Microsoft and Frost & Sullivan Study reveals that:
• A large-sized organization in the Philippines can possibly incur an economic loss of US$7.5million, more than 200 times the average economic loss for a mid-sized organization
• Cybersecurity attacks have led to job losses inseven in ten (72%) organizations over the last year
• Cybersecurity concerns delay Digital Transformation plans
• Organizations are increasingly leveraging Artificial Intelligence to enhance their cybersecurity strategy


Sullivan study commissioned by Microsoft revealed that the potentialeconomic loss in the Philippines due to cybersecurity incidents can hit a staggeringUS$3.5 billion. This is 1.1 percent of the Philippines’ total GDP of US$305 billion.



The study, titled “Understanding the Cybersecurity Threat Landscape in Asia Pacific: Securing the Modern Enterprise in a Digital World”, aims to provide business and IT decision makers with insights on the economic cost of cybersecurity breaches in the region and identify the gaps in organizations’ cybersecurity strategies. The study involved a survey of 1,300 business and IT decision makers ranging from mid-sized organizations (250 to 499 employees) to large-sized organizations (>than 500 employees).

The study reveals that more than half of the organizationssurveyed in the Philippines have either experienced a cybersecurity incident (18%) or are not sure if they had one as they have not performed proper forensics or data breach assessment (34%).



“As companies embrace the opportunities presented by cloud and mobile computing to connect with customers and optimize operations, they take on new risks,” said Hans Bayaborda, Managing Director, Microsoft Philippines.“With traditional IT boundaries disappearing the adversariesnow have many new targets to attack. Companies face the risk of significant financial loss, damage to customer satisfaction and market reputation — as has been made all too clear by recent high-profile breaches.”



The True Cost of Cybersecurity Incidents – Economic, Opportunity and Job Losses

The study revealed that:


• A large-sized organization in the Philippines can possibly incur an economic loss of US$7.5 million, more than 200 times higher than the average economic loss for a mid-sized organization(US$35,000); and
• Cybersecurity attacks have resulted in job losses across different functions in seven in ten (72%) organizations that have experienced an incident over the last 12 months.



To calculate the cost of cybercrime, Frost & Sullivan has created an economic loss model based on macro-economic data and insights shared by the survey respondents. This model factors in three kinds of losses which could be incurred due to a cybersecurity breach:


• Direct: Financial losses associated with acybersecurity incident - this includes loss of productivity, fines, remediation cost, etc;
• Indirect: The opportunity cost to the organizationsuch as customer churn due to reputation loss; and
• Induced: The impact of cyber breach to the broader ecosystem and economy, such as the decrease in consumer and enterprise spending.



“Although the direct losses from cybersecurity breaches are most visible, they are but just the tip of the iceberg,” said Edison Yu, Vice President and Asia Pacific Head of Enterprise for Frost & Sullivan. “There are many other hidden losses that we have to consider from both the indirect and induced perspectives, and the economic loss for organizations suffering from cybersecurity attacks can be often underestimated.”



In addition to financial losses, cybersecurity incidents are also undermining the Philippines organizations’ ability to capture future opportunities in today’s digital economy, with more than half (57%) respondents stating that their enterprise has put off digital transformation efforts due to the fear of cyber-risks.



Key Cyberthreats and Gaps in the PhilippinesOrganizations’ Cybersecurity Strategies

Although high-profile cyberattacks, such as ransomware, have been garnering a lot of attention from enterprises, the study found that for organizations in the Philippines that have encountered cybersecurity incidents, data exfiltrationand data corruption are the biggest concern as they have the highest impact with the slowest recovery time.



Besides external threats, the research also revealed key gaps in organizations’ cybersecurity approach to protect their digital estate:


• Security an afterthought: Only 44% oforganizations consider cybersecurity before the start of a digital transformation project. Majority of respondents (56%) either think about cybersecurity only after they start on the project or do not consider it at all. This limits their ability to conceptualize and deliver a “secure-by-design” project, potentially leading to insecure products going out into the market;


• Creating a Complex Environment: Negating the popular belief that deploying a large portfolio of cybersecurity solutions will render stronger protection, the survey revealed that 17% of respondents with more than 50 cybersecurity solutions could recover from cyberattacks within an hour. In contrast, more than twice as manyrespondents (38%) with fewer than 10 cybersecurity solutions responded that they can recover from cyberattacks within an hour; and


• Lacking cybersecurity strategy: While more and more organizations are considering digital transformation to gain competitive advantage, the study has shown that 46% of respondents see cybersecurity strategy only as a means to safeguard the organization against cyberattacks rather than a strategic business enabler. A mere 25% of organizations see cybersecurity strategy as a digital transformation enabler.



