The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and cyber-security solutions provider Palo Alto Networks signed on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding to help develop a cyber-secure digital infrastructure ecosystem in the Philippines.
The deal involves the close collaboration between the two groups that vowed to “help augment the digital infrastructure ecosystem, improve digital government services, and establish a robust cyber-security posture for the Philippines.”
USAID’s Better Access and Connectivity (Beacon) Activity Chief of Party John Garrity said the initiative is part of the group’s private sector engagement policy to improve cyber-security capabilities of the Philippines.
“If you think about any of the major information and cyber-security issues and challenges we are facing today, what is required is a multi-stakeholder approach,” he said. “The partnership that we have is a reflection of a multi-stakeholder partnership-based approach to address these challenges.”
Under the partnership, USAID will leverage Palo Alto Network’s Zero Trust solution, which company officials described as “a strategic approach to cyber-security that helps secure an organization by eliminating implicit trust and continuously validating every stage of digital interaction.”
This solution is particularly helpful for organizations—including government institutions—that have adopted a hybrid work setup, as it secures remote access to data, application, and critical infrastructure.
“Governments are modernizing their networks to take advantage of digital innovation and improve the way they communicate with citizens. As they modernize their IT infrastructure, their cyber security must keep pace with these developments. Through this collaboration, we are keen to bring our expertise to help strengthen the defensive posture of the Philippines’s ICT ecosystem and protect the digital way of life for Filipinos,” Palo Alto Networks Philippines Country Manager Oscar Visaya said.
Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center Deputy Executive Director Mary Rose E. Magsaysay noted that the partnership will help the government strengthen its cyber-security systems, especially since the Philippines has been noted to be “vulnerable” against cyber attacks.
“This partnership signifies that there are moves for the government to be able to address this particular issue—that is actually a cry to the public that we have to be very serious in culpability for all our actions and that includes the scarcity in skills sets,” she said.