IAM Security Best Practices

Event Recap: IAM Security Best Practices
📍 AWS Office, 21st Floor, Arthaland Tower, 5th Avenue corner 30th Street, Taguig City
📅 July 29, 2025 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

The “IAM Security Best Practices” event was held last July 29, 2025, at the AWS Office in Taguig City. Hosted by the AWS Security Users Group Philippines and organized by Armada Innovation Labs in collaboration with Accumena Reliable Solutions Inc. and RSA, the event gathered professionals from both government and private sectors to explore the evolving landscape of Identity and Access Management (IAM).

The event opened with registration and a networking lunch, providing a relaxed environment for early arrivals to connect and engage with fellow attendees. This was followed by opening remarks from Kyle Atendido, Senior DevOps/DevSecOps Specialist and AWS Security Users Group Advocate, who welcomed everyone and shared the mission behind the community-led AWS Security Users Group. His message highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in the security space.

The first keynote session was delivered by Dean Armada, CEO and Chief Architect of Armada Innovation Labs. He presented on AWS IAM Security Best Practices, discussing essential strategies for managing permissions, securing identities, and building resilient access frameworks in cloud-native environments. His talk was complemented by a live demo led by Kyle Atendido, who showcased practical IAM configurations and tools available on AWS, giving the audience hands-on insights into implementation.

The second session featured Kavier Koo, Systems Engineer for RSA – Southeast Asia, who spoke about broader IAM best practices beyond cloud environments. His presentation focused on the integration of identity governance, the role of zero trust in access controls, and how organizations can align IAM strategies with business security goals. The session emphasized the importance of choosing the right IAM tools and frameworks tailored to specific organizational needs.

After a short break for snacks and networking, attendees reassembled for the highlight of the event — the panel discussion. This segment brought together key voices in cybersecurity and networking: Mark Dave Tacadena, First Sergeant of the Cyber Mission Group at AFP Cyber Command; Raquel Marasigan, Cyber & Forensics Manager at PwC Philippines; Ronwill Sia, Network Engineer 4 at Telus Digital; and earlier speakers Dean Armada and Kavier Koo. Moderated by Sheila Vasquez, Chief Revenue Officer of Accumena Reliable Solutions, alongside Kyle Atendido, the panel explored real-world IAM challenges, including managing user access at scale, aligning policies with compliance requirements, and navigating the human element in identity security. The open conversation allowed panelists to share diverse perspectives from both enterprise and national security viewpoints.

The event concluded with a short closing segment led by the teams from Armada Innovation Labs and Accumena Reliable Solutions Inc., who expressed appreciation to the attendees, partners, and panelists. Giveaways were distributed, and participants left with valuable takeaways, strengthened connections, and a deeper understanding of IAM’s role in today’s security-first landscape.