{"id":156565,"date":"2021-03-03T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?p=156565"},"modified":"2021-03-03T06:12:20","modified_gmt":"2021-03-03T11:12:20","slug":"ictp-144-2021-expert-insights-update-on-cyber-threats-and-security-in-the-caribbean-with-sean-slattery-of-caribbean-solutions-lab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2021\/03\/ictp-144-2021-expert-insights-update-on-cyber-threats-and-security-in-the-caribbean-with-sean-slattery-of-caribbean-solutions-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"ICTP 144:  2021 Expert Insights update on cyber threats and security in the Caribbean, with Sean Slattery of Caribbean Solutions Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>In the first instalment in our Expert insights series&nbsp;on cyber threats and security<\/em><strong><em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>for 2021, and with Sean Slattery of Caribbean Solutions Lab, he discusses, among other things: the changes in the threat landscape that occurred in 2020; key vulnerabilities due to remote working and working from home; the impact of the pandemic on the role of IT\/cybersecurity personnel; and three&nbsp;things organisations should be doing in 2021 to improve their network\/IT security.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" height=\"166\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" allow=\"autoplay\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/997671121&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true\"><\/iframe><div style=\"font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-673719274\" title=\"ICT Pulse Podcast\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;\" rel=\"noopener\">ICT Pulse Podcast<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-673719274\/ictp-144-2021-expert-insights\" title=\"ICTP 144: 2021 Expert Insights update on cyber threats and security in the Caribbean, with Sean Slattery of Caribbean Solutions Lab\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;\" rel=\"noopener\">ICTP 144: 2021 Expert Insights update on cyber threats and security in the Caribbean, with Sean Slattery of Caribbean Solutions Lab<\/a><\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>This episode is also available in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/ict-pulse-podcast\/id1373550291\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apple iTunes<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/playmusic.app.goo.gl\/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&amp;isi=691797987&amp;ius=googleplaymusic&amp;apn=com.google.android.music&amp;link=https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/m\/Icau5acn2xiyl5yjuh7orl2mt54?t%3DICT_Pulse_Podcast%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Play Music<\/a> and on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/ict-pulse-podcast?refid=stpr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stitcher<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the fallout due to the security lapses of Jamaica\u2019s JamCOVID19 website still occurring and still a hot topic, we are continually reminded of the importance of data protection and of security in all of its forms, such as network security, IT security, information security and cybersecurity.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2020, due to the pandemic, there was a marked shift from in-person communication and transactions to a reliance on digital channels, and correspondingly, a surge in cyberattacks and incidents was also experienced. Some of the incidents were due to security vulnerabilities in software applications and online platforms, whilst many others occurred thanks to the poor security practices of organisations and individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If there is anything 2020 highlighted \u2013 especially since we are all spending more time online and interfacing with digital tools \u2013 is the need for all of us to become even more vigilant and to take security seriously. Many government ministries, departments and agencies, along with prominent private sector organisations here in the Caribbean, have experienced some sort of network breach or incident, but frequently, these occurrences are kept private. However, besides the embarrassment and fear of loss of public confidence (among other things) that could occur when incidences are made public, we all may be experiencing a false sense of security, since we may have a very limited sense of the scale and frequency of the attacks that are being experienced in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the years, we, at ICT Pulse, have tried to provide yearly updates on cyberthreats and security in the Caribbean region, whilst also paying attention to the global landscape, which no doubt, has an impact on what occurs in the region. We keep the tradition going with the first instalment for 2021 of our Expert Insights series on cyberthreats and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Introducing our guest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"156569\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/2021\/03\/ictp-144-2021-expert-insights-update-on-cyber-threats-and-security-in-the-caribbean-with-sean-slattery-of-caribbean-solutions-lab\/for-publishing-permissioncontact-239-994-4239-spkslatterygmail-com\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sean-Slattery-S-Slattery.jpg?fit=1717%2C1626&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1717,1626\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Photo by Sean Slattery&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D500&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;For publishing permission,contact 239-994-4239\\\/spkslattery@gmail.com&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1590342986&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;80&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;320&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;For publishing permission,contact 239-994-4239\\\/spkslattery@gmail.com&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"For publishing permission,contact 239-994-4239\/spkslattery@gmail.com\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;For publishing permission,contact 239-994-4239\/spkslattery@gmail.com&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Sean Slattery&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sean-Slattery-S-Slattery.jpg?fit=300%2C284&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sean-Slattery-S-Slattery.jpg?fit=1024%2C970&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Sean-Slattery-S-Slattery-1024x970.jpg?resize=300%2C286&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-156569\" width=\"300\" height=\"286\"\/><figcaption>Sean Slattery<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/seancsl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Sean Slattery<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;is back. Sean is the Founder and Chief Technology Officer of&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.caribbeansolutionslab.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Caribbean Solutions Lab<\/a>, a cybersecurity service provider, based in the Cayman Islands, with clients throughout the Caribbean and North America, which offers comprehensive IT security, training and professional services.