As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes workplaces and creates new cybersecurity challenges, PLDT Enterprise is expanding its efforts to strengthen digital awareness and resilience across industries through a series of knowledge-sharing initiatives during Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October.
Through engagements with Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines (CCEAP), the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), international academic communities, and government and defense agencies, PLDT Enterprise is bringing cybersecurity discussions beyond IT departments. The initiatives highlight the importance of equipping business leaders, employees, and institutions with the knowledge to recognize digital threats and protect their organizations.
On October 6, PLDT Enterprise supported CCEAP’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month initiative through a Digital and Cyber Resilience briefing at the company’s office in Uptown Eastgate Tower 1. Led by Alexis C. Bernardino, Principal CXO Advisor and Field CISO at PLDT Enterprise, the session covered emerging cyber threats, executive impersonation, AI-powered attacks, and the growing need for digital resilience.
The discussion highlighted how cybercriminals use increasingly sophisticated tactics, including phishing, fraudulent messages, and AI-generated impersonation, to exploit human trust and compromise business operations, sensitive information, and organizational reputation.
“Cybersecurity today goes beyond protecting networks and systems. It is also about protecting people and helping them make informed decisions in an increasingly complex digital environment. As AI makes cyber threats more sophisticated and convincing, building awareness across every level of an organization becomes essential to strengthening resilience,” Bernardino said.
CCEAP Chief Information Officer Winnie T. Rebancos emphasized the importance of making cybersecurity a shared responsibility across the organization.
“As our operations become increasingly connected, we recognize that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility that extends beyond our IT teams. Equipping our people with the knowledge to recognize and respond to emerging digital threats is an important part of protecting our business and the trust placed in us. Through initiatives like this with PLDT Enterprise, we are helping make cybersecurity awareness a practical part of how our people work every day,” Rebancos said.
PLDT Enterprise also brought its cybersecurity advocacy to the education and defense sector through a Cyber Awareness Workshop for the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City on October 21.
The session tackled digital risks affecting military and academic environments, including social engineering, deepfake impersonation, phishing, and threats involving personal accounts and digital devices. Participants also learned practical security measures, such as verifying unusual requests through trusted channels, protecting sensitive credentials, identifying suspicious communications, and promptly reporting potential incidents.
Across these engagements, PLDT Enterprise emphasized that technology alone cannot provide complete protection against evolving cyber threats. Organizations must also develop a culture of awareness where employees and leaders are equipped to identify risks, question suspicious requests, and respond appropriately.
This is particularly important as AI enables cybercriminals to create convincing messages, synthetic voices, and manipulated videos that can make fraudulent communications appear legitimate. By presenting these threats through practical, everyday scenarios, PLDT Enterprise aims to make cybersecurity knowledge more accessible and actionable.
“Building an AI-ready workplace is not simply about adopting new technologies. It is also about ensuring that people understand the risks that come with them and know how to spot, identify, and respond. When cybersecurity awareness becomes part of an organization’s culture, businesses and institutions are better positioned to embrace innovation with greater confidence and responsibility,” Bernardino added.
Extending its knowledge-sharing efforts beyond the Philippines, PLDT Enterprise also conducted an online Cybersecurity Industry Practitioner session in collaboration with the Institute of Data (IoD), a multinational cybersecurity cohort program. The engagement brought together learners from New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore, providing an international platform for cybersecurity discussions and industry knowledge exchange.
Participants represented academic communities from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and the University of Technology Sydney in Australia, alongside learners from Singapore. The initiative highlighted the value of cross-border collaboration in addressing increasingly sophisticated digital threats and promoting stronger cybersecurity practices across different communities.
PLDT Enterprise also extended its Digital and Cyber Resilience Workshops to top defense and law enforcement agencies, including the Department of National Defense (DND), its attached agencies such as the Philippine Army, and the Philippine National Police (PNP). Led by Bernardino, the sessions brought together senior officials and leaders to discuss emerging threats, including deepfake impersonation, social engineering, phishing, and AI-powered fraud.
The discussions explored how cybercriminals can exploit the authority of government officials and the public’s trust in institutions. Participants were encouraged to verify suspicious requests, safeguard sensitive information, and promptly report potential cybersecurity incidents. The workshops also underscored the importance of protecting government operations, citizen data, and public trust in an increasingly digital environment.
These initiatives reflect PLDT Enterprise’s continuing commitment to sharing cybersecurity expertise and helping organizations navigate an increasingly interconnected digital landscape.
By encouraging meaningful discussions, promoting practical security habits, and raising awareness of AI-driven threats, PLDT Enterprise advocates a shift from reactive cybersecurity measures toward proactive and adaptive strategies that place people alongside technology at the center of digital resilience.
As businesses and institutions continue their digital transformation journeys, PLDT Enterprise remains committed to helping them build the awareness, preparedness, and confidence needed to operate in a more secure and AI-ready future.