“The ever-changing threat environment is challenging, but there are ways to be more effective using the right blend of modern technology, strategy, and expertise,” added Hans. “Microsoft is empowering businesses in the Philippines to take advantage of digital transformation by enabling them to embrace the technology that’s available to them, securelythrough its secure platform of products and services, combined with unique intelligence and broad industry partnerships.”



Artifical Intelligence (AI) is the Next Frontier in Cybersecurity Defense

In a digital world where cyberthreats are constantly evolving and attack surface is rapidly expanding, AI is becoming a potent opponent against cyberattacks as it can detect and act on threat vectors based on data insights. The study reveals that more than almost four in five (79%)organizations in the Philippines have either adopted or are looking to adopt an AI approach towards boosting cybersecurity.



AI’s ability to rapidly analyze and respond to unprecedented quantities of data is becoming indispensable in a world where cyberattacks’ frequency, scale and sophistication continue to increase.



An AI-driven cybersecurity architecture will be more intelligent and be equipped with predictive abilities to allow organizations to fix or strengthen their security posture before problems emerge. It will also grant companies with the capabilities to accomplish tasks, such as identifying cyberattacks, removal of persistent threats and fixing bugs, faster than any human could, making it an increasingly vital element of any organizations’ cybersecurity strategy.



Recommendations for securing the modern enterprise in a digital world

AI is but one of the many aspects that organizations need to incorporate or adhere to in order to maintain a robust cybersecurity posture. For a cybersecurity practice to be successful, organizations need to consider People, Process and Technology, and how each of these contributes to the overall security posture of the organization.



To help organizations better withstand and respond to cyberattacks and malware infections, here are five best practices that they can consider in improving their defense against cybersecurity threats:


• Position cybersecurity as a digital transformation enabler: Disconnect between cybersecurity practices and digital transformation effort creates a lot of frustration for the employees. Cybersecurity is a requirement for digital transformation to guide and keep the company safe through its journey. Conversely, digital transformation presents an opportunity for cybersecurity practices to abandon aging practices to embrace new methods of addressing today’s risks;


• Continue to invest in strengthening your security fundamentals: Over 90% of cyber incidents can be averted by maintaining the most basic best practices. Maintaining strong passwords, conditional use of multi-factor authentication against suspicious authentications, keeping device operating systems, software and anti-malware protection up-to-date and genuine can rapidly raise the bar against cyberattacks. This should include not just tool-sets but also training and policies to support a stronger fundamental;


• Maximize skills and tools by leveraging integrated best-of-suite tools. The best tools are useless in the hands of the amateur. Reduce the number of tools and the complexity of your security operations to allow your operators to hone their proficiency with the available tools. Prioritizing best-of-suite tools is a great way to maximize your risk coverage without the risk of introducing too many tools and complexity to the environment. This is especially true if tools within the suite are well-integrated to take advantage of their counterparts;


• Assessment, review and continuous compliance: The organization should be in a continuous state of compliance. Assessments and reviews should be conducted regularly to test for potential gaps that may occur as the organization is rapidly transforming and address these gaps. The board should keep tab on not just compliance to industry regulations but also how the organization is progressing against security best practices; and


• Leverage AI and automation to increase capabilities and capacity: With security capabilities in short supply, organizations need to look to automation and AI to improve the capabilities and capacity of their security operations. Current advancements in AI has shown a lot of promise, not just in raising detections that would otherwise be missed but also in reasoning over how the various data signals should be interpreted with recommended actions. Such systems have seen great success in cloud implementations where huge volumes of data can be processed rapidly. Ultimately, leveraging automation and AI can free up cybersecurity talents to focus on higher-level activities.



