Cybersecurity firm opens hub in Cebu to meet rising demand

CEBU, Philippines —  SecureLink Networks has expanded to Cebu to meet rising demand from companies for stronger cybersecurity and cloud solutions amid rapid digital adoption.

The company, co-founded by chairman James Tsiolis and president and CEO James Velasquez, said the Cebu hub will enable it to deliver tailored cybersecurity, connectivity, and cloud management services to enterprises of all sizes across the Visayas.

Launched in 2023, SecureLink has already secured partnerships with both government and private sector clients in banking, manufacturing, and utilities.

At a press conference, Velasquez said the firm’s subscription-based model lowers barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), giving them access to the same level of protection used by multinational clients.

“Our objective is to enable any enterprise—large or small—to secure its infrastructure and data without compromising performance,” he said.

The move is backed by a strategic partnership with Lenovo, whose AI-ready servers, storage, and PC portfolio provide the hardware backbone for SecureLink’s solutions.

Lenovo Philippines president and country manager Michael Ngan said the collaboration aims to provide Cebu firms with scalable, end-to-end security and connectivity frameworks as the region cements its position as one of the country’s fastest-growing business hubs.

Executives noted that Cebu’s thriving outsourcing industry, expanding technology ecosystem, and growing manufacturing base make it a prime target for cyberattacks.

The Philippines is among the most cyberattacked countries in Asia, and analysts warn that risks are intensifying as companies accelerate adoption of cloud-based operations and AI-powered tools.

“Cybersecurity threats are no longer abstract—they can shut down power plants, disrupt financial systems, and compromise consumer data,” Tsiolis said.

“As AI accelerates the volume and complexity of data, companies must secure not just devices but entire infrastructures,” Tsiolis added.

SecureLink differentiates itself through its military-grade, software-based network security system called VSN+, which combines software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) with end-to-end encryption.

Unlike traditional providers, the platform is hardware-agnostic, cloud-agnostic, and subscription-driven, enabling deployment across multiple environments—from AWS and Starlink to local telcos.

With its Cebu expansion, SecureLink also plans to build a channel ecosystem in the Visayas and Mindanao, enabling independent software vendors and local IT firms to integrate its security solutions into their offerings.

“Cebu is central to the Philippines’ digital transformation,” Velasquez said, adding that by pairing global technology expertise with local market knowledge, “we aim to help enterprises here compete securely in a data-driven world.”