Recently, the state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has fallen victim to cyberattack, leading to a temporary downtime of its system. Although no personal or medical information of members have been compromised, the potential damage could have been much worse had it not been for the diligent mitigation and containment measures implemented by the organization, with the aid of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), National Privacy Commission, Cybercrime Units of the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine National Police.
According to Cisco, one of the global leaders in IT and networking, a cyberattack is a malicious and deliberate attempt by an individual or organization to breach the information system of another individual or organization. It could be in a form of malwares, phishing, and other attacks that disrupt the victim’s network.
In today’s digital world, cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and frequent. A cyberattack can be financially devastating to an individual or business due to the cost of repairing the damage and recovering the lost data. In addition, cyberattacks can also damage a company's reputation and erode customer trust.
In the relentless battle against cyberattacks, nations and organizations worldwide are making substantial investments in network and information security. They are also enlisting the expertise of skilled cybersecurity professionals to safeguard critical assets, including customer information, financial data, and intellectual property.
However, in comparison to other countries, the Philippines lags behind in terms of the presence of cybersecurity professionals. According to an interview with DICT Cybersecurity Policy Lead Gen Macalinao, the Philippines has a significantly lower number of information security experts compared to its counterparts within the ASEAN region.
In response to the growing demand of producing cybersecurity experts in the Philippines, AMA has taken a giant leap by offering a new Cybersecurity specialization track that prepares students by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience needed to address the complex challenges of securing digital environments. The program covers a wide range of topics including a wide range of topics including network security, information security, cryptography, risk management, and incident response.
To learn more about AMA’s program offerings, visit www.amaes.edu.ph/programs-offered/
