Microsoft, PNP to strengthen Philippine cybersecurity

Microsoft Philippines is partnering with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) to help the government address cybercrime.

Microsoft will provide readiness programs, knowledge, tools and the necessary technologies to assist in combating cybercrimes.

It will work closely with the PNP-ACG in identifying current requirements, challenges, skills and equipment. Microsoft will also assist the PNP-ACG in developing a readiness program for specific units of the PNP cybercrime group.

In 2013, the PNP activated the PNP-ACG in line with the mandate of Chapter IV, Enforcement and Implementation, Section 10 of the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

The PNP-ACG has the primary responsibility of implementing cybercrime laws and anticybercrime campaigns of the PNP and the national government.

The PNP-ACG focuses on cybercrime-, computer- and other content-related offenses such as cybersex, child pornography and unsolicited commercial communication, among other things.

From 2003 to 2012, the PNP-ACG reported a total of 2,778 cybercrime-related offenses.

Believing in the role of technology, the PNP-ACG hopes partnering with Microsoft will strengthen its anticybercrime efforts.

Raul Cortez, director for corporate and legal affairs of Microsoft Philippines, said the alliance with the PNP-ACG exemplified the company’s commitment to provide public and private sectors the skills to address the increasing complexities of cybercrime.

Microsoft, he said, was committed to providing a safe, secure and trustworthy technological environment.

Police Senior Supt. Gilbert Sosa, director of PNP-ACG, said the government alone could not combat cybercrimes. It needed to work with the software industry, user community and other agencies.

With Microsoft as a strategic partner, he said they were better geared to address emerging security and privacy issues.

Microsoft puts security at the core of its innovations. Through cutting-edge security practices and years of software and service expertise, it delivers robust security to strengthen the information technology infrastructure of organizations.

These services include identity and access management, data protection, compliance and monitoring and secure deployment and development.

Visit www.microsoft.com.ph