In the second instalment in our Expert insights series on cyber threats and security for 2022, and with Deon Olton, of the Caribbean Cyber Security Centre, he discusses, among other things: the changes in the threat landscape that occurred since the pandemic; what should be the primary goal of cybersecurity in organisations; and three things organisations should be doing in 2022 to improve their network/IT security.

 

This episode is also available on SoundCloud, Apple iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, Amazon Music and on Stitcher!

In February, and for 2022, we launched Expert insights series cyber threats and security, in which we discuss the trends and occurrences in the Caribbean region. This week’s podcast episode is the second instalment, through which we hope to provide a different perspective, thanks to a different expert.

Over the past few weeks, and thanks to the Ukraine-Russia war, cybersecurity and cyber warfare have been gaining greater prominence. We also have projections from leading a cybersecurity firm that threats and incidents in the Latin America And Caribbean region will increase.  It is thus opportune to continue this conversation, in the hope of providing more insights on what has been happening in Caribbean region, which it is hoped, will help individuals and organisations to be more informed and to think more strategically.

 

Introducing our guest

Deon Olton

Deon Olton is the ICT/Cyber Security Lead Consultant of the Caribbean Cyber Security Centre, which is headquartered in Barbados. He is a University of the West Indies graduate and Certified Ethical Hacker, who has also had a broad range of experience in the software and development, ICT and telecoms fields, which has strengthens his understanding of the needs and imperative of managements, along with the internal technical support teams in organisations.

Deon is a well-known cyber security expert, having assisted multiple organisations to improve their security posture. He has written annual cyber security predictions for the region and has been a featured speaker at several regional cyber security and digital forensic forums.

 

 

Insights into our conversation

Like many cybersecurity experts, Deon is passionate about the field, and the need for more Caribbean organisations to be pay greater attention to security, and to be prepared to put the requisite systems in place. It was thus quite sobering to hear that when organisations do discover they have been breached, typically the initial intrusion would have occurred much earlier – at least three months to 200-plus days earlier. However, it is only when an incident has occurred that organisations tend to scramble to try to remedy the situation; but it would be unclear the extent of the damage experienced, and the ways in which they had been compromised in the intervening period.

Below are key questions that were posed to Deon during the course of our conversation.

  1. What have been the types of incidents experience in the Barbados and/or in the wider Caribbean region over the past year or so?
  2. How has the threat landscape changed over the past couple of year? Are there any particular areas of concern that you have for Caribbean organisations, or the region as a whole?
  3. Tell us about the Caribbean Cyber Security Center, and what are some of the services it offers?
  4. A big area that CCSC has been focussing on is child online protection. What was the impetus for that focus, and what might be some of the activities that are being planned in the short term?
  5. As we continue in some kind of remote working arrangement, have the threats evolved from what you had been observing over the couple of years?
  6. In organisations, what should be the primary goal of cybersecurity?
  7. As a security professional and contractor, did you observe any changes in the role or functions of IT/cybersecurity personnel over the past few years?
  8. Have you be observing demand for IT/cybersecurity personnel in the Caribbean region, and if so, in what areas is there demand?
  9. What are the top three (3) things businesses should be doing this year, to improve your network/IT security?

 

We would love to hear from you!

Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our Facebook or LinkedIn pages, or via Twitter, @ICTPulse.

Also, if you or a member of your network is interested in joining us for an episode, do get in touch.
Let’s make it happen!

 

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Images credit: D Olton;  Marco Verch Professional Photographer (flickr);  Marco Verch Professional Photographer (flickr);  Piqsels

Music credit: The Last Word (Oui Ma Chérie), by Andy Narrell

Podcast editing support: Mayra Bonilla Lopez