Schneider Electric: Ensuring Power Security Is the New Competitive Advantage for Philippine MSMEs

Manila, Philippines – The next disruption to a Filipino Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise’s (MSME) bottom line may not come from a slow sales day. It may come from five hours without power.

With recurring power alerts and weather-related disruptions continuing across the Philippines, staying operational is becoming a growing concern for MSMEs. During the rainy season, storms can trigger power interruptions, while El Niño-driven demand surges place additional strain on the power grid. According to the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, even when supply is officially adequate, thin reserve margins worsened by plant outages and spikes in demand continue to leave the grid vulnerable to alerts and rotating brownouts,

Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader with 190 years of innovation expertise, says the difference is not whether an outage hits. It is whether a business is ready when it does.

For a digitally run MSME, unstable power no longer just means lost lighting; even a brief flicker can pause a transaction mid-checkout, delay an order, or damage the equipment behind both. It is a cost often noticed only after revenue is already lost.

Business Continuity Becomes a Competitive Advantage

Schneider Electric sees that risk differently. "Disruptions are becoming more frequent, and digital operations are now central to how MSMEs run their business," said Harold Lim, Country Solutions Head, Schneider Electric Philippines. "That shift is changing how we think about resilience; it's no longer a contingency measure. It's becoming a competitive advantage."

Point-of-sale terminals, routers, computers, servers, CCTV systems, and communication devices now run the daily operations of a typical MSME. Losing power to any of them, even briefly, can interrupt a transaction, corrupt data, or damage the hardware outright.

Schneider Electric addresses that exposure with its APC Smart Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) On-Line, built for businesses running equipment that needs stable, reliable power.

Unlike standby units that only switch to battery once the power goes out, Smart-UPS On-Line keeps equipment running continuously, filtering out voltage dips and surges before they ever reach connected devices, even outside a full outage. This is made possible by double-conversion technology: incoming power is continuously converted and cleaned before it reaches connected devices, rather than being passed through directly and only corrected after a problem occurs.

At full load, it provides around 4 to 6 minutes of battery backup — enough time for equipment to shut down safely or switch to another power source. This runtime gets longer as the load on connected devices decreases, guarding critical electronics and data against dangerous power conditions and disturbances. Multiple protected outlets mean several devices can stay covered at once.

Business owners can check battery and system status at a glance through an easy-to-read display. Available in either rack or tower design, it is well suited for point-of-sale terminals, computers, network equipment, servers, and other critical electronics that need protection during unexpected power disruptions.

“A UPS protects critical systems from outages and other power abnormalities that can damage sensitive equipment. It also gives businesses time to shut down safely in case of prolonged outages,” Lim added.

Resilience for Growing Businesses

As Philippine MSMEs continue to grow, reliable power protection is becoming part of what it means to run a resilient workplace: equipment safeguarded, downtime reduced, customer service uninterrupted. For Schneider Electric, empowering MSMEs means making business continuity practical and accessible, so business owners can focus on growth with protection already built in.

That commitment extends to its products. Schneider Electric also manufactures UPS units in the Philippines, which accounts for 60% of the company's global UPS supply. The APC Smart Factory in Cavite positions the country as a key part of Schneider Electric's global operations and puts locally made power protection technology within closer reach of Philippine businesses.

Additionally, the company is working toward Net Zero by 2050 by using better materials and helping customers use products longer through its "Use Better, Use Longer, Use Again" campaign. It also publishes detailed environmental data — like carbon footprint and recyclability — for 120,000 products online.

Palo Alto Networks Introduces the Most Secure Workspace for Small Business

Manila, Philippines – Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), the global cybersecurity leader, today announced the launch of Prisma Browser for Business, the most secure workspace for small businesses. This new offering enables small business owners to easily configure and manage the apps and AI tools their business relies on, while allowing employees to work securely from any device, anywhere. Prisma Browser for Business also protects against phishing, ransomware, and fraud threats and provides built-in AI controls to prevent business information from ending up in the wrong hands.

