Thailand’s National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) and Google Cloud are collaborating to bolster the nation’s cyber resilience through advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligence-driven cyber defense systems.

Unveiled during the Safer Songkran initiative, the effort seeks to safeguard public sector entities and citizens from escalating cybercrime while supporting Thailand’s digital transformation.

It builds on existing efforts by the Royal Thai Government and Google to improve online safety. Google’s anti-scam feature within Google Play Protect, launched in 2024 in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES), has already blocked more than 6.6 million high-risk app installation attempts on Android devices in Thailand.

Coordinated protection

Under the partnership, NCSA will deploy Google Cloud Cybershield, an AI-powered platform combining automation, analytics and threat intelligence for centralised monitoring of security events across public sector entities. This will enable the Thailand Computer Emergency Response Team (ThaiCERT) to coordinate more effectively against threats targeting government agencies and critical infrastructure.

Google Cloud will provide access to its extensive threat intelligence resources, including Mandiant’s frontline insights and VirusTotal’s database to provide NCSA with intelligence and understanding of evolving cyber threats.

Mandiant consultants will train public sector cybersecurity professionals in areas such as malware analysis and digital forensics to expand Thailand’s pool of skilled cyber defence experts.

Google Cloud Web Risk APIs will be incorporated into government workflows to protect citizens from phishing and scam websites by providing real-time threat intelligence.

“Building on these initiatives, our partnership with Google Cloud will be a significant force multiplier. Collectively, this will reinforce our capacity to stay ahead of future cyber threats and maintain a safe digital space for all Thais,” said Amorn Chomchoey, Secretary General of NCSA.

Protecting Citizens Against Online Scams

Beyond national-level initiatives, the collaboration aims to enhance individual online safety. Google Play Protect’s anti-scam feature has been particularly effective in blocking malicious apps downloaded from unverified sources. New measures include disabling the option to turn off app scanning during phone calls — a tactic often exploited by scammers.

“This collaboration will involve NCSA joining forces with Google Cloud, leveraging its industry-leading security operations expertise to develop cutting-edge, national-level solutions that enhance our country’s cyber resilience,” said Prasert Jantararuangtong, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society.

The announcements follow a January 2025 meeting between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Google Cloud executives on strengthening digital competitiveness.