference since 2019, a rare demonstration of top-level government support for cybersecurity, has significantly boosted morale and showcased Taiwan's commitment to digital security on the world stage. Mr. Wu emphasized the profound impact of this sustained governmental support on Taiwan's advancements in the cybersecurity field.
The conference serves as a vital platform for strengthening domestic cybersecurity awareness and attracting international attention. Over the past eleven years, it has evolved from a niche professional event to a cross-industry, multi-disciplinary gathering, fostering collaboration among businesses, schools, government agencies, and NGOs. The conference's international reach is evident in the participation of international experts, including the Czech Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who dedicated an entire day to the event.
This year's conference featured a number of key highlights:
Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercises: The CYBERSEC ARENA featured two significant tabletop exercises: "Digital Blockade: Taiwan's Defense Line," designed by the US Naval War College, simulating potential digital conflicts, and a medical sector-specific exercise focusing on responding to major cybersecurity attacks.
"Taiwan Cybersecurity Pavilion": This national brand pavilion, highlighting Taiwan's cybersecurity industry achievements in various sectors, showcased cutting-edge technologies such as post-quantum cryptography (PQC), zero trust security, and secure chips.
"AIoT & Hardware Security Zone": This exhibition focused on Secure by Design principles, emphasizing the importance of integrating cybersecurity into the design of ICT products from their inception, particularly in light of the upcoming EU Cybersecurity Resilience Act.
"CYBERSEC Cybersecurity Incident Investigation and Report Writing Competition": This competition challenged participants to investigate a simulated cybersecurity incident and write a professional report, fostering improved communication skills among cybersecurity professionals.
The conference also included a "Cyber Executive Gathering," providing a platform for networking and collaboration among industry leaders, and a "CyberTalent" section dedicated to cybersecurity education and talent development. The conference's "Asia Cyber Channel Summit" aimed to facilitate international collaborations for Taiwanese cybersecurity firms, while the "CYBERSEC Global" online program expanded the reach of the event internationally.
Conclusion: Taiwan's Leading Role in Global Cybersecurity
The Taiwan Cybersecurity Conference 2025 served as a resounding testament to Taiwan's growing stature as a global cybersecurity leader. The strong partnership between Taiwan and the US, coupled with the unwavering support of the Taiwanese government and the dedication of its cybersecurity professionals, positions Taiwan to play a crucial role in shaping a safer and more secure digital future. The conference’s emphasis on "Team Cybersecurity" highlights the collaborative approach necessary to address the evolving challenges of the digital age, emphasizing the importance of cross-organizational and cross-disciplinary partnerships in building a resilient and secure digital ecosystem. Taiwan's commitment to innovation, international collaboration, and the development of a robust domestic cybersecurity industry ensures its continued leadership in the global fight for digital sovereignty.