As Metaverse materializes, the Information Security Officers Group (ISOG) underscores the need to protect the banking industry as threats could be monumental in the ecosystem. At the ISOG “Metaverse I am Secure” forum, more than 500 C-level executives, local and international decision-makers, experts, and cyber leaders held in-depth discussions on ensuring cybersecurity in the Metaverse.

ISOG is the leading information security professional organization in the Philippines.

Information security professionals are urged to strengthen their organization’s security strategy as the financial industry is highly exposed to cyber threats and this would be the same in the Metaverse. The forum held on May 19 is the first installment of its 2022 virtual cybersecurity forum series and carried the theme “Traversing Beyond the Realm of Cyberspace.”

ISOG traversing 2022 with new cybersecurity awareness programs
ISOG to hold 2022 Metaverse forum, Cybersecurity Excellence Awards

“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 Archie Tolentino, president, ISOG and chief information technology security officer, Land Bank of the Philippines.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno was the keynote speaker while Sam George, corporate vice president, Microsoft Azure IoT, provided insights on mixed reality and metaverse apps.

Security risks

The forum also discussed the challenges, risks, technologies, and opportunities in the Metaverse from the presentations of the event sponsors. The thought leaders who spoke during the forum include Trends and Technologies Inc chief Iinformation 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,” said Chito Jacinto, vice president at ISOG who also chaired the forum and awards committees. “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.”

The forum delegates also participated in the panel discussion titled “Entering the Metaverse Ecosystem, and Addressing Digital Safety in the Metaverse.” 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 assistant treasurer and CISO of Philippine Veterans Bank Alvin Punsalan.

Future forum

Hundreds of delegates also won raffle items and received premium giveaways such as the ISOG self-heating hotbox meal and 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, the National Privacy Commission, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology. ISOG’s media partners were the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Business World, DIGI.PH, and Back End 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 programs and events to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and secure network infrastructure in the Philippines. For more details about ISOG and its campaigns, visit ISOG’s official website at http://www.isog-org.ph and socials a tLinkedIn: ISOG (Information Security Officers Group), Facebook: ISOGPH, YouTube Channel: ISOG SUMMIT.