In his intervention, he noted that cybersecurity capacity in the Caribbean and Latin America has steadily improved, but the overall picture remains mixed. “While several nations are making significant progress in developing cybersecurity frameworks and establishing institutions to address evolving threats, some countries still face considerable challenges in advancing their cybersecurity posture due to limited resources, capacity gaps and ever-changing cyber threat landscape.”

Need for Collaboration and a Multi-Faceted Approach

César Moliné stressed that to bridge such aps and strengthen regional cybersecurity, effective collaboration between nations and international partners is essential. “Regional and international partnerships play a crucial role in bolstering and harmonization of cybersecurity frameworks, facilitating knowledge transfer and supporting national cybersecurity capacity.”

Working together towards regional resilience and cybersecurity ecosystem lessens duplication and bridges capacity gaps. Moreover, César Moliné noted, in addition to policy and regulatory measures, investing into education and upskilling workforce enables greater development. “For example, establishing a standardized curriculum across the region can ensure consistent level of expertise and pool cybersecurity professionals for leveraging the economies of scale principle. Furthermore, integrating cybersecurity early on into education, raises awareness and builds digital safety among citizens.” Additionally, encouraging interdisciplinary approaches such as incorporating cybersecurity principles into different fields such as law, business or public administration can further enhance overall cybersecurity resilience, he noted.

Ensuring Sustainable Development to Build Resilience

While international funding and partnerships still play a vital role in LAC regional cybersecurity capacity building, their long-term effectiveness hinges on sustainable cooperation, taking local ownership and building self-reliance. “International cybersecurity initiatives must prioritise impact-driven approaches to empower local institutions and professionals. This way, it ensures that these cybersecurity programs are not dependent on external supports, but rather integrated into existing frameworks. This is crucial for long-term success and leveraging collective expertise”.

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