PLDT Inc. and Microsoft have announced a strategic partnership to work together through Microsoft’s Cyber Threat Intelligence Program (CTIP). It is a move that aims to strengthen the country’s digital and infrastructure security against cyber threats.
The CTIP is driven by its Digital Crimes Unit (DCU), an international team of technical, legal, and business experts created in 2008 to combat cybercrime on a global scale.
The program was created in 2013 to collect and distribute actionable cyber intelligence. This includes the DCU’s botnet takedown operations to Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and Critical Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs). CTIP data is also engineered into specific Microsoft products and services to help customers identify threats.
“Microsoft’s DCU values our threat intelligence-sharing partnerships, and we look forward to seeing how the Microsoft CTIP intelligence helps PLDT to protect the citizens of the Philippines.”
Mary Jo Schrade, Assistant General Counsel and Regional Lead, Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit Asia
The strategic partnership will allow PLDT to gain access to Microsoft DCU’s Azure-based cyber threat intelligence in real-time. This provides information about the impact in the Philippines from the malware families DCU has disrupted in the past.
The intelligence will provide better insights into criminal cyber infrastructure located within the jurisdiction. PLDT, in turn, will help in the two-way sharing of intelligence to identify compromised infrastructure and alert impacted entities in the country to potential cybercrime threats.
“Security is at an inflection point as cyberattacks become more sophisticated and digital attack surfaces exponentially increase. We believe that anything less than comprehensive security is no security at all.”
Andres Ortola, Microsoft Philippines Country General Manager
The partnership with Microsoft is expected to help fortify PLDT’s existing and robust cybersecurity capabilities in preventing and mitigating cyber threats and attacks.
“Our mature and sophisticated threat intelligence operations is one of the keys and most robust pillars of the PLDT group’s cybersecurity structure. We are glad to partner with Microsoft to help fortify our strong cyber threat intelligence operations and to help us better protect our customers in particular, and the country’s cyber defenses in general”
Angel T. Redoble, FVP, Chief Information Security Officer, and head of PLDT and Smart’s Cyber Security Operations Group
PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. cybersecurity intelligence safeguard their over 70 million mobile and over 3.7 million broadband customers all over the country against cyber threats and vulnerabilities. The companies have invested nearly PHP 3 billion in cybersecurity infrastructure in 2021 alone.
Microsoft analyzes over 6.5 trillion signals to identify emerging threats to protect customers and in response to the increasing cyber threats around the globe. The company will invest USD 20 billion over the next five years to accelerate efforts to integrate cyber security by design and to deliver advanced security solutions.
Ram found his love and appreciation for writing in 2015 having started in the gaming and esports sphere for GG Network. He would then transition to focus more on the world of tech which has also began his journey into learning more about this world. That said though, he still has the mentality of "as long as it works" for his personal gadgets.
