Strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential to counter the growing threats posed by cybercriminals, according to an official from a global cybersecurity and digital privacy firm.

Recent data from the Kaspersky Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS CERT) revealed that Southeast Asia recorded the highest global rates of viruses and AutoCAD-related malware detected on industrial control system (ICS) computers.

Among others, the report showed some improvements in the Philippines after the share of ICS computers that blocked malicious objects in the second quarter dropped to 19.09 percent from quarter-ago’s 22.27 percent, according to Sam Yan, Head of Sales for Asia Emerging Countries at Kaspersky.

Latest figures also showed that the percentage of ICS computers that were able to block threats from the internet went down to 10.33 percent from 13.20 percent as of end-March this year.

In terms of the percentage of ICS computers that were able to block spyware such as Trojans, backdoors, and keyloggers, the Philippines recorded 3.41 percent in the second quarter of 2025, higher than the quarter-ago’s 3.38 percent.

Yan said these figures, although better, still showed that “overall trend highlights the importance of maintaining strong defenses.”

“Organizations need to continuously strengthen their cybersecurity posture through regular assessments, timely updates, and capacity-building for both IT and OT teams to stay resilient against evolving threats,” he said.

Asked for their local clients’ reaction to the results of their latest study, Yan said, “The response has been positive, with many organizations showing increased interest in strengthening their operational technology (OT) security measures and adopting a more proactive approach to cyber resilience.”

In terms of government policies to protect online consumers against these threats, Yan, in a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency on Monday, said: “The Philippines has made notable progress in strengthening its cybersecurity framework.”

He, however, pointed out that “the evolving threat landscape demands continuous coordination between the public and private sectors.”

“We see a need for more awareness, capacity building, and cross-industry collaboration to ensure both critical infrastructure and consumers are better protected from emerging and sophisticated attacks,” he added.