Today, small businesses depend on an average of 36 applications running in the browser, which is where most work gets done. However, with 95% of companies experiencing a security incident originating in the browser, the need for a secure workspace has never been greater. At the same time, employees are rapidly adopting AI, making it harder than ever for small businesses to tame the workspace chaos, keep their business protected, and prevent unintended AI actions.

Anupam Upadhyaya, SVP of Product, Palo Alto Networks

“For most small businesses, the browser is now the office. It’s where you interact with customers, manage your books, and use new AI tools to help grow your business. But standard browsers weren't built to stop modern cyberattacks or prevent AI data leaks. We’re providing small businesses with the same protection used by the world's largest enterprises, but in an easy-to-use, simple to manage workspace with flexible and accessible pricing for any small business.”

Prisma Browser for Business is a secure workspace designed for small businesses to:

• Streamline the workspace: Easily configure and manage the apps and AI tools teams rely on to work securely from any device, anywhere.
• Protect the business: Block AI-powered phishing, ransomware, and fraud threats before they harm the business.
• Control AI actions: Enable teams to leverage AI for productivity, while preventing business information from ending up in the wrong hands.

Anurag Agrawal, Analyst, TechAisle

“Palo Alto Networks is addressing a critical gap in the market by providing small businesses with a secure workspace that enables employees to get more done from any device, and any location while protecting against cyberattacks and unintended AI actions.”

As the global leader in cybersecurity, Palo Alto Networks processes billions of threats daily for the world’s largest companies. Now that same enterprise-grade protection is made available in a secure workspace designed for small businesses.

Prisma Browser for Business is available today in the United States. Start the 30-day free trial and in just four clicks, enable teams to work seamlessly while keeping the business protected and AI under control.

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Globe Powers a More Connected, Inclusive, and Secure Digital Future Through Innovation

Globe continues to shape a connected, inclusive, and secure digital future for Filipinos by driving innovation and implementing purpose-driven programs.

The telco leader is transforming how people work, live, and connect by harnessing technologies like 5G and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance customer service, expand access to essential digital services, and boost operational efficiency.

“Innovation is our engine of growth and how we create value for our customers, partners, and the country. We continuously evolve our technologies and services so every Filipino can thrive in a connected world,” said Darius Delgado, Globe’s Chief Commercial Officer.

AI, in particular, plays a critical role in fueling data-driven personalization. Through tools like SPOT, an AI-powered assistant, and Globe’s contextual engagement capabilities, the company is enhancing its GlobeOne app engagement, increasing top-ups and bill payments, and improving user retention. Programs such as Globe Rewards+, TM FunRewards, and Globe Hangouts have driven monthly engagement up by 1.5 million customers.

Globe has started by equipping its workforce with 329 custom AI co-pilots, resulting in increased productivity and encouraging a more innovative way of working.

These advancements extend to customer-facing services, where AI drives hyper-personalized engagement through tools like “Just For You” targeted ads and GCoach, a digital advisor for wealth management.

Delgado noted that hyper-personalization will remain central to Globe’s customer strategy, setting new standards in engagement and revenue optimization.

Personalized customer experiences have already generated significant business results, including Php 50 million in incremental gross merchandise value (GMV).

Security is equally vital to Globe’s innovation agenda, with advanced anti-fraud systems and industry partnerships in place to protect users across telecom and financial services.

At the same time, Globe ensures that its products meet real customer needs. It harnesses 5G to deliver Fixed Wireless Access, a fiber alternative now available in select cities and soon in hard-to-reach areas, helping expand digital access nationwide.

Moreover, GFiber Prepaid, as the fastest-growing fiber prepaid brand, has seen 74% quarter-on-quarter growth, a 78% reload rate, and Net Promoter Scores (NPS) closing in on global leaders like Apple and Amazon.

In the B2B space, Globe Business’s “Choose the Courage to Transform” initiative enables organizations to shape their digital strategies with a full suite of services. This campaign also highlights how Globe Business empowers organizations by connecting them to the right people, networks, and ecosystems for sustained growth.

Meanwhile, to create a positive impact, Globe came up with the GoGIVE program, which empowers prepaid users to turn unused data into “hearts” that support projects such as building schools, planting trees, and providing emergency aid via the GlobeOne app.

