The role of cloud, advanced cybersecurity measures, and the transformative potential of artificial intelligence were discussed by the leading minds in the tech industry at the recent 2nd Philippine CTO Cloud Summit held at The Fifth, Rockwell, Makati.
At the summit, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy reiterated the government’s commitment to the Cloud First Policy, initially introduced in 2017. This policy mandates government departments and agencies to prioritize cloud computing solutions.
“Considering the breadth of government data, proper classification schemes are essential to mitigate risks associated with unauthorized access or disclosure. Cloud services offer flexibility, security, and cost efficiency,” said Dy.
In April, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed the adoption and implementation of the National Cybersecurity Plan (NCSP) to protect Filipinos’ personal data and privacy while fortifying the Philippines against various cyber threats. The DICT also underscored the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures in the face of evolving threats.
Dy said DICT maintains a proactive stance towards cybersecurity with the NCSP 2023-2028 — a comprehensive playbook for cyber resiliency that emphasizes the importance of adopting a risk-based approach to cyber security problems.
Furthermore, enhancing connectivity across the archipelago is a key component in the Philippines’ digital future. Expanding cloud services in the Philippines, Japan-affiliated digital and telecommunications company InfiniVan launched its partnership with Swiss cloud provider CloudSigma. InfiniVan’s efforts are bolstered by the Philippine Domestic Subsea Cable Network (PDSCN), a 2,500-kilometer undersea fiber optic backbone network.
Built in cooperation with Eastern Communications and Globe, the PDSCN enhances connectivity across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, ensuring broader access and reduced costs. This infrastructure not only facilitates better connectivity throughout the country but also encourages healthy competition among service providers.
InfiniVan advisor Alex Aquino stressed the significance of this development: “Having the inhabitants in the more than 7,000 islands of the Philippines talk to each other digitally requires a connectivity infrastructure. Prior to PDSCN, if you’re not in the service area of the incumbent telcos, you can forget about being able to connect to the internet or some other form of digital communication. We decided we wanted to change the status quo.”
In parallel, CTO Cloud showcased its commitment to advancing the Philippine tech landscape. CTO Cloud’s local infrastructure prioritizes compliance with data privacy laws and supports data sovereignty, giving users control and ownership over their data.
“For the second consecutive year we have brought together the brightest IT minds in the nation from both the public and the private sector through the Philippine CTO Summit,” said Nikolay Kossev, COO of CTO Cloud. “The brightest IT minds in the nation who we believe share the same vision, the same agenda as well as the understanding that cyber security, sovereign data, and artificial intelligence, of course, is of a critical need.”