Rang-Ay Bank fortifies cybersecurity with PLDT Enterprise and ePLDT’s Vulnerability Management as-a-Service solution

With the expansion and growth of their business, as well as the rise of digital transactions, Rang-Ay Bank has recently partnered with PLDT Enterprise to deploy Vulnerability Management as-a-Service (VMaaS), through ePLDT, the ICT arm of the country’s largest integrated telecommunications and digital services provider PLDT. The partnership will further support Rang-Ay Bank’s mission to ensure the security of their online and mobile banking.

In Photo: PLDT Enterprise and Rang-Ay Bank come together to officially sign and announce their growing partnership with the latest implementation of ePLDT’s Vulnerability Management as-a-Service (VMaaS) to ensure the bank's security. (L-R) Michelle Z. Baul, Enterprise Strategic Solutions Head For Regional and SMBiz at PLDT Enterprise; Rexel R. Gongora, Business Head of North Luzon CRM at PLDT Enterprise; Jay C. Lagdameo, Vice President & Head of Enterprise Revenue Group at PLDT Enterprise; Ives Q. Nisce, Chairman of Rang-Ay Bank; Ives Jesus C. Nisce II, President & Chief Executive Officer of Rang-Ay Bank; and Francis Michael A. De Los Santos, Vice President for IT & Security of Rang-Ay Bank.

Rang-Ay Bank is the oldest enduring bank in Ilocandia and one of the well-established banks in the country. A PLDT Enterprise partner since 2009, Rang-Ay Bank initially acquired its connectivity services with Enterprise Broadband, to address their challenges on slow internet connection in the region and slow response on the restoration of lines. Since the partnership, the bank has seen significant improvement and more stable connectivity services.

Now, more recently, with the new implementation of VMaaS in their operations, Rang-Ay Bank became the first PLDT Enterprise partner to enroll the new service to their mobile applications, database server, core banking system, mobile banking server, and their payment hub server.

With plans to launch additional branches, Rang-Ay Bank opted to prevent their risk and exposure to all possible security incidents by partnering with PLDT Enterprise and availing ePLDT's VMaaS, which allows them to identify and fix as many vulnerabilities as possible within their environment.

As the digital transformation ally of businesses, PLDT Enterprise continues to put themselves in their customers’ position and look at their business and their industry from where they sit.

“Ultimately, VMaaS is all about our commitment to customers. As technologies continue to evolve and industries continue to transform, this service allows us to empower our partners with secure and reliable solutions to help them propel their business visions. In any customer journey, it’s all about empathy, purpose, and commitment, which is basically the mantra of industries today. With services like VMaaS, we fully support Rang-Ay’s vision for a secure financial sector,” says Mitch Locsin, First Vice President and Head of Enterprise and International Business Groups, PLDT and Smart.

“We are very much excited to continuously work with Rang-Ay Bank, consistent with your mission of making your services accessible and globally competitive with the market. As you continue to grow and improve your services to your customers in the North, primarily in Ilocos, we look forward to working closely with you in your journey,” Locsin added.

As businesses nationwide and organizations in the region have been exploring digital solutions to support their operations, PLDT Enterprise has committed to fully supporting SMEs in the country. For clients like Rang-Ay Bank, PLDT Enterprise commits to pushing cybersecurity in promoting a robust financial industry, especially for businesses in the province. With this most recent vulnerability management service, the importance of building a secure and reliable banking industry, and ensuring its many benefits to customers, especially in the Ilocos Region, is a major consideration for the partnership.

“We at Rang-Ay Bank are very excited about this continuing transformative partnership, one that promises to completely change and enhance the way rural financial institutions approach cybersecurity and technological resilience. Rang-Ay feels like we are in the good hands of PLDT Enterprise and ePLDT, the pioneer in telecommunications and digital services here in the Philippines. Now, more than ever, we need to have a more holistic cybersecurity because the world is growing more and more digitally interconnected, and the advancement of technology means equally advanced threats. This partnership is a testament to our commitment against the rising tide of cyber risks,” says Ives Nisce, Rang-Ay Bank Chairman.

“Combining Rang-Ay Bank’s 67 years of experience in providing financial services in the countryside and partnering with PLDT Enterprise and ePLDT’s world-class technology, this collaboration provides us with the tools and intelligence required to detect vulnerabilities in real-time, analyze them comprehensively, and mitigate them swiftly,” concluded Nisce.

With ePLDT’s VMaaS, PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of PLDT, continues to champion for Luzon SMEs with solutions custom-made for their needs to navigate in the increasing business landscape influenced by the growing market demands, empowering them to expand their operations outside their communities.