KUALA LUMPUR: Mobile application security must be built into digital platforms from the design stage, according to cybersecurity officials and industry leaders.
They said stronger threat detection, incident response and recovery measures were needed to protect essential services and public trust.
The issue took centre stage at the recent Mobile Application Resilience Forum 2026 where more than 100 industry leaders, cybersecurity professionals, technology executives and policymakers discussed growing threats to Malaysia's digital economy.
National Cyber Security Agency application and infrastructure division director Rummie Wisning, in his opening address, stressed the need for organisations to adopt a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, backed by stronger governance and continuous security assessments.
He also highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration and alignment with Malaysia's national cybersecurity framework, including the Cyber Security Act 2024.
Zchwantech Cybersecurity Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Seow Gim Shen said mobile application security was no longer merely an information technology concern.
It is now an economic and business imperative as digital platforms became increasingly central to interactions between businesses, government agencies and consumers.
"Cybersecurity can no longer be treated as an afterthought or merely a compliance exercise. It must be embedded into the design, development and operation of digital platforms," he said.
The forum was co-hosted by Zchwantech, Total SE Solutions Sdn Bhd, CyberSecurity Malaysia and Global CIO Forum Malaysia, with Huawei as technology partner.
Discussions also focused on CyberSecurity Malaysia's Mobile Application Certification (MAC) scheme, which independently evaluates mobile applications against defined security requirements.
Other sessions examined artificial intelligence-driven cyber threats, continuous compliance and application protection.
Zchwantech chief executive officer Wayne Wang said cooperation among government agencies, technology providers and application owners was essential to strengthen application resilience and digital trust.
He said organisations needed to shift from reactive security measures towards security-by-design as Malaysia's digital economy expands.
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