BlackBerry picks Malaysia for its regional HQ for cybersecurity

KUALA LUMPUR: BlackBerry Ltd’s Cybersecurity division has set up its regional headquarters for the Asia Pacific in Malaysia.

In a statement, BlackBerry said the office, now fully operational, is situated in Cyberjaya, taking advantage of its proximity to key emerging technology hubs and government infrastructure.

It said the new headquarters and regional expansion in APAC signalled BlackBerry’s ongoing commitment to the Malaysian Government, following a landmark cybersecurity deal it announced in November 2023.

BlackBerry worked with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to establish the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (CCoE), a world-class training facility to help upskill the nation’s workforce.

BlackBerry Cybersecurity’s vice president for APAC, Tash Stamatelos, said Malaysia is a strategically important market for BlackBerry, and the company is proud to establish its new APAC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur as part of its regional expansion plans.

“As the nation becomes Chair of ASEAN in 2024, we commend Malaysia’s efforts in advancing digital transformation and regional cooperation in areas like cybersecurity, and ongoing investment in skills, innovation and infrastructure to advance its economy. This is building a trusted ecosystem that is attractive for global companies like BlackBerry to invest and operate in, and we are excited about our journey ahead with Malaysia as our regional APAC hub.”

Meanwhile, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said: “I welcome the decision to set up this regional headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. This will not only benefit Malaysia but will enable the region to take advantage of the cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions offered by BlackBerry.”

The team based at the BlackBerry Office at the Malaysia CCoE includes sales, marketing, threat research, technical support, professional services, administration and management and several skilled cybersecurity trainers, poised to support cyber-defenders from Malaysia and the region.