STRENGTHENING CYBER-DEFENSE. Major Gen. Tyne T. Bañas, PA Chief of Installation and Management Command, stresses the need for continuous enhancement of cyber-defense capabilities of the Army during the 2nd Gat Andres Bonifacio Colloquium on Monday (Oct 14, 2019). The forum aims to broaden the PA’s knowledge and strategies in addressing the challenges of hybrid threats. (Photo courtesy of the Army Chief Public Affairs)
MANILA -- The Philippine Army (PA) continues to beef up its cyber-defense capabilities.
This was emphasized during the conduct of the 2nd Gat Andres Bonifacio Colloquium on Monday, with the theme, “Building Resilience in the Age of Disruption: Strengthening the Army’s Cyber Defense Capabilities”.
Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, in a statement Tuesday, said the activity aims to broaden the PA’s knowledge and strategies in addressing the challenges of hybrid threats.
“The problem is more on the [human] attacker side because the malware is just a tool. You cannot invest in technology alone, you need people. Security is a process and not a product,” said subject matter expert speaker and Army reservist. Lt. Col. Roland J. Ong, who is a territory manager and solutions consultant in a cybersecurity firm that responds to cyber breaches worldwide.
Zagala said the forum provided Army leaders and other participating units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines an in-depth discussion on the latest developments and threats in cybersecurity.
Other key speakers also discussed the significant approaches that will fortify the Army’s cyber capabilities through the utilization of the country’s cyber competencies.
Meanwhile, guest-of-honor and speaker, PA Chief of Installation and Management Command, Major Gen. Tyne T. Bañas, emphasized that “the continuous enhancement of our [Army’s] cyber-related capabilities is now an integral part of developing a responsive defense posture that can effectively address fast-evolving threats.”
He also highlighted the importance of such operations in countering the spread of violent extremism narratives in the cyber domain.
The event is the second of the three-part series colloquium that provides extensive discourse anchored on the topics of the 12th Senior Leaders Conference.
The first leg was launched last July that tackled the Army’s strategic communication of effective messaging in the era of disinformation and fake news. The last part of the colloquium is set to take place before the year ends.
“We must build up our ability to address and undermine cyber-related threats. May the insights of today fortify our capacity to operate and prevail in cyberspace, as part of our mandate to serve the people and secure the land,” Bañas concluded. (PNA)