In addition, Globe has helped block over 216 million spam and scam messages and restricted access to more than 417,000 domains hosting child sexual abuse and exploitation materials. It has also taken a firm stance against non-photographic imagery (NPI) of child abuse.

Campaigns like #MakeITSafePH and #PlayItRight help Globe raise awareness of cybersecurity and digital piracy, empowering Filipinos to stay vigilant online and understand the implications of their digital choices.

Through these innovations and programs, Globe remains committed to its vision to Go Forward Together and bringing digital progress to every Filipino.

To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

Smart, TNT set up assisted SIM registration sites at Robinsons Malls

Shoppers now have another convenient way to register their SIM cards as Robinsons Malls opens assisted SIM registration booths for subscribers of Smart Communications and TNT.

Smart and TNT's assisted SIM registration services are ongoing from Feb. 14-28 at the Lingkod Pinoy Centers of the following malls: Robinsons Novaliches, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Manila, and Robinsons Metro East in Metro Manila; Robinsons Galleria South, Robinsons Starmills, Robinsons Lipa, and Robinsons Dasmarinas in Luzon; and Robinsons Bacolod, Robinsons Iloilo, Robinsons Dumaguete, and Robinsons Butuan in Visayas and Mindanao.

"We are happy to partner with Robinsons Malls to make SIM registration easier for our customers, especially for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, those using non-data phones, and other mobile users who may need help in registering their SIMs. We encourage our subscribers to register now so we can help prevent phone scams and fraud and fight online predators," said PLDT and Smart SVP and head of the Consumer Sales Group Alex O. Caeg.

"Robinsons Malls has always been at the forefront of providing the best access to relevant services. This partnership with Smart strengthens our commitment by making the SIM registration service more convenient and safe for all our customers. It also allows us to jointly support the government’s efforts to accelerate registration and protect mobile phone users,” said Robinsons Malls VP for Operations, Marketing, and Business Development Joel Lumanlan.

 

This collaboration with Robinsons Malls is among the many deployments of Smart’s assisted SIM registration services nationwide.

Smart has been rolling out assisted SIM Registration booths all over the Philippines in close collaboration with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the inter-agency committee on remote areas registration, other public telecommunications entities, and other partners.

New and existing Smart Prepaid and TNT subscribers may also visit PLDT and Smart stores, or access Smart’s SIM registration portal through https://www.smart.com.ph/simreg Postpaid users can simply text YES to 5858, while Enterprise customers can confirm their registration through their authorized representatives.

 

According to Republic Act (RA) 11934 or the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act, all SIM users have until April 26, 2023, to register their SIMs under their name, or risk deactivation of their SIM. The SIM Registration Act regulates the use of SIM cards to help curb the proliferation of text scams and other mobile phone-aided criminal activities.

Strict safety measures welcome Mang Inasal diners

As parts of the country steadily ease restrictions on community quarantines, the restaurant industry is also preparing to resume dine-in services which have been placed on hold because of the extended lockdown.

People have been longing to enjoy a meal at their favorite dining places, but many still feel apprehensive and cautious.

One well-loved Pinoy restaurant that has been preparing to welcome back its loyal customers is Mang Inasal, reputed for its bestselling nuot-sa-ihaw sarap Chicken Inasal. Knowing how much people have missed their favorite Mang Inasal meals and seeking to allay their fears, Mang Inasal has set in place strict protocols to ensure delicious food and safe dining experience for their customers.

Anyone who wants to enter the store must wear a face mask. The customer’s temperature will be checked and only those with temperature 37.5-degree centigrade and below will be allowed to enter. A footbath disinfection mat is also placed at the entrance. Only a limited number of customers are allowed inside the store at any given time. Sanitizers are provided for customers at the door entrance, counter table, and wash area for their use.

In keeping with the Department of Trade and Industry guidelines, Mang Inasal is requesting customers to fill out a Customer Health Form before being allowed to enter the store.

For in-store safety, physical distancing is closely monitored as floor markers set one-meter distance for counter queues. Contact-less payment is enforced with the use of acrylic cash tray and acrylic barriers. Meanwhile, foot knobs are used as restroom doors, and regular disinfection of facilities and the sanitation of workers form part of Mang Inasal’s stringent safety protocols.

