Analysts, hackers unite at VCS: CTRL Manila cybersecurity summit

 Insider Spotlight

• The summit is co-hosted by Viettel Cyber Security and ROOTCON.
• The event aims to gather over 100 participants from the Philippines and neighboring countries.
• It will feature four focused tracks covering in-depth talks, expert networking, interactive Q&A, and applied insights.
• The program is designed to accommodate both Blue Team (defensive) and Red Team (offensive) professionals.
• The summit will feature regional experts and discussions on topics like APT cases, Ransomware-as-a-Service, E2EE in Meta's messaging applications, and automotive security.
  
  

Viettel Cyber Security (VCS), the cybersecurity arm of Viettel Group, is partnering with ROOTCON to bring the VCS: CTRL Manila Summit 2025 to the Philippines. 

The in-person event, themed "Offense Meets Defense," is set to gather cybersecurity professionals, thought leaders, and tech enthusiasts on Nov. 19  in Manila.

A new cyber frontier

The summit will open discussions on how collaborations between ethical hackers and cybersecurity defenders can help organizations stay ahead of increasingly complex and adaptive cyber threats. 

As businesses accelerate their digital transformation journeys, the pace and sophistication of cyberattacks are rising just as quickly.

The big picture

The goal is to strengthen the collective defense of the region by fostering collaboration and shared knowledge among analysts, engineers, and ethical hackers.

The program is structured across four tracks: In-Depth Talks on real-world investigations like APT cases and bug bounty exploits; Expert Networking to connect red and blue team professionals across Southeast Asia; Interactive Q&A Sessions tackling practical, real-world challenges faced by threat hunters and incident responders ; and Applied Insights focusing on breach case studies, detection modeling, and preventive strategies.

Thomas Van Duc Luu  

Country manager, Viettel Cyber Security Philippines

Voices from both sides

The summit features five cybersecurity experts sharing regional expertise in offensive and defensive operations. The speaking roster includes:

• Duong Doan (senior web security researcher) on Messenger's E2EE architecture
• Henry Nguyen (country service manager, Philippines) presenting a case study on Ransomware-as-a-Service
• Kien Nguyen Duc & Long Doan Minh (threat analysts, VCS) on an APT exploiting trusted websites and Mustang Panda's Evolving Arsenal
• Japz Divino (principal security researcher, Viking Cloud) sharing "The Human Side of Hacking"
• Jay Turla (principal security researcher, VicOne) discussing how AI and Fuzzing are transforming automotive security

Commitment to community

VCS: CTRL Manila reinforces Viettel Cyber Security’s commitment to nurturing a community of experts. "Technology can automate detection, but only human intuition can predict intent,"  Thomas Van Duc Luu, country manager of Viettel Cyber Security Philippines, said in a press release on Nov. 11, 2025.

He also emphasized the crucial role of human collaboration in strengthening regional defense. 

The summit combines strategic insights, real-world case studies, and live technical demonstrations to equip participants with the perspective and practical tools needed to strengthen their security posture. — Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma