Santa Maria Water District was awarded a plaque of recognition for establishing the organization’s own Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) at the DICT’s Critical Information Infrastructures Protection (CIIP) Summit that was held on Sequoia Hotel Manila Bay in Parañaque City last October 10 and 11, 2024.

The CERT team was established in alignment with the company’s vision to be a world-class water supply and sewerage service provider. To maintain security of data and services, the team was trained to handle, manage, and respond to cybersecurity incidents. Protecting against potential cyber threats is crucial for activities that depend more and more on technology, such as real-time water and sewer system monitoring. In addition to creating a culture of cybersecurity awareness throughout the company, the CERT team’s vital role in identification, analysis, and mitigation of cyber hazards is essential to protecting the company’s reputation and ensuring service continuity. Public and private sectors across the country attended the said event. There were also delegates from US and Japan who share their insights on Cybersecurity Awareness. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) reaffirmed their support for the Philippines’ cybersecurity through the project “Capacity Development for Cybersecurity.”

Written by:

Rovelyn A. Flores