PROTECT 2018 to focus on cybersecurity and private sector security

The theme for PROTECT 2018 is ‘Science and Technology: The Key to a More Secure and Safe Tomorrow’

The 21st century faces global upheavals that will disrupt business operations and the way we live. Rapidly developing digital technologies, social media and climate change are realities posing new types of risks to our security and safety.

At PROTECT 2018 to be held on March 12-13, 2018 at the New World Makati Hotel in Philippines, stakeholders from the private sector and government will spend one and a half day to delve on 4 main priority subjects:

1. What every businessman should know about global upheavals that will affect their business;
2. The greatest business risk facing them – Cybersecurity;
3. An insight into how safe one’s business is in today’s world; and
4. Security and war in this new age. 

Terrorism and cybersecurity

Organised for the first time back in 2005, in partnership with the Anti-Terrorism Council under the Office of the President, PROTECT was initially devoted to overcoming terrorist threats. Over the years, focus of the annual gathering expanded to cover other prevailing serious security threats to business arising from global economic crisis, natural disasters, cybercrimes and other physical threats to business.

For PROTECT 2018, the theme of the event is ‘Science and Technology: The Key to a More Secure and Safe Tomorrow’. Strong focus will be on cyber security, resiliency for facing natural disasters, internet of things (IOT), social media and terrorism.

Diverse attendee classifications

PROTECT consists of a select international exhibit, a business conference, technical presentations, new product demos and a networking cocktail. It is attended by decision makers and CEOs of every business sector, senior officials of government agencies, security specialists and consultants, IT and cyber security professionals, strategic planners, risk managers, terrorism experts, construction managers, architects, systems integrators, operators of critical infrastructures, academics, and everyone concerned with security and safety.

In 2017, the PROTECT conference on ‘Doing Business Amidst New Threats’ was attended by 200 delegates, two-thirds (2/3) of whom came from the private sector and one-third (1/3) from the government. The specialised exhibit was visited by some 3,000 visitors including senior government officials and senior level management of private companies. It was opened by Hon. Hermogenes Esperon, the National Security Adviser, who delivered the keynote address, and closed by subject-matter international experts including Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, head of International Centre for Political Violence & Terrorism Research at the Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technology University, Singapore.