The leading information security professional organization in the Philippines, The Information Security Officers Group (ISOG), successfully held on May 19 the first installment of its 2022 virtual cybersecurity forum series. With the theme Traversing Beyond the Realm of Cyberspace, the METAVERSE I AM SECURE forum gathered more than 500 C-level executives, local and international decision-makers, experts, and cyber leaders for an in-depth discussion on ensuring cybersecurity in the Metaverse.

In the first forum, ISOG focused on how information security professionals must gear up for protecting the banking industry in the Metaverse ecosystem. Highly exposed to cyber threats, financial institutions need to ensure that their cybersecurity capabilities are ready to safeguard institutions in the Metaverse.

“It is imperative that we keep ourselves informed with the new developments offered in the Metaverse, allowing us to be familiar not only with the opportunities it offers, but more importantly the challenges that come with it,” said ISOG President and Land Bank of the Philippines Chief Information Technology Security Officer, Archie Tolentino.

Cybersecurity professionals gained insights and motivation from the keynote speech of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin E. Diokno, Ph.D. The forum participants also learned about mixed reality and metaverse apps from the guest speaker, Microsoft Azure IoT Corporate Vice-President Sam George.

They also learned about the challenges, risks, technologies, and opportunities in the Metaverse from the informative presentations of the event sponsors. The roster of thought leaders who spoke during the forum include Trends and Technologies Inc. Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Dennis Sanchez, CyCognito Tech Evangelist and Enable Manager Phillip Wylie, Checkmarx Director of Sales Engineering for Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East, and Africa LyeHee Tan, Efficient IP APAC Channel Account Manager Donald Teo, and F5 ASEAN Regional Distributed Cloud Specialist (through Westcon) Srinivas Rao.

“This event forum is a great avenue for stakeholders to discuss significant and pressing matters around the metaverse in the banking sector. Our strategic response in forming the standardized regulations in the metaverse for the industry helps us understand the perspectives and, consequently, design an effective solution that benefits all stakeholders,” said  ISOG Vice President, and Forum and Awards Chairman, Chito Jacinto.

The forum delegates also participated in an engaging panel discussion entitled Entering the Metaverse Ecosystem, and Addressing Digital Safety in the Metaverse, wherein industry experts answered the delegates’ questions posted on the chat section of the virtual event. The panelists were the event speaker sponsors, Cycognito APAC Director of Sales Engineering Hans Barre, and Red Rock Security Chief Operating Officer Paul Prantilla. The panel discussion was moderated by ISOG Treasurer and CISO of PSBank Dan Duplito and ISOG Asst. Treasurer and CISO of Philippine Veterans Bank Alvin Punsalan.

Hundreds of delegates also won raffle items and received premium giveaways such as the ISOG self-heating hotbox meal & Virtual Reality box.

Organized by XMS, the Metaverse 2022 Forum Series is one of ISOG’s cybersecurity awareness programs in partnership with Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Bankers Association of the Philippines, National Privacy Commission, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology. ISOG’s media partners were Philippine Daily Inquirer, BusinessWorld, DIGI.PH, and Backend News.

The remaining events of the Metaverse forum series will be held virtually on June 23, July 2, and Sept. 1.

Since 2015, ISOG has been organizing programmes and events to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and secure network infrastructure in the Philippines.