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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 as of November 2, thanks to a new remote navigation technology solution.
Secure Internet Surfing (SIS) will allow public servants to use their work laptops when browsing the Internet for information. They will also be able to log into social media sites to make text-based posts, as well as open links directly from emails and documents, the Smart Nation and Digital Government Group (SNDGG) said on Thursday (October 15).
It replaces the current Internet Browsing Separation (ISS) model that disconnects work systems of public servants from Internet access to safeguard government data.
A total of 108,000 public servants will be transferred to the SIS, and some 18,000 who have to handle classified information will continue to use a separate device. The remaining 20,000 are not separated from Internet browsing.
SNDGG said that the implementation of SIS, made possible by recent advances in remote navigation technology, will improve productivity across the utility.
“Now different combinations of technologies can be implemented together to provide multiple layers of security control and for us to have a more advanced and secure system to safeguard government data,” said SNDGG.
Remote browsing technology works by creating an isolated container that 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 certain types of content that are considered unsafe to further reduce the risks of malware infection and data theft.
Public SIS servers will also be able to upload files to the Internet, but only for approved websites.
The separation of Internet browsing was launched in 2016 and fully implemented in public service in 2017. SNDGG said ISS was implemented as there were no suitable “mature” solutions or products at that time to allow public servants access the Internet safely.
It was also temporarily introduced to all public health institutions in 2018, following the SingHealth data breach involving the data of 1.5 million patients and is Singapore’s worst cyberattack to date.
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