For more information on the study, please visit:

https://news.microsoft.com/apac/features/cybersecurity-in-asia/ ‎



To better understand the cyberthreats happening globally and in Asia Pacific, please download the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report Volume 23 here: https://info.microsoft.com/ww-landing-Security-Intelligence-Report-Vol-23-Landing-Page-eBook.html



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About the “Understanding the Cybersecurity Threat Landscape in Asia Pacific: Securing the Modern Enterprise in a Digital World” Study

This study involved a survey conducted with 1,300 respondents from 13 markets - Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.



All respondents are business and IT decision-makers involved in shaping their organizations’ cybersecurity strategies. 44% of them being business decision-makers, including CEOs, COOs and Directors, while 56% are IT decision-makers, including CIOs, CISO and IT Directors. 29% of participants are from mid-sized organizations (250 to 499 staff); and 71% are from large-sized organizations (more than 500 staff)

Las Piñas City – In today’s digital revolution, Artificial Intelligence (AI) opened opportunities for companies and states to develop machines that highly integrated a human’s imagination and problem-solving skills. Efficient logistics for production, cure for challenging diseases and self-driving vehicles are some of the visions that turned into reality through AI. This technological advancement is rapidly shaping the future and the way people live. Recognizing the shift, Southville International School and Colleges (SISC) has widened the scope of their Information Technology (IT) course through the launch of its AI and Mobile applications courses strengthened by their partnership with one of the world’s top ICT companies, Acer.

Students of Bachelor of Science in Information Technology can now opt to major in AI or mobile applications. The field of mobile applications for undergraduates can hone their skills in designing and hosting applications for gaming, entertainment and productivity.  On the other hand, students majoring in AI will tackle real-world projects that can provide solutions to today’s challenges. From handwriting/speech recognition to stock trading with neural networks, AI students will learn the skills that will be beneficial to organizations and to society.

“Southville IT degree holders will be equipped with the knowledge and confidence that will help them transform an organization into a more innovative, efficient and sustainable one,” said Dr. Aris Ignacio, Dean of the College of Information Technology.

Aside from adding tracks to its IT course, SISC has also intensified its faculty. Providing the students with quality AI skills and training is Professor Rex Wallen Tan, the sole holder of an AI masters degree in the Philippines.  Professor Tan finished his Master in Artificial Intelligence as Summa Cum Laude in Imperial College of London, one of the top universities in the world.

As a result of its strengthed partnership with Acer Philippines, SISC also has access to trainings for its educators to be up to date with the current industry trends. “As a global ICT company, we believe in paving the way for students to discover a future in the world of IT. Creating Acer Academy is our way of providing our products and services to schools and universities where they can utilize our expertise and resources in preparing future professionals in their careers,” shared Carren Garcia, Acer Philippines Senior Manager for Commercial Sales.
As a school that is strongly committed in preparing learners to be leaders and movers in the digital society, Southville also pioneered a technology-driven curriculum where students are taught with e-learning methodologies through an interactive software. SISC’s tie-up and accreditation with Microsoft Imagine Academy allows students and teachers to access course materials and obtain certifications online. Coupled with the software is Southville’s newly upgraded computer laboratory, powered by Acer desktops with high-end specifications. These devices allow students to process heavy data and applications to produce real-life end products.

To know more about the courses and programs offered by Southville International School and Colleges, visit its website at www.southville.edu.ph and/or call telephone numbers (02) 820-8702 or (02) 825-6374.

Southville’s Faculty of Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT).
[L-R]: Lisandro Adamos and Floramae Aguilos, BSIT Faculty; Dr. Aris Ignacio, Dean of the College of Information Technology; Claudine Lumactud and Fulgencio Ducut, BSIT Faculty.


Southville’s newly upgraded computer laboratory, powered by Acer desktops with high-end specifications.

At the ceremonial toast of SM’s 60th Anniversary launch. From left SM Chairman for Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, SM Retail Vice Chair Herbert Sy, SM Investments Vice Chair Tessie Sy Coson, and SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. President Elizabeth Sy.

SM Supermalls scored two awards in The International Visual Merchandising (VM) Awards by Retail Design Expo for SM Aura Premier’s A Christmas Under the Sea, winning in two categories – ‘Most Outstanding Feature or Prop’ and ‘Shopping Centres, Town Centres, and Airports’ – at the awarding ceremonies last May 3, in Olympia, London.

