The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is collaborating with a Russian state-owned company in its mission to improve cybersecurity in the country.
According to a recent report, the partnership was made official with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will entail a closer cooperation on cybersecurity concerns.
In the MoU, which entails a period of three years, both parties agreed to cooperate on mutual response to cybersecurity incidents and information-exchange on cybersecurity threats, policies and technologies.
Included in the agreed implementation strategy is a joint research and development on cybersecurity technologies to cyber threats.
This is the first step to a more advanced partnership on cybersecurity. With Russia among the world leaders in terms of addressing cyber threats, the partnership with the state-owned company is a first step toward a possible government to government agreement with Russia on cybersecurity.
For now, the partnership pertains only for the exchange of information and exchange of capabilities. Hopefully, the Philippines will be able to come up with a list of what it needs that Russia has to offer.
This is just timely as the Philippines is among the most vulnerable to cybersecurity threats, with incidences of data breaches recently.
Cybersecurity is everybody’s business. Everybody is concerned on the cybersecurity issues that have been threatening the way of life of the citizens.
ICT cannot move forward if the threat of cybercrimes is not addressed. The partnership may just contribute and pave the way for attracting more investments in the country because investors will be confident that the partnership will keep the cybersecurity threats in check.
Moreover, the Philippines, through the Department, is seeking to sign a number of other MoUs with other countries, similar to the deal signed with Russia.
The report details that this will help the country strengthen its cybersecurity posture, whether it be Russia, the US, Singapore, other ASEAN member-states, or Europe.
They are all welcome to conduct business here. At the end of the day, the country should be moving forward as a nation.
This is why the Department is gathering best practices so that at some point when this strategy will be done, the Philippines will be able to stand on its own two feet.
The DICT Assistant Secretary is flying to the United States to discuss international standards and best practices in line with cybersecurity.
Add to that the plans of the Department to sign a possible MoU with Singapore, Australia and Malaysia as well.
Although no definitive time frame was given for the signing of the MOU with the four other countries, the Department is open to forging partnerships with more countries in the future.