Dine-in customers are enjoined to be seated apart for physical distancing purposes. One-meter table-to-table distance segregates diners while in selected Mang Inasal stores a table barrier is placed for face-to-face dining.

Store crew sanitizes the door and door handles every 30 minutes even as they pursue intensified cleaning and sanitation of fixtures and facilities. Similarly, heightened safety protocols for food preparation and handling—on top of existing procedures that are already thorough—are also being implemented.

These include the crew wearing a face mask, face shield, and gloves; handwashing and sanitation every hour and when necessary; and the appointment of a Hygiene Ambassador – a crew member wearing an identifying button pin and personal protective equipment and who go around reminding crew and diners of the safety measures. The Hygiene Ambassador himself cleans and disinfects the tables after every use.

Even the serving of unli-rice has been modified for safety purposes. Those who place unli-rice orders will be automatically served two cups of rice. Should they ask for more rice, the crew in charge will provide extra wrapped rice. Meanwhile, pre-portioned condiments are served together with the ordered meal.

All these show that Mang Inasal not only serves good food enjoyed by many, but it also has the safety and well-being of its stakeholders as a priority.

“We know how much everyone has missed dining at Mang Inasal,” says Business Unit Head Jojo P. Subido. “As we work towards the gradual return of in-store dining, we make sure to put our stakeholders at ease by placing their welfare as our top priority. In instituting all these precautions, we kept in mind our customers’ needs and concerns so that they can enjoy the Mang Inasal experience once again—safely and comfortably. We look forward to welcoming you back to our stores.”

As of this writing, over 80 percent of Mang Inasal stores around the country are open for dine-in.

Meanwhile, customers from Metro Manila can continue enjoying Mang Inasal meals by placing their orders through #7-3333 or via Grab, Food Panda, and Lalamove. They can also place their orders through Jose, the Mang Inasal Chatbot in Facebook Messenger.

They can likewise go to selected Mang Inasal stores for takeout or for Park, Pickup, and Go arrangements.

Managed Google Play earns key certifications for security and privacy

With managed Google Play, organizations can build a customized and secure mobile application storefront for their teams, featuring public and private applications. Organizations’ employees can take advantage of the familiarity of a mobile app store to browse and download company-approved apps.

As with any enterprise-grade platform, it’s critical that the managed Google Play Store operates with the highest standards of privacy and security. Managed Google Play has been awarded three important industry designations that are marks of meeting the strict requirements for information security management practices.

Granted by the International Organization for Standardization, achieving ISO 27001 certification demonstrates that a company meets stringent privacy and security standards when operating an Information Security Management System (ISMS). Additionally, managed Google Play received SOC 2 and 3 reports, which are benchmarks of strict data management and privacy controls. These designations and auditing procedures are developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Meeting a high bar of security management standards

To earn the ISO 27001 certification, auditors from Ernst & Young performed a thorough audit of managed Google Play based on established privacy principles. The entire methodology of documentation and procedures for managing other companies’ data are reviewed during an audit and must be made available for regular compliance review. Companies that use managed Google Play are assured their data is managed in compliance with this industry standard. Additionally, ISO 27001 certification is in line with GDPR compliance.

Secure data management

With SOC 2 and SOC 3 reports, the focus is on controls relevant to data security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy, which are verified through auditing reports. In managed Google Play, the data and private applications that enter Google’s systems are administered according to strict protocols, including determinations for who can view them and under what conditions. Enterprises require and receive the assurance that their information is handled with the utmost confidentiality and that the integrity of their data is preserved. For many companies, the presence of a SOC 2 and 3 report is a requirement when selecting a specific service. These reports prove that a service company has met and is abiding by best practices set forth by AICPA to ensure data security.

Ongoing commitment to enterprise security

With managed Google Play, companies’ private apps for internal use are protected with a set of verified information security management processes and policies to ensure intellectual property is secure. This framework includes managed Google Play accounts that are used by enterprise mobility management (EMM) partners to manage devices.

