JOHOR BARU: No data centres in Johor have reported being affected by cyberattacks so far, says Johor executive councillor Lee Ting Han.
The state investment, domestic trade, consumer affairs and human resources committee chairman said cybersecurity remains an important consideration as Johor continues to establish itself as a major data centre hub.
"So far, we have not received any reports of data centres in Johor being affected by cyberattacks.
"We understand that these data centres have very sophisticated security systems and preventive measures in place to protect their facilities.
"For example, anyone who wishes to visit a data centre would typically need to provide at least 24 to 48 hours' advance notice," he told the press when met during the Insulet Malaysia Sdn Bhd Supplier Day at a hotel here on Thursday (Nov 12).
Lee said this when asked whether there had been any reports of cyberattacks involving data centres in Johor amid the growing number of such incidents globally.
Lee said cybersecurity measures were largely the responsibility of individual data centre operators.
"We hope and encourage these companies to continue strengthening their security measures and remain vigilant against potential threats.
"Any security incident could affect investor confidence in Johor, so it is important for operators to take the necessary precautions," he said, adding that Johor ranks fifth globally and first in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of data centre development growth.
On Nov 2, a cyberattack targeted refrigeration systems at supermarkets in at least 10 European countries, including France, Germany, Sweden and Italy, destroying large quantities of food.
The attacks, which raised temperatures to as high as 50°C, were reminiscent of a similar attack several weeks ago targeting refrigeration systems at dozens of French supermarkets.
Several other cyberattacks have also been reported across the globe, including one involving the LED screen of the Kluang Municipal Council (MPK) in Johor that led to the display of lewd photos and videos on Oct 29.
Meanwhile, Japan is also facing an intense wave of AI-powered cyberattacks, with companies from brokerages to delivery firms being among those attacked.
