Tech experts to convene in virtual meet Cybersecurity confab slated next month

CEBU, Philippines —  Organizers of cybersecurity conference in the Philippines, Decode, are inviting Cebuano IT (Information Technology) professionals to join its virtual conference next month to brace up against heightened cyber threats under the digital-led economy.

Decode, an annual conference organized by Trend Micro Inc., will be held virtually on November 10-12, 2020.

The digital gathering will feature various industry experts from different parts of the globe to speak about the latest developments in the cyber world.

Renowned IT experts will present immense opportunities for IT professionals in the country to network, learn and share knowledge among their peers.

Trend Micro Inc., bared that the three-day conference will have more than 40 virtual breakout sessions and a panel discussion of threat experts, where participants learn about various latest global trends on Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Protection and Privacy, Cybercrime and Incident Response, among others.

The conference, which will be conducted virtually this year due to the COVID-19 crisis, aims to share to local technology professionals up-to-date information about the threat landscape, industry trends, and new technologies in order to empower them to secure the digital infrastructures of their organizations, as well as to inspire them to embark on a continuous learning journey.

Bannering the theme “ELEVATE! Transform Rapidly, Seamlessly, Securely,” the IT experts’ confab calls for transformation in the cyber industry with the rise of new threats concerning organizations.

According to Alma Alvarez, Director of Threat Research Cyber Threat Training and Threat Hunting at Trend Micro, now more than ever is the high time for IT professionals to be equipped not only with the right tools, but with the right skills and knowledge.

In the fight to keep the connected world safe and secure, these cyber defenders must elevate beyond the ordinary and transform rapidly, seamlessly, securely, she said in a virtual press conference held Wednesday, October 27, 2020.

Six international speakers will deliver keynote addresses during this year’s Decode confab.

Martin Rösler, Senior Director of the Trend Micro Forward-Looking Threat Research (FTR) team, will give a talk on “The Game Changer – How the Pandemic is Changing Your World”. In this session, Rösler will look at some of the new cyber risks, threats, and challenges the world is facing today.

A presentation on “Innovation or Disruption” will also be delivered by Myla Pilao who leads the security research communications at Trend Micro. Pilao will examine how countries and organizations are being disrupted by a myriad of digital threats and risks, and why it’s crucial that they re-examine their existing security architecture to make it robust against present cyber threats.

Robert McArdle, the Director for Cybercrime Research of the FTR team, will discuss “Cybercrime in 2020 and Beyond: Not Everything Changes in a Pandemic”. McArdle will delve into how cybercrime, as an industry, has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Melissa Hathaway, president of Hathaway Global LLC and a leading expert in cyberspace policy and cybersecurity who served in two U.S. presidential administrations, will present a discussion dubbed as “Exposed: Attack Surfaces Widen as the World Increasingly Relies on Digital Infrastructures”. In this session, she will share about the increased reliance on digital tools and broader exposure to cyber risks to ramp scam individuals, ransom businesses, disrupt critical infrastructures, and attack governments at all levels.

Philip Casanova, a Partner at SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co.’s Technology Consulting, will also share timeless principles that he learned in his over two-decade journey as a cybersecurity professional in his talk dubbed as “Principles to Live by for Cybersecurity Leaders”. His presentation aims to strengthen the mindset, persona, and posture of current and aspiring cybersecurity leaders in this evolving cyber threat landscape.

Craig Jones, Director of Cybercrime INTERPOL, will talk about INTERPOL’s Global Cybercrime Programme which aims to reduce the global impact of cybercrime and protect communities for a safer world. In the “Cybercrime Through the Lens of Law Enforcement and Private Partners” session, Jones will discuss why it is crucial that law enforcement agencies and private partners collaborate in investigations to thwart cybercriminal operations and reduce the risks it could pose to ordinary users and enterprises.

The virtual conference is open to IT professionals from different industries for free, as well as students who are taking IT related courses.

Aside from its regular sessions, participants will have the chance to interact with the speakers at the networking lounge during breaks.

Trend Micro started this annual cybersecurity conference in 2017 — previously held in Manila — with one common goal which is to spread awareness about the trends in the cyber world. The company has been organizing the conference to augment the cybersecurity skills gap in the Philippines and maintain its expertise in the industry.