DICT offers cybersecurity services to private sector, businesses

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Wednesday said it is offering its cybersecurity services to the private sector as more businesses have shifted to digital transactions.

In a statement on Wednesday, the DICT said it is recommending its Philippine National Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI) services, particularly the issuance of digital certificates, to ensure the confidentiality and authenticity of transactions and documents online.

The agency said it “adds another layer of protection to digital transactions among its users.”

This was after DICT expressed its support to the initiative of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to assess the exposure to cybersecurity risks of businesses as they shift online in observance of the health and safety measures being enforced to contain the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“The DICT supports the SEC’s initiative in promoting better cybersecurity practices in the private sector. And to do that, your DICT continues to extend its cybersecurity services to everyone,” DICT Secretary Gringo Honasan said.

Aside from this, the DICT is also conducting a “vulnerability assessment and penetration service” for its clients through its Cybersecurity Bureau.

Meanwhile, the DICT is urging the public to report cybersecurity issues to its Cybersecurity Bureau which continues to handle cyberthreat complaints during the quarantine period.

To avail of DICT’s PNPKI and its other services, visit https://dict.gov.ph/pnpki.  (Jim Mendoza)