SM is the sole shopping mall brand to receive a VM Award, while completing the shortlist for the ‘Shopping Centres, Town Centres, and Airports’ category were SM South Luzon’s Dinos in the Mall and The Podium's Wintery Christmas.

“These global accomplishments continue to drive our passion for innovation as we develop exciting and meaningful visual display exhibits and executions to elevate customer experiences in SM malls,” said Jonjon San Agustin, SM Supermalls senior vice president for marketing.

Retail Design Expo’s International VM Awards recognize the most outstanding visual merchandising executions and examples of point-of-purchase, window dressing, and displays across all seasons and sectors. On its second year, the Awards garnered over 140 entries worldwide.

In 2017, SM Supermalls won in the VM Christmas Awards for the 2016 SM Malls of Asia Christmas Wonderland mall display, under the ‘Shopping Centres, Town Centres and Airports’ category. SM is the only Philippine shopping mall brand to receive a VM Christmas Award, and was the only Philippine brand shortlisted in the categories, along with Selfridges, QIC Grand Central and Victoria Garden.



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For exclusive news about SM Supermalls, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow SM’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and get an insider access to all the fun happenings at SM Supermalls nationwide through SM’s Viber Public Chat. Tweet your thoughts, upload and share your photos about your fun memorable moments at SM, then use its official hashtag #EverythingsHereAtSM.

Calling red as a head-turner is an understatement. No color has the same impact as red. Red represents a myriad of emotions and occasions from both ends of the spectrum. But global smartphone brand Vivo owns the color byhighlighting its elegance that transcends trends.

Vivo has released its flagship smartphone, the V9, in Velvet Red.



The Vivo V9 in Velvet Red has the same power as its previously released Pearl Black and Gold colors. It has a 24-megapixel AI selfie camera, 16MP+5MP dual rear camera, and a 6.3-inch FullView™ Display with a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio—only in a more eye-catching finish.

With its standout color, the Vivo V9 in Velvet Red is as good as any glitzy fashion accessory. Pair it up with a monochromatic outfit, the smartphone can add a pop of color to your look. It will also go best with your outfits in green, blue, yellow, orange,and earthy hues. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, you can wear any color you wish with your Velvet Red in hand.

Vivo Philippines Vice President for Sales Hazel Bascon explained that the Velvet Red represents the youthful vibe of the global smartphone brand.



“Red is for the bold, for the adventurous, for the youthful, for the fashion-forward, for the energetic. Our ardent users are mostly young, hip, and spirited and the Vivo V9 in Velvet Red is a fitting nod to them,” she said.

The Vivo V9 Velvet Red is also retailed at Php17,990 at authorized shops nationwide.

After watching a great movie last week, a couple of friends and I tried this Tex-Mex resto in Resorts World. Tex-Mex is a fusion of Mexican and American cuisines, deriving from the culinary creations of Tejanos or more popularly known as the Spanish settlers in Texas. Best nachos in town they say. The name packs a lot of heat.. Fiery style Southwestern Flaming Grill. Apparently, it's their fourth branch, the first one is located at the Mall of Asia.


PLACE

I must say the ambiance sets the right mood for conversations over a hearty meal. Rustic theme can be observed throughout the place from its chairs, tables, ceiling, and down to its floor accompanied by dimmed lights that makes it relaxing. On one side is a brick wall and Western style wheel chandeliers which hang from above giving you a feel of the old west.



The scent of food from other diners got my attention, teased my olfactory senses and my grumbling tummy. Their staff were attentive and immediately showed us to our tables with a smile on their faces. They were dressed in character donning hats and Mexican attire. Too bad, the band was not playing the time we arrived since they play on schedule and particularly at dinner time. I heard Ben & Ben was set to perform that week along with other popular acts.
FOOD


I preferred to start off with their Flaming Taco Good salad presented in a crispy Tortilla basket mixed with Onions, Cucumber, Peppers, and on top are Corn, Avocado and Tomato.and since I couldn't wait any longer, I decided to take on the most talked about item on their menu.


I'm not a fan of nachos but the Fiery's Nachos might just change my mind. The way the food was presented builds excitement as it is concealed with a hollow cylindrical metal cover. Talk about presentations! As the cover is raised up, a tower of nachos smothered with cheese sauce on top and generously dressed with guacamole, mayonnaise, Jalapenos (my favorite!), sour cream, and tomato salsa IN EACH LAYER and all that ingredients that makes you salivate, was revealed in front of us hungry visitors. Sure enough their nachos was a hit thanks to the crispy shells and fresh ingredients not to forget the big servings. The best part is, you decide on the choices of fillings.



