iboss Zero Trust SSE: Safeguarding Vulnerable Industries Against Cyber Threats

An Exclusive Interview with Mr. Simon Eappariello, Senior Vice President for EMEA & APJ of iboss, at the VST ECS CXO Tech Summit 2023

Cybersecurity is no longer just a concern; it's a paramount necessity in today's digital landscape. The Philippines, like many other nations, faces an ever-growing threat of cyber attacks, with ransomware making headlines. 

To gain insights into this pressing issue and understand how organizations can better protect themselves, we had an exclusive interview with Mr. Simon Eappariello, Senior Vice President for EMEA & APJ of iboss, during the Media Session of the VST ECS CXO Tech Summit 2023. Mr. Eappariello's expertise shed light on the challenges and the pivotal role iboss plays in fortifying the cybersecurity defenses of organizations, particularly those in vulnerable industries.

The State of Cybersecurity in the Philippines

Cyber attacks, particularly ransomware attacks, have been prominent news in the Philippines. When asked about the country's readiness to defend against such threats, Mr. Eappariello noted that there is indeed work to be done. Ransomware, he emphasized, has been a long-standing issue, not limited to the Philippines but prevalent in the United States and the United Kingdom as well. This type of cyber threat exploits vulnerabilities and targets organizations burdened with legacy technology architecture. The need of the hour, Mr. Eappariello asserted, is a shift toward a "Zero Trust" approach to cybersecurity.

Mr. Simon Eappariello, Senior Vice President for EMEA & APJ of iboss, during the Media Session of the VST ECS CXO Tech Summit 2023

According to Mr. Eappariello, "Obviously, there's work to do. Ransomware has been around for a long time. Unfortunately. Ransomware uses vulnerabilities. It uses weak links, and it's targeting organizations that probably have a lot of legacy architecture."

iboss has positioned itself as a champion of the Zero Trust philosophy when it comes to Cybersecurity. The company's platform is meticulously aligned with the principles of Zero Trust architecture. Mr. Eappariello underlined that this alignment extends to the user interface and all iboss products, serving as a testament to their commitment to this approach. The Zero Trust philosophy empowers organizations to embark on a journey towards a more secure future, with rapid wins like the replacement of VPNs and the adoption of cloud-based solutions to support remote workforces.

Who Benefits from iboss' Solutions?

The conversation then turned to the question of which industries stand to gain the most from iboss' cybersecurity products. Mr. Eappariello's response was unequivocal: nearly all industries can benefit from their solutions. He particularly highlighted government and healthcare sectors. These industries, he explained, are often the crown jewel targets for cybercriminals, as they store vast amounts of sensitive and valuable data. The ransomware threat encrypts and hides data, making it accessible only through a ransom, which makes these sectors particularly enticing for threat actors.

Mr. Simon Eappariello with Mr. Mark Milan Macanas, Owner and Editor-in-Chief of TechPinas.com afte their media interview

Energy companies and financial institutions are not far behind. In the UK, they have been prominent targets. Even as far back as 2019 and 2020, local government and healthcare agencies were in the crosshairs of cybercriminals. Mr. Eappariello emphasized that these sectors, often burdened by legacy architecture, are where iboss has made substantial contributions. The company has been instrumental in helping these organizations transition from legacy systems to cloud-based and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) cybersecurity solutions.

When asked which industries are most at risk of being targeted by threat actors, Mr. Eappariello replied, "Pretty much all. I mean, we work across all of the verticals. Definitely government, right? Government health care, they have, they have the crown jewels, right?"

How to Access iboss' Cybersecurity Services

For organizations, government agencies, and even small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to avail of iboss' cybersecurity services, Mr. Eappariello provided a clear and accessible solution. He commended the presence of iboss at the VST ECS CXO Tech conference and the outstanding support provided by their distributor, VST ECS, across the Philippines.

"Yeah, absolutely. So we're here at the VST ECS CXO Tech conference. VST ECS, our distributor right across the Philippines, is doing a great job for us, keeping the team here very busy. Actually, the Philippines is our APAC (Asia Pacific) headquarters. We've been here for eight years," shared Mr. Eappariello.

This is a testament to the country's skilled workforce and robust support system. Furthermore, local support and proficiency in the local language make iboss an appealing choice for organizations looking to bolster their cybersecurity defenses.

iboss, with its unwavering commitment to the Zero Trust cybersecurity approach and its track record of assisting organizations in migrating from legacy systems to more secure cloud-based solutions, is a trusted ally for Philippine agencies and organizations. As the country grapples with the escalating threat of cyber attacks, iboss stands ready to bolster cybersecurity defenses and consolidate its reputation as a steadfast guardian of sensitive data and critical infrastructure.