Small and medium-sized companies are at the forefront of the country’s economic development. But while these emerging companies see a promising future in the Philippine market, the proliferation of cyber threats impedes their sustainable growth.
Survey respondents selected mobile, cloud, and biometrics (gesture/facial/voice) as the top three technologies that will enable the next indispensable consumer technology in the next three years. (Artwork by Janis Dei Abad)
Latest available data shows that 98 percent of businesses in the country are working their way up to compete with more established companies. However, security breaches have become their barriers for growth, with 74 percent of small organizations reported to have been breached in 2015 alone, according to the UK Government Security Breach Survey.
“SMEs have become the prime target of cyber criminals because compared with larger companies, these emerging businesses have little to no cyber security strategy in place—making them easier to penetrate,” said Angel Redoble, ePLDT Group chief information security officer. “What’s even more alarming is that, hackers may use these growing businesses as their gateway to attack bigger companies—a scenario that is not entirely new in the digital era.”
Rebolde added: “Small businesses may not feel the pressing need to adopt cyber security architecture now. But working with a professional who can identify and mitigate cyber risks will go a long way in ensuring that the company is positioned for steady growth.”
Rebolde said that budget constraints may limit leaders of these small businesses in deploying cyber security infrastructure, but they need to at least work with professionals who have the right skills in combating cyber threats. For SMEs to soar forward, “they need to think big. They have to realize the crucial roles played by cyber security experts who can take the lead in ensuring their business resilience, especially now that cyber criminals are getting smarter.”
Already, ePLDT works with small and medium businesses to strengthen their cyber security posture with the right infrastructure, expertise and strategies. ePLDT, through its Cyber Security portfolio, offers security risk assessment, digital forensics, ransomware investigation and malware analysis, and incident response. These services are complemented with Managed Security services that cover the management, maintenance, policy configuration and reporting of on-premise or hosted dedicated security hardware. It also includes the installation of cyber security infrastructure, configuration and policy management, service level agreements on response time and phone and e-mail support.
Apart from CCSE certifications, ePLDT is also home to certified Check Point Certified Security Administrators (CCSAs) who help manage the complexities that come with ensuring a holistic cyber security.
ePLDT is working in coordination with PLDT Enterprise to reach companies that need a systematic approach to combating cyberattacks.
“As technology and the world become more advanced and connected, one cannot underscore the need for security,” said Jovy Hernandez, SVP and head of PLDT Enterprise. “Cyber threats are a clear and present danger to anyone who has a digital footprint. PLDT Enterprise and ePLDT work tirelessly to enable resiliency and security solutions to businesses of all sizes, allowing them to focus on their growth knowing their future is secure.”
