SPECIAL FEATURE | Cyber defence report flags PH cyber risks as gov’t digital services expand
The number of Filipinos using digitally enabled government services through unified platforms and mobile applications is expected to rise by around 30 million between 2022 and 2026, based on World Bank projections cited by Synology.
Claire Huang, Synology Philippines country manager, speaks at the GOVX.0 Conference 2026 in Manila.
As the Philippines accelerates the rollout of online government services under the E-Governance Act, cybersecurity and system resilience are becoming critical concerns amid rising global cyber threats, according to Microsoft and data management firm Synology.
The Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2025 warned that cyberattacks are becoming more automated, deceptive and harder to detect as artificial intelligence reshapes the global threat landscape. The report cited ransomware, phishing, credential theft, deepfakes and AI-driven social engineering among the fastest-growing threats affecting governments and enterprises worldwide.
Synology said the Philippines’ growing dependence on digital government platforms is increasing pressure on system reliability, data protection and recovery infrastructure.
The number of Filipinos using digitally enabled government services through unified platforms and mobile applications is expected to rise by around 30 million between 2022 and 2026, based on World Bank projections cited by Synology.
Recent incidents involving disruptions on government digital platforms highlighted the risks of system overload during peak usage periods as more applications, payments and document requests move online.
According to recent industry data cited by Synology, around 98 million Filipinos are now online, while 88.5% use digital financial platforms monthly. However, connectivity gaps remain, particularly in areas with limited fixed broadband access.
“Because more services move online, it’s no longer just about access, but how reliable these systems are in everyday use,” said Claire Huang, Synology Philippines country manager. “Systems need to be secure, stable and able to handle higher demand, especially for services people rely on regularly.”
Microsoft’s report said attackers are increasingly abusing legitimate platforms, cloud systems and AI tools to evade detection. The company warned that threat actors are now using generative AI for automated spearphishing, malware generation, reconnaissance, exploit development, ransomware negotiations and large-scale misinformation campaigns.
The report also identified the Philippines as among the countries heavily affected by infostealer malware activity, particularly Lumma Stealer, a malware-as-a-service platform used to steal passwords, browser credentials, session tokens and cryptocurrency wallets.
Microsoft noted that ransomware attacks are evolving beyond file encryption toward large-scale data theft and cloud compromise. More than 40% of ransomware attacks now involve hybrid cloud components, while 82% of observed incidents included significant data exfiltration.
The company also warned about prompt injection attacks targeting AI systems, where malicious instructions are embedded into AI workflows to manipulate outputs, access sensitive information or execute unauthorized actions.
At the GOVX.0 Conference 2026, Synology discussed the importance of resilient backup and recovery systems for government agencies as public services continue shifting online.
“As the Philippines advances its digital governance initiatives, resilience can no longer be treated as a secondary consideration,” Huang said. “Government systems must be designed to handle disruptions, protect sensitive data and keep essential services available at all times.”
Microsoft said organizations should adopt layered cybersecurity defenses, faster patch management, zero-trust security models and AI-assisted threat detection to counter increasingly adaptive attacks.
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