Whole-of-world approach vital to combat cyber threats

Cyber crimes continue to pose a big problem around the world.

As technology becomes more sophisticated, so is cyber threat.

In fact, multinational cybersecurity and anti-virus provider Kaspersky projects that sophisticated cyber threats will rise in 2024.

This is another problem the Philippines has to face and, therefore, it has to act quickly to address it.

With this grim projection, it is reassuring to learn that President Marcos is ordering the establishment of a cyber and emerging threats office under the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) to adapt to evolving threats in cyberspace.

“There is a need to reorganize the NICA to adapt to the evolving threats to national security and ensure a more vigorous intelligence collection, intensify internal and external coordination with foreign and domestic counterparts, and prepare intelligence and security assessments and estimates using data analytics to ensure national security and promote national interest,” President Marcos said in an executive order signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Jan. 19.

The new agency — Office of the Deputy Director General (ODDG) for Cyber and Emerging Threats — is tasked to provide direction to overall planning, supervision and coordination of the NICA on counter-intelligence and counter-measures against cybersecurity threats, weapons of mass destruction, and other emerging threats.

We welcome the President’s move considering that the Philippines is tagged “patient zero” in cyber attacks. The government has to double its efforts to protect state functionaries and its citizens from cyber attacks.

But one nation cannot do it alone. We are fighting an unseen enemy in cyberspace, thus we need a whole-of-world approach to address it.
This is why Canada’s commitment to work with the Philippines in addressing cyber threats and creating a resilient and adaptable digital workforce for the future is a welcome development.

“Now, more than ever, with the growing threat from the proliferation of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, like-minded countries must work together to build a resilient and adaptable cyber workforce for the future; indeed, one trained and ready for whatever the future may hold,” Canada Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman said in a recent cybersecurity conference.

We express hope that all nations band together and stand up against all threats, including those coming from cyberspace.