Their commitment is that Android will continue to be a leader in enterprise security. As your team works across devices and shares mission-critical data through applications hosted in managed Google Play, you have the assurance of a commitment to providing your enterprise with the highest standards of security and privacy.

4 Reasons Why You Should Use a Password Generator in Conjunction with a Password Manager

Passwords are complicated. Ideally, you are supposed to have a long, random and complicated password complete with letters, numbers and special characters. Unfortunately, if you forget the password—and chances are high you will thanks to the complexity—then you get locked out of your account.

On the other hand, if you opt for a weak and memorable password, then a hacker using brute force can easily hack you, get into your account and steal whatever he/she wants.

With those two options out, you might decide to memorize a complicated password and use it for all your accounts. Again, this has a weakness because if a hacker manages to guess that one password, then they have access to all your accounts; from banking accounts to social media and email.

That raises the question, what should you do? A good solution is to consider getting a password manager and a password generator.

What is a Password Generator and Manager?

A random password generator can either be a software or a hardware device that automatically generates a random password based on an input set of random characters. For example, based on an input set of characters A-Z, numbers 1-9 and all the special characters, it can generate a password such as gA"Z84>%2zQAKJ) `.

The longer the password, the more complex it is and the harder it is to hack through brute force—brute force is random guesswork until one gets the right password.

A password manager, on the other hand, is an app or program that manages these random passwords for you so that you do not have to labor remembering them. It stores the passwords in an encrypted vault, and you need a master password to access the vault.

To facilitate even more security, when typing in the master password, it is impossible for anyone to use a keylogger to determine what you are typing or even see what you are inputting over your shoulder.

You can purchase or download a password generator as a single entity, but more often than not, a password manager also has a password generator component.

Now that you fully understand what a password manager and a password generator are, it is essential to look at some of the reasons why you should be using the two.

1. A Password Generator Generates a Strong Password That Difficult to Hack

As noted above, a password generator generates a completely random password. With a random password, the only way of hacking it is through brute force. That is because there is nothing in the random password that can track back to you.

It is unlike a weak non-random password that often has elements that a hacker can deduce by digging into your life. A good example is a password that contains your date of birth. A hacker can use your social media accounts to determine the date of birth.

When brute force fails, as it often does with long, random, and unique passwords, then it follows that you are incredibly safe.

2. A Password Generator Ensures You Have Unique Passwords for Each Account

Statistics indicate that an average person has 7.6 active social media accounts. When you add banking accounts, emails, and anything else they might subscribe to, for example, Amazon or The Washington Post, then that number shoots to over 30 accounts per person.

A password generator will generate a unique password for each of these accounts ensuring that even if a hacker manages to get access to one, all the rest are safe.

3. A Password Manager Eliminates the Need to Remember Passwords

As noted above, remembering passwords is not easy. A password manager will store countless passwords, and every time you need one, all you have to do is retrieve the password.

That means even if you spend years without using a particular account, you will never get locked out of it because when the time comes to access the account again, all you have to do is look up the password.

Moreover, password managers are incredibly safe as they are essentially a vault. As a result, no one can access the list of passwords.

4. A Password Generator Ensures You Will Be Able to Comply with Password Requirements

Password best practices indicate that you should change your passwords one to two times per year. A piece on Business Insider shows that some experts recommend every 30 to 45 days. Either way, the consensus is that you should not hold on to a password for a long time.

The only way to ensure you change your passwords regularly and that those passwords are unique and just as secure is to use both a password generator and a password manager.

Moreover, most sites these days have some password requirements. Some will say that you mix small and capital letters, include numbers but no special character. Some accounts will require a special character.

The only way you can comply with such demands and still have a random and unique password is to use a password generator.

Final Thoughts

Clearly, a password generator is a necessity if you are to have strong passwords and avoid hackers. However, beware that you need to do your research before selecting a password generator or manager.

Ensure that they have a good reputation and that the technology behind both the password manager and generator is sound. For example, consider a password generator that uses all the known characters. At some point, it is bound to produce aaaaaaaa simply because it is one of the options.

A good password generator should ensure such options will not show up.