In the first instalment in our Expert insights series on cyber threats and security for 2023, and one again with Sean Slattery of Caribbean Solutions Lab, he discusses, among other things: the changes in the threat landscape that occurred in 2022; the impact and implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the security space; how the emerging cyber insurance space has affected how organisations approach security; and three things organisations should be doing in 2023 to improve their network/IT security.

 

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

Cybersecurity continues to be a major topic in the business and technology space in the Caribbean region as more organisations have experienced breaches or other incidents, and more importantly, they are being publicly reported. Further, as organisations become increasingly digital, which can improve the productivity, efficiency and effectiveness of their operations, there is also a growing awareness of threats that exist, and consequently, the need not only to invest in security systems and personnel but also, to recognise the fact that sustained security management is needed.

It is also interesting to note that more standalone security-related events have been occurring across the region. Usually, the topic would be one of many discussed during a tech conference. But now, it appears that the Caribbean business community is more welcoming of that type of intelligence.

This podcast episode is the first update of 2023 in our longstanding Expert Insight series on cyber threats and security. As per usual, we invite security experts to share their views and knowledge – their insights – on network intrusion and security, generally and in the Caribbean region. Throughout 2023, we hope to speak with security experts from across the region and thus secure differing views and perspectives on the state of cyber threats and security in the Caribbean.

 

Introducing our guest

Sean Slattery

Sean Slattery is the Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Caribbean Solutions Lab (CSL), a cybersecurity service provider, based in the Cayman Islands. CSL has clients throughout the Caribbean region and in North America and offers comprehensive IT security, training and professional services since 2007.

Sean has deep experience in IT, having started with a background in Computer Science, and working his way across a gamut of IT roles. He has spent over fifteen years focusing primarily on cybersecurity. His specialities include:  firewall enterprise; web gateway; e-policy orchestration;  enterprise mobility management;  and application control.

 

 

Insights into our conversation

In regularly updating our series on cyber threats and security, we have been able to witness the development of this field in the Caribbean, along with the evolution of the global and regional threat landscape. To some degree and over the last few years, the threat landscape has not changed significantly; but how we live and work, and how we use technology, particularly in the workplace, has been changing, which in turn is creating new vulnerabilities. So, although the types of threats have remained the same, the construct in which they are being leveraged has been changing.

In chatting with Sean, a point he emphasised was keeping security simple. It may be better to have simpler security controls that are layered and integrated with each other, rather than highly complex and fandangled tools that are difficult to coordinate and manage. He also stressed the importance of establishing good practices and having systems in place that facilitate auditing, which will become invaluable should a breach or incident be experienced. However, below are several of the questions posed to Sean during our conversation.

  1. To start, can you give us a quick recap of what has been going on in the Caribbean region, with regard to cybersecurity threats and incidents?
  2. Although there seems to have been some clawback in remote working arrangements over the past year, organisations may now be grappling with managing security onsite and remotely. Are you observing any specific challenges in that hybrid construct?
  3. How has cloud security been evolving, and are organisations aware of the vulnerabilities and threats to which they could be exposed?
  4. In last month’s Community Chat, the panel discussed the vulnerability of critical services, such as health and water, to digital threats, cognisant that they are perpetually under-resourced generally, and with respect to cybersecurity. What are your thoughts and how might critical services better manage that conundrum?
  5. Over the past few months, there has been a growing awareness of Artificial Intelligence. What could be the impact and implications of AI in the security space?
  6. Have you observed or experienced any increase in organisations purchasing cyber insurance? And has the cyber insurance space affected how organisations approach security?
  7. In what areas have you observed organisations making cybersecurity investments, versus where you believe they should actually be investing?
  8. To what degree are Caribbean organisations focusing on risk, reputation, and business continuity in how they approach cybersecurity?
  9. What might be three (3) key things organisations should be doing in 2023 to improve their network/IT security?

 

We would love to hear from you!

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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!

 

Select links

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

 

 

Images credit:  S Slattery;  Dan Nelson (Unsplash);  Pete Linforth (Pixabay);  Tima Miroshnichenko (Pexels)

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

Podcast editing support:  Mayra Bonilla Lopez