THE three-day Asian Defense and Security (ADAS) exhibition held at the World Trade Center is billed as a venue for the convergence of ideas to modernize armed forces.
On the second day symposium, Michael Bell, director and chief strategy officer, Data Lake Inc., a global top-tier official Starlink reseller offering a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to empower business, talked on the theme: “Enabling Seamless Connection for Sustained Digital Operations.”
Bell started his talk by claiming that the Philippine digital infrastructure is compromised. He said, “One of the big challenges here in the Philippines is a lack of segmentation between information technology or IT and operational technology networks, so Internet of Things (IoT) networks and automation are in your power plants, water treatment systems, and military systems, and they’re sharing the same thing. It’s just a matter of time before the adversaries decide what they’re going to do about it.”
He observed that widespread use of the internet in the country adds another layer of risks. “The Philippines is a very connected society, but with low security awareness. That combination poses a fairly significant problem. And that should be something of interest to the military, your soldiers, sailors, et cetera, who are all using social media. They’re all connected, and they can be hacked.”
AI, quantum computing and ransomware
Bell also expressed concern that AI has become a marketing gimmick as it’s being promoted as an all-around problem solver. He stressed, “Artificial intelligence (AI) is not a solution for everything. AI is not a universal solution.
“We’re an AI company, and it drives me crazy when I hear people say that AI is the answer for everything. It’s not. That’s a marketing statement. AI’s not a replacement for human expertise.”
Then there’s quantum computing, the latest development being that China reportedly made a significant breakthrough in quantum computing. All this time, scientists predicted that quantum computing will be a mature technology by 2030.
Bell said, “Now the quantum tech will create problems earlier than predicted, and the Philippines could be at risk from its ill effects as early as 2027. That’s the day your country should be ready.”
He added, “We don’t have to wait for quantum. There are classic computers that are already starting to exhibit pseudo-quantum-like capability, and you’re going to be at risk. We’re all at risk.”
Bell also took on ransomware described as a plague menacing across the world. He mentions, among others, a rogue state close to Beijing using ransomware to fund its economy. It’s no longer hackers in their garage hacking computers but a nation-state attacking across the board.
Data protection
Recently, the Philippines reportedly signed an agreement with Taiwan for cybersecurity. Bell noted, “You need more of those things. Although if you’re having such agreements happen, your international partners might start to lose confidence. And on top of that, many countries in the European Union (EU) are starting to pass laws on onshore data.
“Now, this is a major concern for the Philippines because 20 percent of the world’s SBO, which is your service business outsourcing, is your market. 25 percent is India. So, as you’re starting to require onshoring of data, personal data, it’s going to start eating away at your economic base. And even more so, what we’re seeing in India and the US, they’re beginning to apply AI, chatbots, and those kinds of things to make them more efficient and compete against you in that operation.”
“So, the Philippines have to make this transition to AI regardless. You’ve got to do it. Otherwise, it’s going to be a problem in the very near future.”
As far as call to action in integrating international defense, Bell’s AI company is very keen on education training. “We’re trying to establish a school in Palau, Micronesia, to teach the locals cybersecurity in partnership with a US school so that the trainees get US certificates. We hope to start a cybersecurity powerhouse in the region. That’s something we’re working on.”
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