After amassing more than 123 million indicators of compromise to combat cyber-attacks, PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc. last year foiled over 182 million attempts to breach the group’s digital infrastructure.

The human factor is a major contributor to cybersecurity incidents, according to The telcos' Cyber Security Operations Group (CSOG).

Most cybersecurity issues - 95 percent in all, can be traced to human error. Lack of knowledge exposes users to vulnerabilities that criminals exploit, the CSOG underscored.

“One of the biggest risks is a person’s behavior or attitude toward cybersecurity," warned Angel Redoble, FVP and Chief Information Security Officer of PLDT and Smart.

"If someone fails to take steps to protect his data and devices, it’s like leaving the door of the house open for robbers,” he maintained.

Significantly, “PLDT and Smart have built a culture of cybersecurity in the workforce," says Redoble.

"In 2022, we did not record a single breach due to employee negligence. Now, we are extending the same mindset to our customers, so they become cybersmart and don’t fall prey to cyber-attacks.”

On top of sending advisories, the CSOG also regularly runs phishing simulations to employees of the PLDT group.

Over the years, the number of employees taking the bait has declined. Employee reporting had also gone up by 574 percent since simulations started in 2019.

PLDT and Smart’s cybersecurity initiatives are grounded in their customer-centric ideology.

The telcos beef up the cybersecurity of their digital infrastructure as part of a broader effort to elevate the Filipinos’ experience, keeping customers and the country safe from threats and attacks.