SEEKING TO advance cybersecurity initiatives in the University, the Ateneo’s Digital Information and Technology Services (DITS) celebrated its first-ever Cybersecurity Month last October, culminating in a two-day conference and technology fair last November 5 and 6 in the New Rizal Library.
Expounding on the month-long awareness initiative, DITS Vice President and Chief Information Officer Janice Bello, MSc shared that this year’s theme, “Cybersecurity: Our Shared Responsibility,” aims to spotlight the cyber threats confronting the University community and outline effective strategies to address them.
Bello asserted that cybersecurity is the responsibility of the entire community, likening the Ateneo’s cyberspace to a “kingdom” where every citizen should be aware of how to defend themselves when attacked. She warned that if these individuals are uninformed about cybersecurity practices, it could only take one compromised device for hackers to gain access to Ateneo’s entire digital ecosystem.
Addressing ever-evolving threats
With the rise of cyber threats, Bello revealed that DITS aimed to organize the month-long event to formally introduce their cybersecurity initiatives to the University, in hopes of better equipping the community to navigate potential risks. Early in the year, she and her team began conceptualizing the initiative after assessing the knowledge gaps regarding the issue.
According to Bello, this initiative was especially crucial for DITS, as universities have become prime targets for cyberattacks due to their expansive networks and vast amounts of sensitive data. Despite the protective measures in place for University data, she emphasized that the Ateneo community must also be aware of safe cyber practices as part of their shared responsibility in cybersecurity.
To inform them of this responsibility, the DITS have started sharing essential cybersecurity knowledge to the Ateneo community through emails since October. Weekly video tips provided insights into secure online practices like password management, while end-of-week quizzes covering various cybersecurity themes were conducted with offered prizes for participants.
Ending the month-long initiative, a two-day forum and technology fair was held from November 5 to 6. The conference featured IT experts and industry leaders, who covered topics on secured app usage, institutional responsibility, and cultural discussions about cybersecurity.
Among the event speakers were Ateneo Laboratory for the Learning Sciences Head Maria Mercedes T. Rodrigo, PhD, University Data Protection Office Director Atty. Jamael Jacob, as well as Angel Averia Jr., President of the Philippine Computer Emergency Response Team.
The event also featured exhibitions from corporations such as ZOOM, Microsoft, and PLDT, along with an escape room that challenged attendees’ cybersecurity skills. In addition to these, attendees engaged with peers and experts through interactive quizzes and raffles held on both days of the event.
Continually securing cyberspaces
With the culmination of the first Cybersecurity Month, Bello said that the initiative will become a mainstay event in the University as a way to continuously address the rapid evolution of technology and emphasize its risks and roles in the Ateneo community’s life.
“This would actually be the first of an annual event and ‘yung mga nakukuha niyong links sa email (the links you’re getting from your email), it’ll be monthly until the next cybersecurity month,” she expounded.
Moving forward, Bello mentioned that the theme behind cybersecurity will change every year, with monthly emails updating the community of the latest tips in the technology field. In doing all of this, she expressed her hope to close the knowledge and technology curve for a more secure cyberspace.
