THE Philippines requires more cybersecurity personnel, a challenge compounded by the growing sophistication of global cyberattacks. The need for trained experts has left corporations and government institutions vulnerable to these risks.
According to Resecurity, cyberattacks in the Philippines increased by 325 percent from late 2023 to early 2024. Rising geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea mostly cause this surge. A considerable part of hostile behavior is attributed to hacktivist organizations and misinformation operations destabilizing political institutions. The supply of experienced cybersecurity professionals has yet to match the expanding demand. This skills shortage is exacerbated by the “brain drain,” where skilled Filipino cybersecurity professionals often seek employment in countries offering higher pay. Local firms are fighting an uphill battle against increasingly sophisticated cyberthreats, with a shrinking pool of local skills to defend their valued assets.
Value of cybersecurity certification
AKO Labs actively addresses the cybersecurity skills gap by offering a 10-week cybersecurity certification program. This program is critical to preparing the Philippines’ next generation of cybersecurity professionals. As a cybersecurity education technology company, AKO Labs builds a university training curriculum.
Ronald Lee, chief executive of AKO Labs, added: “We design and develop certification curriculum for universities in cybersecurity, data protection and privacy (DPO), and Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Test (VAPT). Currently, we have agreements with two Malaysian universities to run their DPO (Data protection officer) certification course and one university, Raffles University, for their cybersecurity course.”
Graduates will understand how to secure systems, safeguard sensitive data, and respond to cyberattacks. AKO Labs established this curriculum to provide learners with the skills needed to address the region’s cybersecurity concerns.
Role of cybersecurity education
In an age of constant cyberthreats, this rigorous 10-week cybersecurity program provides individuals and businesses with the knowledge and abilities to manage the complicated digital landscape. The program offers a complete business overview, covering everything from cybersecurity foundations to advanced topics such as cloud security and encryption.
Beyond firewalls and antivirus, cybersecurity is about building a solid foundation. This program lays a strong foundation by starting with the basics of cyberthreats and safe computing practices. It then looks into essential subjects such as governance, compliance, and the ethical and legal frameworks around cybersecurity.
The curriculum highlights that today’s cybersecurity personnel must be aware of their employment’s legal and ethical implications. That is why a course component covers major cybersecurity laws and regulations, such as data protection requirements, compliance standards, and moral concerns that influence cybersecurity operations. Participants will gain the knowledge and skills to navigate these complex issues while maintaining their companies’ integrity and security.
The training program covers key areas such as network security, ethical hacking, threat detection, social engineering, and incident response. Participants will acquire firsthand incident response experience, including detecting, assessing and addressing security breaches. It also covers cloud security and encryption, giving participants the tools to secure data and manage risks in cloud environments.
Graduates will be prepared to pursue popular certifications such as the Certificate in Cybersecurity (CC), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and CompTIA Security+. Avoiding new threats and developing an organization’s strong security culture are emphasized during the training.
Participants gain knowledge of business continuity and disaster recovery planning, guaranteeing their firms can withstand interruptions and emerge stronger. Individuals and businesses can confront cybersecurity concerns and plan for a secure digital future in advance.
As the digital landscape evolves, a proactive cybersecurity approach becomes increasingly important. Philippine universities can offer a similar curriculum designed exclusively for Filipinos. For Philippine firms, investing in cybersecurity education is vital to improving defenses, ensuring the future, and maintaining digital sovereignty.
Raffles University (https://raffles-university.edu.my/) will offer the course from Oct. 5 to Dec. 21, 2024. It comprises 50 hours of self-paced learning and evaluation and 40 hours of instructor-led virtual training. This training program is appropriate for IT professionals, career changers, and students interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity — there are no prerequisites.
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