We ordered their the Rump steak too named as Steak Ala Familia. Forget everything on their menu but this. It's one kilo of steak partnered with their signature gravy. It was a unanimous positive reaction. A single bite is all it takes for you to savour and appreciate this meat. Don't forget about the gravy coz the smoky flavor takes it up one notch higher. It's like a party in your mouth!






Lord of the Wings deserves its name as these twenty-four pieces of chicken wings seems as if to be served to royalty. They were delightful to look at as they're served in skewers hanging side by side from a metal rack and in different varieties: Texan-style barbecue, spicy, Bacon, and Nacho cheese. Barbecue flavor got my vote.


Fiery's Cheesy Quesadillas were great even without the four dips available. It was oozing with cheese. I thought the fillings would ruin the Fiery's Cheesy Quesadillas but they complemented the taste. Choices varies from lettuce, Guacamole, Sour cream and Salsa.


Fiery style also has Terrific Tacos which was a great appetizer. Only the crispiest tacos and freshest ingredients will do for me since I easily get disappointed if I'm not satisfied with the shell alone. It was as Mexican as it gets. Simply put, it has authentic taste. Tacos come in wheat or corn tortilla. Shredded Lettuce, Refried Beans, Mexican cheese, Salsa and Sour Cream are inside this Mexican dish.


I don't think I've ever tried Burrito and I have no idea how it should taste so I can't compare it with anything yet. So far, it wasn't my cup of tea which was contrary to my friends' opinions. Their Nachos and Steak are still at the top of my list. In it were rice, sweetcorn, beans, and peppers. Louisiana style sauce, cheese and Sour Cream should spice up the flavor. It is in itself a complete meal.




Fiery's version of Crispy Pata topped with Chicken Skin appealed to me as food that's only for the brave. The towering sight was to behold. Just looking at it seems to raise my blood pressure. I got two words for it..Sinfully. Delicious. Meanwhile, Chicken bombers are the bomb! My companions couldn't take the chili while I enjoyed it.




I saved the best for last, which is my mantra when it comes to food. Galleon Grill carried a smorgasbord of choices: BBQ Ribs, Pork Hammers, Beef Ribs, and Chicken Wings. To complete the setup, coleslaw, Fiery rice, and Texan-style BBQ sauce are all for the taking. Meat is served medium rare to preserve the juice and bring out the goodness. Cooked at the right temperature to maintain its texture and consistency, and the strong aroma would hit your nostrils to provide a preview of the awesomeness that's about to hit your taste buds.



A sweet ending it is as I devoured the Chili Chocolate Fudge which literally has Chili pepper on top. Up to this day I still wonder how that red hot piece of capsicum adds up to the whole package. I am not one who backs out when it comes to food but this time I chose not to eat it. I did not want to spoil the terrific combination of fudge and chocolate. If memory serves me right, none of us actually dared to try but I hope to get back for it.





Sadly, I can only look at the cocktails. I simply am not for alcohol. Tempting as it was, I let others sip away and enjoy its gloriousness.


PRICE


Looking at their menu will tell you that their food is relatively cheap. They focus on quality which means you spend money wisely. For instance, the Rump steak is one kilo of meat. A single order is not just for a single person, although since this one is my personal choice as well as everybody else then it means a steak connoisseur will clean the plate with a swift single sweep and will ask for more. Nachos with the same amount of serving is at least Php 500 from other restos but theirs is more affordably priced.



They have just recently opened and the place had many guests that time and since word of mouth is the most effective way of advertising then it wouldn't take long before they will have more loyal patrons like me, after all it isn't the only branch in the metro and customers will be thrilled to know they're in Resort's World too. Their food were presented creatively and enticingly and that's a plus. As they say, the eyes eat before the mouth. I'll definitely go back for their Chili Chocolate Fudge and Steak.




After having a good time in Resorts World and if you're up for a Tex-Mex cuisine, Fiery Style is a recommended option for dining any time of day or night. They're open daily, located at the 2nd floor El Calle Newport mall, Resorts World in Pasay City.