Cybersecurity is one of the most important operations and management tools to ensure Business Continuity. We are all familiar with the increase in the instances of hacking and other cybersecurity issues as a result of remote working, increased use of digital facilities due to COVID-19. The potential threat to cyber security is increasing in the region to both Caribbean Governments and enterprise. Threats and attacks launched through email, SMS and voice phishing, even insider threat attacks, or in person cybersecurity attacks has become a major concern to businesses globally, including the Caribbean. This has highlighted the need for developing stronger cyber defense capacity.
According to David Jessop, consultant to the Caribbean Council, the threat in a Caribbean context is real and damaging to many enterprises across the region. From a recent PwC Global CEO Survey conducted, it was realized among Caribbean CEOs that 67% per cent said cybersecurity was their leading concern. Many respondents indicated that there was a significant increase in incidents in 2020, including ransomware attacks. It was further noted that businesses increased spending by 10 percent or more in response.
Due to the implications for now and the future, it is essential to ensure consistency in security audits, penetration testing, and forensic investigations involving both local and international partners should be seen as a joint public-private responsibility. He further noted that this is the time when every Caribbean Governments, their agencies, and regional businesses should be thinking about how they respond jointly to the increasing threat. They need to be more pre-emptively aware of their vulnerability, the implications for a regionally connected digital society, and the need for robust legislation, that also ensures the protection of individual’s rights and the use of their data.
CARICHAM has seen the need to increase awareness among the Private Sector of the Caribbean on Cybersecurity to increase the understanding of our businesses on key actions to reduce the cyber threats to their businesses. As such, CARICHAM host the 7th Episode of the CARICHAM Regional Growth Series on Building Private Sector Resilience through Cybersecurity on July 2nd, 2021 from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM via Zoom.
Objectives :
1. To raise awareness on Cybersecurity threats in a context of massive digitalization of companies.
2. To share good practices among the Private Sector in terms of protection
3. Presentation of cybersecurity solutions
Moderator : Andrew Satney, CARICHAM’s Advisor on Trade Facilitation
Panelists :
Opening Remarks- Dax Driver, CARICHAM Outgoing Chairman
Presentations:
The Importance of Cybersecurity for the Business Continuity:
- Pablo Herrera, CISCO
- Tishon Thomas, SKNIT Solutions
The Importance of Cyber Security in Manufacturing:
- Paul Griswold, Chief Product Officer- Honeywell
The Importance of Cybersecurity in Trade and Business Logistics:
- Mathew Bonderud, Managing Director IT - Latin America Region, FedEx