Cyber fraud, storms, terror, epidemics threaten companies

MANILA, Philippines - Continuing threats of cyber fraud, increasing frequency and severity of typhoons and other natural calamities, rising incidence of epidemics and adoption by terrorists of new forms of terror require the private sector to upgrade security strategies and coordinate with government security initiatives.

 It is in this context that the seventh series of the conference Protect (2012): “Doing Business Amidst New Threats” is being held as an opportunity for the private sector to best meet the daily challenges to their resiliency and business continuity. As the country’s summit addressing top-tier security concerns, Protect 2012 has for its theme “Security for Tomorrow’s World: Risks and Emergency Management.”

Interested parties may contact the secretariat at [email protected] or 818-68-28 or fax 810-1594. The event website is www.protect.leverageinternational.com.

The conference at the Peninsula Hotel in Makati on April 25 and 26 is also the event for CEO’s and C-level executives to share knowledge and insights of international and local experts on new risks to their business and how to manage them. Among the significant focus in the conference will be cyber security and social media.

 Experts who will engage the private sector with their analysis and recommended solutions include Kristin Hoskin, CEM who will share experiences and lessons from the devastating Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake incident; Arnel Capili, CEM from the Corporate Emergency Plans Public Health and Safety Department of Dubai; Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research in Singapore and Mohammed Mahmoud Hasan from Dubai who will present strategies for effective accident investigation.

 A key speaker on the second day which focuses on cyber security is Michael Wilks, Director of Public Safety and National Security of Microsoft (APAC), who sees cyber security challenges to be a public-private sector concern. To discuss fraud, now a major challenge for banks and call centers is Tim Scyner, regional security director (APAC) of Sykes, Asia. Steve Cutler, former FBI official and now president and CEO of Official Global Control Corp. will discuss why security operations should be a major concern of corporate boards.

Maria Ressa, author-in-residence at the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research in Singapore, former head of News and Public Affairs of ABS-CBN and former CNN bureau chief in Jakarta will discuss the increasing significance of social media, how it impacts on a company’s standing amidst disasters and how it serves as future weapon for security.

Side by side with the conference is the exhibition by service providers and equipment suppliers who will share their solutions for preventing security failures and enabling companies to be better equipped against risks.