On-site and online participants during the Culminating Activity at the UPOU CCDL in Los Baños, Laguna.
The UP Open University (UPOU) concluded its Cybersecurity Month Celebration with the theme “Fortifying Our Digital Campus.” The event highlighted the university’s commitment to ensuring a safe, resilient, and responsible digital environment for the entire UPOU community.
In her opening remarks, UPOU Chancellor, Dr. Joane Serrano, commended everyone for the successful culmination of the month-long celebration. She noted that the theme serves as a reminder of the shared responsibility of maintaining safety and integrity in the university’s digital ecosystem.
Dr. Raymond Nuñez, CTO of Red Rock IT Security, delivers his keynote address on “Understanding the Digital Campus”
Dr. Raymond Nuñez, Red Rock IT Security Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Keynote Speaker, discussed the opportunities and risks of a digital campus. He cited the advantages of digital transformation in education, such as global collaboration, remote learning, data-driven research, and digitized student services. But alongside these breakthroughs, he sounded the alarm on rising cyberthreats, warning that universities—as homes to high-value data and a vast, open network—are now direct gateways and prime targets for cyberattacks.
Dr. Nuñez identified cybersecurity threats affecting academic institutions and presented strategies for a modern cybersecurity approach including the adoption of the Zero Trust Architecture. This is guided by the principle “Never trust, always verify.” This model ensures that every access request is continuously validated. He concluded with a reminder that leadership and awareness form the “human firewall,” and that the conversation about cybersecurity must reach the level of institutional governance.
Mr. Joshua David Sta. Rita, UPOU IT Security Specialist, discusses the results of the Cybersecurity Drill.
UPOU IT Security Specialist Joshua David Sta. Rita presented the results of the university’s cybersecurity drill, which aimed to assess its current cybersecurity posture and areas for improvement. Five simulation campaigns were conducted, culminating in the announcement of the IsKalert! Winners:
- Ms. Yasele Yambao, Assistant to the Chancellor
- Mr. John Alaine Orbe, from the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies
- Ms. Nhikaela Valencia, from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Winners and participants of the CyberSmart Reel-Making Contest, both onsite and online.
The CyberSmart Reel-Making Contest also highlighted student participation in promoting cybersecurity awareness. Winners were:
- 1st Place: Ambross Carl Magat – “Ang Hinlalaki”
- 2nd Place: Juan Miguel Magtibay Sotto – “Are You Digit-Ally Safe?”
- 3rd Place: Baby Katherine Bito-on – “Ready, Smart, Secure, Be Cybersmart Everyday!”
Dr. Reinald Adrian Pugoy, ICTDO Director, shares the synthesis of the day’s insights.
In his closing remarks, ICTDO Director Dr. Reinald Adrian Pugoy, summarized the day’s discussions and reiterated that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. He shared the plan to hold a cybersecurity drill for students to measure readiness and awareness, and underscored that “cybersecurity is the single most important investment we can make in our students’, faculty’s, and partners’ trust.”
Written by Marinela Hernandez | Edited by Asst. Prof Shaira Tanay and Dr. Reinald Adrian Pugoy | Photos by Anthea Fay Peredo
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