Caribbean needs to strengthen its Internet infrastructure

Internet Security expert Bill Woodcock speaks at a cyber security workshop at Grenada ICT Week, St Georges last week.Electronic security threats levels are on the rise globally, and the stakes are getting higher.

Kaspersky Lab’s Global IT Risks Report (2014) estimated that, after a data breach, small and medium sized business could spend up to $22,000 on staffing, training, and systems. Larger enterprises could potentially spend up to an additional $59,000 on staffing, $35,000 on training, and $75,000 on systems, the report said.

The Caribbean is far from exempt. Computer networks in both the public and private sector are increasingly under attack by a variety of malicious sources, and successful attacks can cause physical damage, economic loss and other cascading effects that could disrupt services, communications or trade.

The engineering needed to strengthen the region’s digital defenses is not only technical but social, says Bill Woodcock, Executive Director of Packet Clearing House, a US-based non-profit research organisation. Speaking on cyber security at the recently held Grenada ICT Week, in St. Georges, Woodcock said the key is to strengthen the region’s Internet infrastructure.

“One of the best strategies for governments and businesses to strengthen security is to invest in critical internet infrastructure and strengthen the human resource capacity within the region to analyse vulnerabilities, verify emerging threats, and execute mitigation strategies,” he said.

Establishing resources such as Internet exchange points, domain root servers within the region is key to improving the resilience and reliable of Internet services to citizens and businesses, he said, adding that building and educating the regional technical community is a vital component in protecting against cyberattacks. More