“SMEs across the region are committed to strengthen their cybersecurity by recognizing both the challenges they face and the need to protect their data and systems. At LAC4, we’re proud to support entrepreneurs on this journey – not only through trainings, but also acting as partners in building a more resilient and coherent digital ecosystem in LAC region, because cyber threats do not recognize borders, and neither should our response.” – Merili Soosalu, LAC4 Programme Lead.
The training was conducted by two EU CyberNet experts: Mari Seeba, a leading cybersecurity expert in Estonian Information System Authority whose expertise lies in information security management, risk analysis and auditing, and Milena Patiño Villa who is a Colombian-Spanish cybersecurity expert with extensive experience in intelligence, corporate information security and risk management with a managerial background. “SMEs often underestimate cyber threats, leaving them vulnerable due to either limited resources or unpreparedness. This training hopefully helped them to identify risks and take concrete steps to strengthen their security,” explained Mari Seeba. “Investing in cybersecurity is not only protecting data, but it is also about building trust with customers and partners which is crucial for SMEs growth. Stronger SMEs mean also stronger regional resilience, making digital ecosystems safer and more sustainable,” Milena Patiño Villa added.
According to participants, they left the training with new perspective on cybersecurity: they realise and recognize its critical role in their business operations and learnt new, practical aspects and ways to enhance their resilience. The hands-on exercises equipped them with concrete risk management plans tailored to their needs, ensuring that they can immediately apply what they learnt. Beyond ensuring security of their own systems, companies also saw how enhanced cybersecurity helps to build trust with clients and partners, making their business more competitive. Many participants plan also to introduce the MASS tool among their peers, extending the impact of the training beyond their companies.
18 companies from Central American countries participated in the training: Avant Garde (Belize), Calimar de Puntarenas (Costa Rica), Cooperativas SanMarqueña (Honduras), EducaT-e S.A.S de C.V (El Salvador), Especias y Hierbas Aromáticas de Panamá (Panama), Grupo Fuentes (Honduras), Grupo VAPE (El Salvador), Innovaciones Ambientales (Costa Rica), Intranet Systems (Belize), Planet Positive Tech (Honduras), ProIDEhA® (Panama), Real Inversion Obtenida S.A (Guatemala), SmartBill Technologies (El Salvador), Snap Compliance (Costa Rica), Sytadi (Guatemala), Talent+ TEC Management (Guatemala), TRICORP (Panama) & United Networks Solutions Limited (Belize).
Training, funded by the European Union, was organized in cooperation between LAC4, the Delegations of European Union to Central American countries, Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID), Comisión de Gobierno Abierto y Electrónico (GAE) and EUreCA under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy.
Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC65Fq
