Ateneo School of Government launches first run of public sector cybersecurity training course

The Ateneo School of Government (ASoG), through its Executive Education Program, successfully launched the first run of its online training course on Cybersecurity for the Public Sector on 5 August 2025 via Zoom. This course was designed to equip public sector employees with fundamental cybersecurity knowledge and practical skills necessary to protect sensitive government data and build digital resilience in the face of growing cyber threats.

Participants from various institutions joined the program, including representatives from the Emilio Aguinaldo College Cavite and local government units such as the City Government of Butuan, Local Government Unit of Ormoc City (Leyte), Local Government Unit of Caramoan (Camarines Sur), City Government of Biñan (Laguna), and Local Government Unit of Rizal. From the national government, the course was attended by officials from the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, Department of National Defense (AFP-PAF), and the National Security Council. Representatives from government-owned and -controlled corporations such as the Philippine Guarantee Corporation and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation were also present.

The training course featured a series of focused and interactive sessions designed to build a strong foundation in cybersecurity. These sessions aimed to provide participants with essential knowledge in cybersecurity and practical approaches they can apply in their respective institutions.

The sessions were led by Dr. William Emmanuel S. Yu, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Novare Technologies, and faculty member at the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science at the Ateneo de Manila University. With his deep experience in information security, digital infrastructure, and supporting digital transformation initiatives for banks, telecommunications firms, and fintech companies, Dr. Yu delivered practical insights that addressed the real-world challenges faced by the public sector.

In her opening and closing messages, Ms. Sharon Grace S. Yabut, Head of the Executive Education Program, emphasized that cybersecurity is no longer the sole responsibility of IT professionals. Every public servant,whether in technical or non-technical roles,has a role in protecting government systems and information. She encouraged the participants to foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness in their organizations and to apply the practices learned from the course to strengthen their institutions' digital resilience.

The first run of the cybersecurity course highlights ASoG’s continued commitment to supporting ethical, capable, and future-ready public servants. As public institutions face increasing digital risks, ASoG remains steadfast in providing practical, responsive training programs that build capacity and strengthen governance systems.

Lead with confidence through our upcoming open training courses and customized programs. For more information, email us at execed.asog@ateneo.edu.