The month of October has been designated Cyber Security Awareness Month (Cyber Month), an internationally recognized campaign held every October to educate individuals and businesses about the value of safeguarding their online assets as threats to technology and sensitive data multiply.
As cyber security threats begin to increase within our region, we are sadly unprepared, and we believe it is crucial now more than ever to strengthen our infrastructure. Furthermore, according to a joint study by the Center for Strategic Studies and McAfee published earlier this year, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have become a new frontier for cyber-attacks and crime at an estimated cost of around US$90 billion per year.
To initiate the conversation, J.E. Bergasse and partner Check Point held a 3-day brunch-style training from October 4 to October 6, 2022, on cyber risks and mitigation techniques with the intention of helping Saint Lucian businesses safeguard their digital assets.
Over 40 attendees across the hospitality, government, banking & finance, telecommunications, utilities, insurance, and legal sectors participated both in person and virtually in the discussion held over the 3-day workshops.
The sessions led by Travais Sookoo, Check Point Security Engineer, within the Caribbean region, proved to be a success as participants raised concerns about vulnerability in cyber security systems, as threats have become more pronounced in recent years.
On Friday, October 7, 2022, the cyber security week concluded with a session in which 50 students from the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College’s Computer Information Technology and Computer Systems Engineering programs discussed risks and careers with the J.E. B Technical Sales & Solutions team.
J.E. Bergasse aims to ensure that local businesses are armed with adequate and appropriate information and consultation on how to mitigate and prepare for attacks, as well as combat them if they occur. We anticipate that this is just the first of many discussions about how to enhance the local digital frameworks in Saint Lucia.