Here at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, we talk a lot about the value of collective cyber resilience. How helping other organisation and nations realise their cyber goals helps all of us in the long run.
This is particularly true in today’s era of advanced threats, where professional cyber-criminal groups and would-be hackers alike have nearly ubiquitous access to AI-enabled capabilities that can cause real and lasting damage.
That’s why Cyber Capacity Building (CCB) is so important, bringing to bear the transformative nature of international cyber security cooperation for a safer cyberspace. The UK has long been a leading nation in the CCB space – and we’ve got a perfect example to prove it.
Regional cyber advancement
For the last three years, we’ve been a core component of an Indo-Pacific CCB programme focused on working closely with national cyber agencies and critical infrastructure organisations in the region to enhance threat detection, build national cyber resilience and skills, and forge essential partnerships.
When this Indo-Pacific Cyber Programme (IPCP) – funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) – ended earlier this year, we thought it was worth taking a step back to reflect on the scale and impact of the programme.
Throughout the three-year period, our teams created and delivered more than 700 hours of content across 316 modules to countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. These modules covered technical skills, in-depth assessments, cyber bootcamps, strategy and policy development, table-top exercises and capture-the-flag events – just to name a few.
As part of the programme, we led a consortium of six organisations to:
- Understand the unique needs and challenges faced by the region’s key stakeholders
- Successfully deliver 73 projects across nine countries, along with 26 ‘change stories’
- Engage with more than 2,500 people at all levels of seniority
- Meet and deliver 29 gender equality and social inclusion activities
The projects we delivered ranged from the tactical to the strategic – from guidance on threat intelligence report writing to a series of week-long training courses that explored the evolving cyber threat landscape.
It was truly a global effort, involving our cyber specialists from across the UK and the Indo-Pacific region – many of whom played a hands-on role in designing, leading and delivering key projects.
Delivering long-term value
The main objective behind any CCB programme is, of course, to ensure practical, lasting impact where it matters most. That’s why each project that we delivered included tailored, actionable recommendations and guidance – equipping stakeholders with the tools to drive ongoing change.
This value was demonstrated through our various ‘change stories’ which included:
- Helping a national cyber agency gain regional recognition and membership in a globally recognised security forum
- Delivering immersive Cyber Bootcamp training for critical infrastructure regulators
- Bringing a national cyber agency together with relevant government and critical sector stakeholders to establish a model for a Cyber Crisis Task Force
But delivering value isn’t just about the technical side. The programme also included gender equality and social inclusivity priorities. One way we addressed this was through the design and launch of a Women in Cyber Fellowship, focused on creating a 'safe space' for female cyber experts to learn and grow their networks.
The Indo-Pacific Cyber Programme has been award-winning. Digital Intelligence received ‘Highly Commended’ recognition for an International Project at the 2025 MCA Awards, while the FCDO secured a ‘Building New Relationships’ award for its approach to collaboration and partnering with ourselves and our beneficiaries.
We’re hugely proud to have been able to play such a key part in this campaign. Its success serves as a testament to the power of international collaboration and a commitment to building a safer, more secure digital future.
Learn more about cyber capacity building
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Case study: International Cyber Capacity Building in the Indo-Pacific
For three years, we led the UK FCDO-funded Indo-Pacific Cyber Programme consortium to help national cyber agencies and critical infrastructure organisations across the region detect threats, build resilience and forge lasting partnerships. Rather than off-the-shelf solutions, we delivered hands-on training, interactive workshops and tailored strategies.