SMU, DerSecur & Athena Dynamics Enhance Cyber Training

Industry Insights from Next Move Strategy Consulting

As cyber threats escalate and the global shortage of skilled professionals grows, Singapore Management University (SMU) has partnered with DerSecur and Athena Dynamics Pte Ltd to enhance cybersecurity training. Formalized on 08 October 2025, this collaboration equips SMU’s computing students with hands-on experience using industry-standard security tools, enabling them to integrate security into software development.

Prioritizing Security from the Start

Traditional software development often delays security measures, leading to vulnerabilities and costly fixes. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DerSecur and Athena Dynamics, SMU’s School of Computing and Information Systems (SCIS) is transforming this approach. The partnership provides students with practical training in advanced tools, fostering proactive vulnerability detection and mitigation for web, mobile, and DevOps applications.

Professor Pang Hwee Hwa, Dean of SCIS, states, “We are excited about this partnership with DerSecur and Athena Dynamics. By enabling our students to use DerScanner as a comprehensive, full-cycle security platform for our software and security courses, we ensure they not only learn about security in theory but also gain hands-on experience from the onset.”

This focus on early security integration prepares graduates to meet the demands of modern IT environments with scalable, robust defenses.

DerScanner: Empowering Future Cybersecurity Experts

At the core of this initiative is DerScanner, DerSecur’s platform for early vulnerability detection and resolution, provided to SMU under a non-commercial license. DerScanner enables static and dynamic testing, binary analysis for scenarios without source code, and correlation of findings, enhancing training for both cybersecurity and software engineering students.

Athena Dynamics will oversee technology integration, training, and license management. Cybersecurity students will gain expertise in threat detection and vulnerability analysis, while software engineering students develop a security-first mindset.

Mr. Ken Soh, CEO of Athena Dynamics, emphasizes, “The future of cybersecurity starts with our people. By giving SMU students hands-on access to DerScanner, we’re equipping them with real-world application security skills to build their capability and confidence in a digital-first world.”

Ms. Lauren Connell, PR Director at DerSecur, adds, “We are proud to support SCIS students as they take their first steps into application security. By bringing enterprise-grade tools like DerScanner into the classroom, we provide students with practical experience in the technologies and practices companies depend on daily.”

Key Benefits for Students and Industry

• Hands-On Vulnerability Training: Access to DerScanner in courses like Web Application Development, Data Security & Privacy, and Collaborative Software Development builds proficiency in detecting application flaws.

• Industry-Aligned Skills: Training in static/dynamic testing and binary analysis prepares students for enterprise-level threat defense and secure development roles.

• Addressing the Talent Shortage: Enhanced IT and security literacy tackles the global need for 4.8 million cybersecurity professionals amid rising cybercrime.

This training promotes a culture of proactive security, reducing remediation costs and enhancing system scalability.

Impact on the Cyber Security Market: Next Move Strategy Consulting’s View

The partnership between Singapore Management University (SMU), DerSecur, and Athena Dynamics Pte Ltd, formalized on October 8, 2025, significantly strengthens Singapore’s position as a cybersecurity hub within the Asia-Pacific’s rapidly evolving digital economy. By integrating DerSecur’s DerScanner platform into the curriculum of SMU’s School of Computing and Information Systems (SCIS), this collaboration addresses the critical global shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals, estimated at 4.8 million professionals needed worldwide to secure organizations against rising cybercrime. The initiative equips students with hands-on experience in industry-standard tools, fostering a security-first mindset that prioritizes early vulnerability detection and mitigation in software development. This approach aligns with industry trends toward embedding security at the outset of the software development lifecycle, which is recognized as more effective and scalable than addressing vulnerabilities later. By providing access to DerScanner in courses such as Web Application Development, Data Security & Privacy, and Collaborative Software Development, the partnership ensures that students gain practical skills in detecting and analyzing security flaws in web, mobile, and DevOps applications. 

Forging a Safer Digital Future

As cyber threats outpace defenses, SMU’s collaboration with DerSecur and Athena Dynamics provides students with practical, industry-aligned tools. By equipping students with practical, industry-aligned tools, this partnership prepares graduates to protect digital systems and supports collaboration between academia and industry.

Source: SMU

Prepared by: Next Move Strategy Consulting