Global firm expands AI-driven cybersecurity operations in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines —  EY Global Delivery Services is expanding its cybersecurity operations in Cebu, tapping the province’s growing pool of technology talent to deliver increasingly complex digital security services to clients worldwide.

The launch of EY GDS’ Cybersecurity Center adds Cebu to the firm’s globally connected, AI-enabled cybersecurity network, which supports operations across more than 160 countries.

The center will focus on areas including artificial intelligence, threat intelligence, advanced analytics, automation, cybersecurity engineering and architecture.

The expansion comes as companies face a more complex threat environment shaped by the rapid adoption of AI, cloud computing and interconnected digital platforms.

EY GDS Philippines Cybersecurity Leader Maez De Guzman said the Cebu operation is intended to go beyond adding delivery capacity by developing more specialized cybersecurity capabilities in the country.

“Cybersecurity has never been simply a game of scale. It is a game of strategy, specialization and critical thinking,” De Guzman said. The industry, she added, increasingly requires the combination of people, platforms, data, automation and AI to respond to threats at greater speed and scale.

While much of the Philippines’ cybersecurity workforce has traditionally focused on monitoring and analysis, the Cebu center is expected to expand opportunities in higher-value areas such as cybersecurity engineering, architecture, AI security, threat intelligence and AI-driven cyber analytics.

EY GDS also plans to leverage its global technology alliances and exposure to international threat environments to give Cebu-based professionals broader experience in addressing cybersecurity risks across markets.

The initiative builds on EY GDS’ partnership with the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT), which includes a cybersecurity curriculum based on industry frameworks, laboratory simulations and real-world scenarios. The program is aimed at closing the gap between academic training and the technical skills demanded by cybersecurity employers.

Cebu’s technology talent pool and established business-process delivery ecosystem give it an advantage as global companies seek to distribute increasingly specialized technology work beyond traditional hubs, De Guzman said.

“Global cybersecurity careers should not require Filipino talent to leave the Philippines,” she added.

The expansion reflects a broader shift in the Philippine technology-services industry toward higher-value work, as companies seek to move beyond labor-intensive delivery models and build capabilities in areas such as AI, cybersecurity and advanced analytics.

For Cebu’s technology workforce, the challenge will be keeping pace with an industry where skills can quickly become outdated.

De Guzman identified critical thinking and continuous learning as key requirements for professionals seeking to build careers in cybersecurity.

The objective, she said, is not simply to build a larger operation in Cebu but to enable professionals here to apply advanced technologies to complex global cybersecurity problems. – Ehda M Dagooc