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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 a decade focusing primarily on cybersecurity, and has been closely affiliated with global computer security software company, McAfee. His specialities include:&nbsp;&nbsp;firewall enterprise; web gateway; e-policy orchestration;&nbsp;&nbsp;enterprise mobility management;&nbsp;&nbsp;and application control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Insights into our conversation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sean is enthusiastic about security, and he always imparts numerous gems, along with some sobering statistics, which really make you pay attention. Our conversation was recorded just a few days before\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2021\/02\/17\/jamaica-immigration-travelers-data-exposed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TechCrunch<\/a>\u00a0published its article on the JamCOVID19 website security lapses; and so there are no references to that development in our discussion. However, in listening to Sean\u2019s advice and insights, the JamCOVID19 website may frequently came to mind \u2013 especially to highlight \u2018<em>what not to do\u2019<\/em>, and the fact that just because an individual\u2019s or an organisation\u2019s focus is IT, it does not automatically mean that they are security experts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Security has become a specialist field, with several disciplines. More importantly, the field is continually evolving, and so requires continually learning and skills development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below are some of the questions posed to Sean during the course of our conversation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"1\"><li>Give us a quick recap of what has been going on in the Caribbean region, with regard to cybersecurity threats and incidents?<\/li><li>With so many of us working from home, or in some kind of remote working arrangement, what are some of the threats to which we could be subject?<\/li><li>How might users, and even their employers, reduce the chance of a successful breach?<\/li><li>There seems to be a growing concern about the security of the cloud. What could be the nature or form of the threat?<\/li><li>As a security professional and contractor, did you observe any changes in the role or functions of IT\/cybersecurity personnel over the past year (during the pandemic)?<\/li><li>What are important skills cybersecurity applicants ought to possess to better ensure their marketability and suitability for security-related roles?<\/li><li>After all of what we have discussed, are there any new and emerging threats of which we should be more aware?<\/li><li>What might be three key things organisations should be doing in 2021 to improve their network\/IT security?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>We would love to hear from you!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Do leave us a comment either here beneath this article, or on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ICTPulse\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/ict-pulse-consulting-limited\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>LinkedIn<\/strong><\/a> pages, or via Twitter, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ICTPulse\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>@ICTPulse<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Select links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/seancsl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sean Slattery<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.caribbeansolutionslab.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Caribbean Solutions Lab<\/a><\/li><li>Reuters article,&nbsp;&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-cyber-solarwinds-microsoft-idUSKBN2AF03R\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SolarWinds hack was &#8216;largest and most sophisticated attack&#8217; ever: Microsoft president<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>New Yoker article,&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/news\/daily-comment\/after-the-solarwinds-hack-we-have-no-idea-what-cyber-dangers-we-face\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">After the SolarWinds Hack, We Have No Idea What Cyber Dangers We Face<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Orange Matter article,&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/orangematter.solarwinds.com\/2021\/01\/11\/new-findings-from-our-investigation-of-sunburst\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Findings From Our Investigation of SUNBURST<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>ICT Pulse Podcast episode,&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/fgd.dfv.mybluehost.me\/.website_c81a1e61\/2020\/03\/ictp-095-expert-insights-cyber-threats-security-trends-advice-importance-fundamentals-sean-slattery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ICTP 095: Expert insights on cyber threats and security \u2013 trends, advice and the importance of the fundamentals, with Sean Slattery<\/a><\/em> <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Image credits:  S Slattery; Darwin Laganzon (<a href=\"http:\/\/pixabay.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pixabay<\/a>);  Pete Linforth (<a href=\"http:\/\/pixabay.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pixabay<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Music credit:  Ray Holman<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> &nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the first instalment in our Expert insight series on cyber threats and security for 2021, and with Sean Slattery of Caribbean Solutions Lab, he discusses, among other things: the changes in the threat landscape that occurred in 2020; key vulnerabilities due to remote working and working from home; the impact of the pandemic on the role of IT\/cybersecurity personnel; and three things organisations should be doing in 2021 to improve their network\/IT security.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":156568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[355],"tags":[105,39,207,48,357,262,316],"class_list":["post-156565","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-podcast","tag-cybercrimecybersecurity","tag-equipment-security","tag-expert-insights-series","tag-infrastructure","tag-interviews","tag-it-security","tag-network-security","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Featured-Image-2021-Expert-Insights-w-Sean-Slattery.jpg?fit=1024%2C561&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2iE1G-EJf","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156565","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=156565"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156565\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":156587,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/156565\/revisions\/156587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/156568"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=156565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=156565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=156565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}