A collaboration between UTM-MJIIT & RSA was officially established on 9 January 2020 through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). UTM was represented by YBhg. Prof. Ali Selamat ( MJIIT Dean) while YBrs. En. KT Ong (Country Manager Dell) represented RSA.

The MoU was a culmination of industry and academic sector partnerships that have been in place since 2017. MJIIT has sought to foster the development of ASEAN region in cybersecurity education through the existing close ties between UTM and industry, and also close ties between MJIIT with the Japan University Consortium (JUC ).

A strong partnership between the public and private sectors is imperative to mitigate threats and respond effectively to cyber incidents. A close rapport is necessary given the proliferation and increased sophistication of cyber attacks in recent years. Ad hoc responses to cyber attacks are insufficient to counter the damages incurred, hence a coordinated effort among key players comprising industry, academia, and the government sector is necessary. Strategies and policies need to be in-placed and sharing of resources including information and expertise among key players is paramount.

Through this collaboration, MJIIT is able to exploit industry expertise while providing a conducive environment for producing excellent students in the field of cybersecurity which is much sought after now.