This year’s National Cyber Drill, anchored on the theme, “Cybersecurity Starts with You: Building a CyberSecure Society,” has brought together over a total of 2,255 participants from various walks of life, including employees and individuals from the private and government sectors and the academe.
The participation rate in the two-day event held last November 24-25 has significantly increased compared to the previous year’s drill exercise. For day 1, a total of 1,752 individuals have registered to participate, while participants for day 2 reached 503.
National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-PH), the agency that headed the exercise, attributed the increase in participation to making National Cyber Drill 2021 (NCD 2021) open to the general public.
CERT-PH recognized that the issue of protecting sensitive data is challenging not only for certain agencies but also for each independent individual, especially if there is a limitation in cybersecurity knowledge. Through NCD 2021, CERT-PH aimed to achieve a more informed general public so everyone can contribute to the country’s fight against threats in the digital space.
“This is the first-ever National Cyber Drill that was opened to the general public. I believe that it is a good move to increase public involvement on this matter which is one of the most important challenges the government faces today.”
CERT-PH Director III, Arnold P. De Castro
NCD 2021 aimed to strengthen the country’s cybersecurity landscape by enhancing public awareness and assessing the public’s perspective on Cybersecurity and their capacity to protect themselves from cyber threats and cyber attacks.
The two-day exercise included a series of activities that have helped assess and improve the participant’s knowledge and capacity for swift response and recovery.
“For those who joined us for the first time, we hope that this activity has met your expectations and provided you with a handful of knowledge and experience you may use in your personal and professional life.”
said Director de Castro.
Meanwhile, Cybersecurity Bureau Director Jose Carlos P. Reyes reminded the participants to continue being vigilant and observe safety protocol not only against the prevailing threat of the coronavirus disease but also against online threats.
“The risks of cyber threats and cyber-attacks are as critical as the coronavirus disease. Therefore, I would like all of you to practice the same level of precautions and measures to defend yourselves against them.”
Cybersecurity Bureau Director IV, Jose Carlos P. Reyes
Let’s make sure that we are not only safe from the coronavirus but also the viruses present in cyberspace,”
Director Reyes added.
CERT-PH vowed to continue to exert the maximum efforts in upscaling public awareness on Cybersecurity, particularly in managing electronic threats, so more people will gain knowledge that will enable them to protect their cyberspaces and the government infostructures.
_
National Cyber Drill 2021 Testimonials
__________________________________________________________________________
Day 1 participant Rhyca Mae C. San Juan, an instructor from the Marikina Polytechnic College, said the event would help her as a part of the academic sector.
“Thank you so much for this kind of webinar. I learned a lot. I can use these learnings as an instructor in online classes,”
Ms. San Juan stressed
Charmie Ghay D. Barreras, a Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) participant who joined Day 2 of the NCD 2021, shared her takeaway from the event.
“Engaging in training such as this kind of event will improve the capabilities of one’s beholder. This kind of event is a great experience for everyone, even those who are aspiring white hackers like me,”
said Ms. Barreras