Cybersecurity has been gaining ground among the concerns and initiatives of various governments, organizations and individuals. Improving leadership skills on cybersecurity issues and bringing conversations about these risks to the board level is crucial to advancing cyber resiliency.

The Covid pandemic has been one of the factors that accelerated the digitization processes and along with it, cyberattacks have increased. In 2020 malware and ransomware attacks increased by 358% and 435% respectively [1].

So much so that the report ‘Global Risks, 2023’, from the World Economic Forum (WEF), places cybersecurity in the 8th place of threats for this year. And if we focus on the perceptions of the company, cybersecurity rises to position 4 of the current risks.

The report is based, on the one hand, on the Global Risks Survey carried out among 1,200 experts from academia, business, government, the international community and civil society; and, on the other, on the Executive Opinion Survey applied to 12,000 business leaders in 121 countries.

In this context, one of the worthiest recommendations is related to the importance of identifying and anticipating risks. A threat audit and mapping are crucial for making the right strategic decisions, establishing roadmaps and adopting resilience measures. Likewise, the WEF report recommends that business leaders not focus exclusively on the threats of the present, thus minimizing the evolution of risks over time. Specifically, it is suggested that they “must embrace complexity and adopt a dual vision that more effectively balances current crisis management with a longer-term perspective.”

Delfim Ferreira, Connectis’ Latam Security Manager, assures that the key is to adopt a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity. “Cybersecurity must be integrated into the fabric of the organization, from its managers to all its collaborators, and from the infrastructure to the applications and the design of the workplace. Knowing the risks of the organization and having the participation of everyone is essential”.

And how is the region in cybersecurity?

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies, develops the Global Cybersecurity Index. It is an indicator of the development of countries in different areas to adequately face the threats in this area, considering legal, technical, organizational, capacity development and cooperation aspects.

In the Americas, Brazil stands out in third position (behind only the US and Canada, and number 18 globally), Chile is in seventh place and Argentina is in thirteenth position. For Chile, the ITU recommends improving technical capabilities while Argentina has an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of security.

The interconnection and convergence of digital tools will continue to increase. Therefore, digital trust is the key to innovation and well-being.

If you are considering auditing the cybersecurity risks of your organization or if you are thinking of developing a cybersecurity policy, you can contact us.

We have an expert security team to design, build and manage a security infrastructure that minimizes exposure and protects the business.

[1] https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_Global_Risks_Report_2022.pdf

Sources:

https://www.itu.int/epublications/publication/D-STR-GCI.01-2021-HTM-E