The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has imposed a six-month pause on DBS Bank's non-essential IT changes to ensure that the bank keeps sharp focus on restoring the resilience of its digital banking services.

DBS will not be allowed to acquire new business ventures during this period or reduce the size of its branch and ATM networks in Singapore. But why are such serious actions only taken now despite the bank facing major disruptions multiple times in the last year. 

Benjamin Ang, Senior Fellow & Head, Centre of Excellence for National Security and Future Issues in Technology, RSIS NTU shares his views.