DE Deputy Minister Launches Advanced Cybersecurity Exercise
DE Deputy Minister opens an advanced national cybersecurity exercise to strengthen government agencies’ cyber defenses, enhance preparedness against cyberattacks, and ensure the security of public services and personal information.
On 17 September 2026, Ms.Nan Boontida Somchai, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DE), presided over the opening of the advanced STAFF Exercise (STAFF-EX), part of Thailand’s National Cyber Exercise 2026, organized by the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA). The event was attended by Air Marshal Amorn Chomchoey, Secretary-General of the NCSA, along with executives, heads of government agencies, and officials from relevant organizations at Centara Life Government Complex Hotel & Convention Centre Chaeng Watthana, Bangkok.
The DE Deputy Minister said that cybersecurity issues had attracted significant attention over the past one to two weeks, raising concerns even among people with limited knowledge of cybersecurity. She noted that at least three technology and AI experts had expressed concerns about the rapid development of artificial intelligence and the possibility of AI gaining complete control over a country’s critical infrastructure systems, rather than only partial control.
This raises an important question about how Thailand can best prepare for such potential threats. The Deputy Minister emphasized that the key objective of the exercise is to ensure that participating personnel, representing various government agencies, are fully capable of maintaining cybersecurity and protecting their organizations’ systems.
In addition, government agencies must communicate with the public about the regular and intensive cybersecurity exercises being conducted. This will help build confidence that government digital services are secure, personal information is protected, and essential public services can continue operating normally.
She also stressed that when a cybersecurity incident occurs, relevant agencies must communicate with the public promptly, including providing information about incident reporting and the detection of cyberattacks affecting their systems. Public notifications should be issued within 12 hours to prevent unnecessary panic before further response procedures are carried out.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that continuous public communication is essential to maintaining trust in government systems and ensuring that citizens remain informed throughout the incident response process.
“Technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace. Scenarios that appeared in science fiction films 10 or 20 years ago, such as cyber systems taking control away from humans, artificial intelligence managing entire systems, and the development of humanoid robots, are becoming increasingly relevant to our daily lives.
“What once seemed like a two-hour movie is now a real-world challenge. We must determine how to protect the cybersecurity systems of every government agency in Thailand and maintain public confidence.
“Today, the NCSA has prepared worst-case scenarios for participants to practice and develop their readiness to respond effectively should such situations occur in reality,” the Deputy Minister said.
The DE Deputy Minister further emphasized the importance of strengthening cybersecurity protection for the public. She said the DE Ministry has coordinated with all government agencies to review their cybersecurity protection systems and ensure that they are updated to the latest standards.
This includes improving information systems and electronic data management, with particular emphasis on ensuring that personal information entered into digital systems has been collected and processed with the consent of the individuals concerned.
She stressed that cyberattacks can affect any government agency, not just specific organizations. All agencies must therefore remain vigilant, strengthen their security measures, and ensure that citizens can trust that their personal information is securely managed and protected to the highest possible standards.
