It is officially time to start checking your data management security. It’s better to begin the year by making sure 2024 was a year full of news about weak cybersecurity. In this article, get to learn how to prevent hacking and other incidents from happening in your organization.

Before learning how to safeguard your systems and data management effectively, it’s better to know the statistics behind the cybersecurity measures.

From 2024 to 2025, the Philippine government has allocated PHP 487,119,000 to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC). This financial allocation may be caused by the past year’s data breach incident.

According to IBM, In ASEAN and the Philippines, nearly 38 percent of data breaches studied resulted in the loss of data across multiple environments including public cloud, private cloud, and on-premises, which shows that —showing that attackers were able to compromise multiple environments while avoiding detection.

At ABBE, we care about your data. Knowing how vulnerable Philippine enterprises are to this type of threat, our ABBE engineers created a checklist that shall be your guide in creating a more secure data management.

Here are the basic steps our engineers recommended:

1. Strengthen Access Controls

• Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) across all accounts.
• Enforce the principle of least privilege for user and system access.
• Regularly review and update permissions and access logs.

2. Enhance Endpoint Security

• Deploy Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions.
• Keep all devices updated with the latest security patches.
• Use secure configurations for mobile and IoT devices.

3. Protect Data

• Add a cybersecurity platform built for your managed service provider such as Sonicwall.
Sonicwall is a program that will build, scale, and manage security across cloud, hybrid, and traditional environments.
• Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit.
• Regularly back up critical data and test restoration processes

4. Bolster Network Defenses

• Enable advanced firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS).
• Segregate sensitive networks and implement network monitoring tools.
• Adopt Zero Trust Architecture principles.

5. Prepare for Emerging Threats

• Monitor trends in AI-enabled cyber threats and quantum computing risks.
• Invest in AI-driven cybersecurity tools for real-time threat detection.
• Stay informed about regulatory and compliance updates.

6. Train Your Team

• Conduct regular cybersecurity awareness training for employees.
• Simulate phishing attacks and analyze results to improve response.
• Establish a clear incident response protocol for employees.

7. Maintain Vendor and Third-Party Security

• Vet vendors for cybersecurity compliance.
• Enforce contracts with detailed security requirements.
• Conduct regular assessments of third-party systems.

8. Monitor and Audit Continuously

• Use a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system.
• Perform regular vulnerability scans and penetration tests.
• Ensure compliance through regular audits (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001).

9. Plan for Incident Response

• Develop and update an Incident Response Plan (IRP).
• Test the IRP through tabletop exercises and simulations.
• Have a dedicated team or Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) ready for crises.

10. Evaluate Cyber Insurance Needs

• Review and update cyber insurance policies to cover modern threats.
• Assess risks and ensure coverage aligns with your organization’s needs.

The checklist that ABBE Engineers have provided will be your guide to secured data management for the years. Stay safe and ready your firewalls to avoid any cybersecurity threats.