Gov’t cloud systems repel four million monthly cyberattacks

As Macau accelerates its adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) to modernize public administration, authorities have revealed that the government’s cloud computing centre blocks, on average, more than four million cyberattacks and intrusion attempts each month.

The Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP) disclosed the figure in response to a written interpellation from lawmaker Vong Hou Piu to the Legislative Assembly (AL).

In his interpellation, Vong called on the government to work with leading sector operators and local IT professionals to study and update network firewalls when introducing AI.

“The Government should carry out, together with the best operators in the sector and local computer professionals, studies on the updating of network firewalls, to avoid data loss due to viruses or hacker attacks, or even the risk of shutdown of a public service system,” Vong wrote. He framed AI adoption as essential, stating that “the introduction of artificial intelligence for the application of intelligent government is a necessary historical process.”

Vong spotlighted the Financial Services Bureau and Commercial and Movable Property Registry as prime examples where manual processing of repetitive tasks prolongs wait times for residents and strains staff amid retirements and quota limits.

In a pointed question, he asked whether the government would cooperate with institutions in Mainland China to bring into Macau technologies in the field of intelligent government, such as big data analysis and artificial intelligence.

He also proposed applying these AI tools to local administrative processes such as document processing, data integration and analysis, to lighten the workload of frontline public officials and improve overall administrative efficiency, asking the government directly, “Will it do so?”

SAFP responded by describing the existing AI platform at the government’s Cloud Computing Centre, which is available in beta for internal use. These include tools for data analysis, document processing and meeting minutes. Officials said the platform is for internal use only and that more electronic governance functionalities will be developed in the future to improve service quality and work efficiency.

They also noted that no cybersecurity incidents have occurred to date.

“The Centre is equipped with a cybersecurity system, regulated by a security management system, and equipped with a dedicated team for system monitoring, detecting and responding to any types of intrusions and malicious attacks, in order to guarantee that the electronic systems and data of the centre can function in a safe and stable environment,” detailed SAFP.

In a separate recommendation, Vong urged that AI literacy be factored into civil service selection interviews to build a more tech-savvy workforce.

In response, SAFP states that recruitment panels “may apply appropriate selection methods and define the test content and respective weighting, including matters related to the application of AI technology”, to appropriately match and assess skills required for each post.