Ellen Solosod, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at PLDT and Smart, (middle, seated) with the interns from Asia Pacific College

PLDT and Smart engage the next generation of cybersecurity professionals in the fight against cyber threats and cybercrime. PLDT and Smart’s Cybersecurity Operations Group (CSOG) trained graduating Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Information Technology students from Asia Pacific College (APC) on cybersecurity under a six-month internship program called the Cyber Warrior Course (CWC).

“Cybersecurity is an advocacy. You need discipline to survive the industry. I’ve had 27 years of experience but I am still learning. You have to constantly push yourself to be better because the enemy is getting more sophisticated,” encouraged Angel Redoble, FVP and Chief Information Security Officer at PLDT and Smart.

Daniel Eler (middle) is the top intern from Asia Pacific College

“Our students spend two terms on internship. It has been a working success for us and our partner-institutions. Internship lets students experience the workplace and the importance of why they are choosing this particular career,” said Rhea-Luz Valbuena, Executive Director of APC School of Computing and Information Technology.

Out of the 40 students who passed the interviews conducted by CSOG, 19 of them chose the CWC and were onboarded into the program. Guided by CSOG trainers and subject matter experts, the interns, also called cadets, were immersed into the group’s daily operations – analyzing real-world situations and using scientific and empirical approaches to solve cybersecurity challenges.

Melo John Lorenzo (middle) ranked 2nd among Asia Pacific College interns

“Every minute counts. You should be quick in addressing issues. We’re glad that our mentors from PLDT and Smart helped us with our tasks,” said Information Technology major Melo John Lorenzo, the Top 2 cadet of his batch.

The interns were assigned to the different CSOG subgroups called ‘pillars’ to learn their specific functions and how they contribute to the PLDT Group’s overall efforts in defending the companies’ data, networks, systems and infrastructure and protecting customers against cyber attacks.

Students from Asia Pacific College complete their internship with PLDT and Smart's Cybersecurity Operations Group

“The world has seen a dramatic increase in cybercriminal activities. Together, let us push back against these nefarious actors who undermine people, organizations, even nations, and help ensure a safer internet for all,” said Francisco Ashley Acedillo, AVP and Head of Cyber Security Strategy and Innovation at Smart.

Developing cybersecurity warriors is part of PLDT and Smart CSOG’s active drive to fortify and ensure the resiliency and sustainability of their cybersecurity systems, which is fundamental to the PLDT group’s much broader program to elevate the quality of customer experience by protecting them from cyberthreats.

Rhea-Luz Valbuena, Executive Director of APC School of Computing and Information Technology (third from left, front row), Angel Redoble, PLDT and Smart Chief Information Security Officer (fourth from left, front row), Cathy Yap-Yang, FVP and Group Head of Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart (fifth from left, front row), and Francisco Ashley Acedillo, AVP and Head of Cyber Security Strategy and Innovation at Smart (extreme right, second row) with interns from Asia Pacific College