CyberWeek@LAC4 opened on Monday, 11th November with remarks by Guido Gómez Mazara (the President of the Dominican Institute of Telecommunications – INDOTEL), Katja Afheldt (the Ambassador of the European Union to the Dominican Republic), Liina Areng (Director of LAC4 and EU CyberNet) and Cesar Moline (LAC4 Policy Lead), setting the stage for dynamic sessions and hands-on training.
Cyber Threats and Collaborative Response
First day focused on emerging cyber threats and response readiness. The day began with an analysis of the evolving threat landscape, emphasizing the necessity of shared situational awareness. Sessions on incident response maturity and intelligence adaptation underscored the importance of flexibility and inter-agency collaboration. Participants engaged in discussions on offensive cybersecurity strategies and proactive defense, with practical guidance on digital forensics and crisis decision-making. By the end of the day, attendees had gained a comprehensive view of collaborative efforts necessary for a resilient cybersecurity ecosystem.
Tackling Ransomware and Leveraging AI for Cyber Defense
Ransomware and AI-driven defense strategies took center stage on the second day. Experts shared case studies on the devastating effects of ransomware, particularly on government infrastructures in Latin America, underscoring the need for cross-border cooperation. Practical sessions covered national CSIRTs’ role in crisis management, threat intelligence training, and cloud-based resilience. The day also explored AI’s role in enhancing cybersecurity defenses and predicting future threats. The discussions concluded with forward-looking strategies for addressing the region’s unique challenges, equipping participants with knowledge to enhance resilience across borders.
0ct0b3rf35t – A Networking Event
The three days were followed by the 0ct0b3rf35t, a side-event offering a more informal environment for experts to network and explore wide range of topics without disclosure. The topics covered from the use of open-source platform and national case studies to sectoral cybersecurity issues.
Concluding Note
CyberWeek@LAC4 2024 underscored the critical role of cross-regional partnerships in building cyber resilience. Through practical sessions, strategic insights, and open dialogue, the event successfully empowered participants to tackle current and future cybersecurity challenges. This collaborative effort laid the groundwork for a more resilient, well-connected cybersecurity community across Latin America, the Caribbean, and beyond.
LAC4 extends its gratitude to the Estonian Chamber of Commerce, the Czech Embassy, NUMU, Indotel, the National Cyber Security Centre and the EU Delegation to the Dominican Republic for their support in making CyberWeek@LAC4 2024 possible. LAC4 thanks all speakers:
Juan Manuel Aguilar, Ago Ambur, Sille Arikas, Omar Avilez, Ignacio Briones, Jhomil Borrel, Angelica Castillo, Joaquin Cabrera, Alexandru Ciobanu, Jurica Cular, Cesar Farro, Koen van Impe, Tadas Jakstas, Dale Joseph, Godfrey Kutumela, Carlos Leonardo, Barbara Louis-Sidney, Rick Logan-Stanford, Irshad Nasir, Jorge Merchan, Marvin Moraga Calvo, Danielle Morgan, Daniel Mühlenberg, Jakub Onderka, Mauricio Leite Ferreira da Silva, Diego Subero, Sergio Suárez, Emilio Smith, Miroslav Stampar, Cedric Pradel, Michael Thomas, Elena Villaescusa, Luis Carlos Herrera Velasquez.
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/eucybernet/albums/
