Desmond Ng, Cybersecurity Consultant at the National Cyber Incident Response Centre, Cyber Security Agency of Singapore

1) What does public service mean to you? Can you share more about your role in the public sector?

To me, public service means contributing to the nation, and in the context of the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), it is to keep Singapore's cyberspace safe and secure.

I’m currently a Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) analyst at the National Cyber Incident Response Centre in CSA.

My work involves responding to cybersecurity incidents and conducting digital forensics investigations to identify attacker tactics and to determine the root cause of incidents.

2) Tell us about a project you championed. What impact did it have on the community?

Last year, I participated in a multi-agency operation to disrupt illicit cloud-based activities that were exploiting GSM VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Gateway devices to facilitate scam calls.

Using these devices, calls made through the internet were routed through the local mobile phone networks and appeared as calls made locally within Singapore, thus providing scam call operators the means to conduct their activities remotely.

Our team conducted research into the underlying technology and associated devices and worked closely with partner agencies in evidence acquisition efforts.

Through forensic analysis of the evidence, we uncovered information that supported the disruption of their malicious infrastructure.

What made this operation particularly meaningful was that its impact extended beyond Singapore, contributing to the disruption of scam call activities across borders. And likely preventing more victims from losing their hard-earned money!

Within the same year, I also participated in Operation CYBER GUARDIAN, a multi-agency cybersecurity operation to defend Singapore’s telecommunications sector, where I was involved in the digital forensics aspect of the operation.

This was significant to me because it was Singapore’s largest coordinated cyber incident response effort undertaken to date to mitigate the threat posed by an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actor.

3) As a young professional, how has your unique background or perspective allowed you to identify a solution that others in your organisation might have overlooked?

CSA places emphasis on staying updated with the latest technologies and trends; so in many ways, everyone is encouraged to identify new solutions and look for improvements.

Because the cybersecurity landscape evolves quickly, adaptability and operational flexibility are qualities that everyone in the organisation needs to develop regardless of seniority or background.

4) What is your personal strategy for maintaining your creative energy when faced with bureaucracy?

My approach is to focus on the desired outcome instead of the bureaucracy, which is there to ensure accountability, compliance, and responsible use of public resources.

I’ve been fortunate to work with superiors who are open to suggestions and receptive to new ideas. This creates an environment where innovation is still encouraged, even within structured processes.

5) If you had just one area to invest in to accelerate transformation in the public sector (regulation, technology, talent, etc.), which one would you choose and why?

I would invest in talent development and retention.

Regardless of the field within the public sector, the officers working behind the scenes are the ones who determine whether transformation succeeds.

By developing and retaining talent in the public sector, we build stronger institutional knowledge and operational capability. This is especially important in fast-evolving fields like cybersecurity, where expertise takes years to develop, and threats constantly evolve.

6) What is your greatest ambition as you grow in your public service career?

That will be to remain relevant and adaptable in the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape, especially amid today’s increasingly complex geopolitical environment, and to continue contributing to Singapore’s cyber resilience.

7) What is a “universal value” that connects everyone in your department – from interns to directors – and how do you use that to drive collaboration?

I believe it is our professionalism as public service officers that drives us to carry out our duties. It also helps that we all share a common goal, which is to safeguard Singapore’s cyberspace, making it easier to come to a consensus.

8) What is the best piece of advice you’ve got for the next generation of public servants?

Remember to take a step back and reflect. Sometimes we may get too caught up in what we’re doing and lose track of our original intention.

Regular reflections help us identify whether we need to adjust our approach, refine our direction, or sometimes even rethink our objectives.

9) What is a myth you wish to debunk about young public servants?

I don’t know of any myth, so maybe they’re all true!

That said, I believe that, like their predecessors, most young public service officers today aspire to attain a better quality of life or standard of living, just like any young person in the workforce.

However, as circumstances change, so does the approach we take to achieve those goals, making each generation different in its own way.

10) Write a letter to your future self in 2035. Please keep it within 200 words.

Hello,

Hope you’re doing well.

How much has CSA grown and matured over the years?

Regardless of the role you’re in now, always stay true to your objective and to the type of person you want to be in that role.

Remember to strive for balance.