QuickBytes: How GovTech Singapore is fighting fire with fire in cybersecurity

Summary:

• The STACKx Cybersecurity 2026 conference, organized by GovTech Singapore, addresses the “double-edged sword” of AI, exploring how it both enables sophisticated new cyber attacks and provides powerful tools for proactive, automated defense.
• The event is structured into three “fire-themed” pillars: Forging with Fire (using AI for defense), Tempering the Fire (securing AI life cycles and architectures), and Stewarding the Flame (focusing on human leadership and regulatory navigation).
• Taking place on April 17 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, the event aims to move beyond theory to provide tech professionals and leaders with actionable frameworks for building long-term cyber resilience.
• Get your tickets today.

As AI becomes a fixture in the tech world, it’s no surprise that it has also become a part of the cybersecurity scene.

The bad news is that AI allows malicious actors to formulate new angles and types of cyberattacks. But the good news is that we can fight fire with fire: AI can help security professionals develop new, robust cybersecurity measures.

With that mission in mind, GovTech Singapore has organized STACKx Cybersecurity 2026 to foster discussions and awareness of what needs to be done to keep AI-powered cybercrime at bay. This edition of the annual event will take place April 17 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

Justiin Ang, government chief information security officer and assistant chief executive of cybersecurity at GovTech Singapore, spoke to Tech in Asia about this year’s STACKx. He is also assistant chief executive of development at the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore.

Justiin Ang, government chief information security officer, assistant chief executive of cybersecurity at GovTech Singapore, and assistant chief executive of development at the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore. / Photo credit: GovTech Singapore

What is STACKx Cybersecurity?

STACKx Cybersecurity has two core objectives. First, it aims to raise cybersecurity awareness for whole-of-government management and workforce. Second, it’s designed to foster technological exchange between government agencies and industry partners to better align cybersecurity developments with needs across ministries and agencies.

The inaugural edition took place last year and brought together over 900 professionals and 40 global speakers. This year, we’re expecting 1,500 practitioners and curious learners from across Asia Pacific as we lead with the theme, “Creating a Trusted Digital Future Together.”

AI is reshaping the complex cybersecurity landscape. As such, STACKx Cybersecurity 2026 will explore real-world strategies, responsible innovation, workforce readiness, and community collaboration to build secure and resilient AI-enabled systems at scale.

Why is this year’s event spotlighting AI in cyberdefense?

AI is now being used and integrated into every tech domain. In cybersecurity, AI represents both unprecedented opportunities and emerging risks. Like fire, AI is a force of profound duality: capable of forging progress, resilience and scale, yet equally capable of amplifying harm when misused or left unchecked.

The critical message of this year’s edition of STACKx Cybersecurity is that trust cannot be retrofitted during a crisis – it must be designed into systems, actively governed, and continuously earned. Just as fire demands mastery and restraint, AI requires disciplined stewardship: harnessed to strengthen digital foundations while preserving the trust upon which our digital future depends.

Who is the target audience and why should they attend?

This event will be of value and interest to tech enthusiasts, cybersecurity practitioners, and anyone else interested in AI and cybersecurity. It provides a pivotal platform for learning and connection, which are key factors in developing a defense strategy that covers all bases.

Photo credit: GovTech Singapore

What can attendees expect from the three tracks of the event’s program?

The opening track is named “Forging with Fire: AI on the Defense,” and it explores how the strategic application of AI can significantly bolster defensive cyber capabilities. It will examine how organizations are integrating AI across their security ecosystem, ranging from attack surface management and threat modeling to proactive security testing, detection, and incident response.

The second track is called ‘Tempering the Fire: Securing AI.’ As the name suggests, this track centers on ensuring AI remains secure throughout its entire life cycle. Participants will dive into secure-by-design architectures and the AI threat kill chain – spanning data, models, agents, and orchestration layers – while staying ahead of emerging attack vectors.

The final pillar is titled “Stewarding the Flame: Strengthening Cyber Leadership,” and it shifts the focus from the tools to the people guiding them. This track explores how contemporary cyber leaders navigate the intersection of technical complexity, business objectives, and regulatory demands. Drawing on insights from practitioners and real-world case studies, attendees will walk away with actionable frameworks for leading teams, managing risk, and fostering long-term cyber resilience.

Looking ahead, how does GovTech Singapore see AI’s role in cybersecurity evolving in the years to come?

We anticipate AI will fundamentally transform both the threat landscape and our defensive capabilities. On the threat side, we expect increasingly sophisticated AI-powered attacks, from hyperpersonalized social engineering campaigns to automated vulnerability discovery and exploitation.

Photo credit: GovTech Singapore

However, AI will equally have an impact on our defensive posture. It will strengthen cyber defense capabilities across the full spectrum, from attack surface management and threat modelling to security testing, detection and response.

That said, even as AI accelerates cybersecurity capabilities, leadership remains decisively human. The future belongs to organizations that can seamlessly blend human expertise with AI capabilities – maintaining human oversight and ethical decision-making while leveraging AI’s speed and scale.

This transformation requires unprecedented collaboration between the public and private sectors, making knowledge-sharing community platforms like STACKx Cybersecurity even more vital in the years ahead.

STACKx Cybersecurity 2026, organized by GovTech Singapore, aims to dissect AI’s evolving role in cyber defense, bringing together tech leaders and professionals, business users, and industry practitioners to learn, connect, and strengthen the country’s cyber resilience.

Event registration closes on April 13, so secure your tickets now. Use code MK_TECHINASIA26SX for an exclusive 20% discount.

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY

This content was produced by Tech in Asia Studios, which connects brands with Asia’s tech community. Learn more about partnering with Tech in Asia Studios.