By Ronadell Hongo

October is Aboitiz Equity Ventures’ annual cybersecurity month and, as in previous years, the SecSee Forum 2024—with a theme "Secure Our World"—brought an exciting lineup of activities focused on strengthening digital safety across the organization.

In line with CISA’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month theme, SecSee Forum 2024 offered a compelling lineup of CyberSecurity  awareness campaigns, interactive games, specialized training sessions, and collaborative events that empowered our A-People to become more cyber-savvy and resilient against today’s digital threats. These engaging activities fostered a culture of cybersecurity vigilance, equipping every team member with the skills and awareness to safeguard both personal and organizational  information and digital assets in an increasingly complex cyber space.

Training

SecSee 2024 put a strong focus on practical learning, with the Cybersecurity Awareness Training via KnowBe4 leading the charge. Team members delved into essential topics through awareness campaigns covering critical areas like Phishing, Password Security, AI Security, and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Each session was designed to address specific vulnerabilities and teach them how to spot, prevent, and respond to cyber threats confidently.

Through these specialized training sessions, our A-People gained a deeper understanding of how cyber-attacks can compromise digital assets and personal information. From identifying phishing attempts to setting up secure MFA, these trainings empowered our workforce to make smarter, safer choices online, building a digitally resilient organization ready to face any cyber challenge.

Gamified Awareness

SecSee 2024 also made cybersecurity fun and competitive with a series of interactive games that brought learning to life. By combining practical training with gamified learning, activities like Spot the Phish and Password Battle tested team members’ skills in identifying suspicious links and creating strong passwords.

An engaging Kahoot Cybersecurity Game sparked friendly competition and reinforced key lessons from the training. To encourage participation, the first three team members to complete their awareness training received special recognition, while raffle prizes added excitement to the experience.

These interactive games not only motivated our A-People to sharpen their skills but also fostered camaraderie and a shared commitment to cybersecurity.

SecSee Forum

SecSee 2024 wrapped up with a forum at Caf8, where cybersecurity experts, leaders, and team members came together for a day of insight and learning. Keynote talks set the stage, highlighting the latest cyber threats, followed by a live cyber-attack demonstration that showed just how quickly breaches can occur and the importance of fast responses.

Throughout the forum, team members engaged directly with experts, asking pressing questions about cybersecurity practices and gaining valuable, real-world advice to strengthen their digital defenses.

Four standout sessions focused on critical topics: Cyberwarfare, AI Security, Security Assessment, and Hybrid Workforce.

Cyberwarfare

Speaker: Col Francel Margareth Taborlupa
Chief, Information Systems Management Division and Spokesperson, Armed Forces of the Philippines

Col Francel opened the session on Cyberwarfare by examining the geopolitical implications of state-sponsored cyber attacks and the vulnerabilities of national infrastructure. She highlighted the urgency for nations to collaborate on cyber defense standards and warned of the potential escalation into more destructive conflicts if such efforts stall.

AI Security

Speaker: Mark Anthony Javiero
Senior Director, SGV

AI systems’ security was the focus of Mark’s presentation, where he explored the risks AI brings into organizations and the importance of protecting these systems.  Some identified risks were data leakage, advanced cyber attacks, and fake biometrics.  He also discussed potential risk mitigation underscoring the importance of continuous advancements in AI security.

Why are security assessments crucial to an organization?

Speaker: Gonz Gonzales
President, Cloud Security Alliance

Gonz tackled the increasingly important topic of security assessments, emphasizing how an organization’s security is only as strong as its weakest link. Cybersecurity assessments are essential for identifying vulnerabilities, mitigating risks, and ensuring compliance. Regular assessments provide organizations with a roadmap for improving security posture. By proactively addressing threats, organizations can protect their assets, reputation, and customer trust.

Hybrid Workforce

Speaker: Alex Adallom
Security Solutions Consultant, Palo Alto Networks

Alex’s  session on the hybrid workforce addressed the security challenges posed by the shift to remote and flexible working arrangements. He discussed how hybrid work models have expanded the attack surface and introduced risks associated with unsecured home networks and personal devices. His recommendations included adopting Zero Trust architectures, providing employees with secure access to corporate networks, and enhancing endpoint security.

Empowering Our Secure Future

Together, through SecSee Forum 2024, we’ve taken a significant stride towards a future-proof organization. By equipping our A-People with the knowledge and skills to combat cyber threats, we’re not just protecting our data, we’re safeguarding our collective future.