Nexus executive earns dual SANS Challenge Coins

A Filipino cybersecurity leader has earned dual SANS Challenge Coins in Amsterdam, a rare distinction among elite global cybersecurity professionals attending the SANS Institute Amsterdam Training in the Netherlands, known for its “world-class, expert-led” cybersecurity education.

Edmund Ray O. Milanes, assistant vice president and head of Orion Managed Services at Nexus Technologies, Inc., received two SANS Challenge Coins—one for the Digital Forensics & Incident Response NetWars Tournament and another for the FOR589 Cybercrime Investigations Course.

The SANS Institute, established in 1989, is considered the “highest standard in cybersecurity education” and is widely recognized as the world’s most trusted source for cybersecurity training, certifications, and research.

Milanes, a cybersecurity professional with 15 years of industry experience, earned the recognition for the Philippines, marking a notable achievement for Filipino cybersecurity professionals within the global cybersecurity community.

“This milestone not only celebrates individual excellence but also highlights the growing influence of Filipino talent in the global cybersecurity landscape,” Nexus Technologies, Inc. President Juan Chua said.

“This accomplishment also underscores the world-class expertise of Filipino cybersecurity professionals and further cements Nexus Technologies’ reputation as a leader in managed security solutions,” Chua added.

Milanes earned the Digital Forensics & Incident Response NetWars Tournament Coin after ranking among the top five out of more than 100 participants from around the world, an award given only to individuals who demonstrate exceptional mastery in digital forensics and incident response.

He also received the FOR589 Cybercrime Intelligence Capstone Challenge Coin as part of the winning group during the “final, full-day, hands-on exercise” of the FOR589: Cybercrime Investigations course.

Cybercrime investigation involves identifying, analyzing, and mitigating crimes committed through computer networks and the internet, with the capstone exercise simulating a fictional cybercrime campaign requiring teams to apply real-world investigative skills.

A Mapua University alumnus, Milanes is also one of only three Filipinos holding the GIAC Security Expert (GSE) certification, an elite credential held by just 400 professionals worldwide.

The GSE is regarded as the most prestigious cybersecurity certification in the industry and requires candidates to earn six Practitioner certifications and four Applied Knowledge certifications.

In March 2024, Milanes also won a SANS Challenge Coin for the FOR509: Enterprise Cloud Forensics and Incident Response challenge, earning the title of SANS Lethal Forensicator.

Orion Managed Services, the managed security services arm of Nexus Technologies, has accumulated 11 SANS Challenge Coins over the past three years across Digital Forensics, Incident Response, Cyber Defense, and Offensive Security.

The company is also among the few managed service providers in the Philippines certified under the latest ISO 27001:2022 Information Security Management System, achieving the certification with zero nonconformities.

Orion Managed Services provides cybersecurity solutions such as Cyber Threat Detection and Response through SIEM-as-a-Service, Managed Email Security, Endpoint Detection and Response, firewalls, web application firewall, and DDoS protection, Privileged Access Management, Continuous Email Awareness Service, Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing, and Red and Purple Team services.

These services are delivered by a team of more than 130 cybersecurity professionals with experience designing, implementing, and managing large-scale information technology and security infrastructure projects for major Philippine enterprises.