Jamaica’s cybersecurity future took a major leap forward on July 4, with the launch of the Precision Cybersecurity Lab Initiative, a collaboration between Precision Cybertechnologies and Digital Solutions (PCDS) and the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus.

The event, held at S Hotel Kingston, brought together leaders in government, academia and the private sector to celebrate a combined effort to strengthen the country’s resilience to cyber threats.

The commissioning of the Precision Cybersecurity Lab, backed by a US$75,000 investment, signals a strategic and timely investment in human capital, digital innovation and regional security.

With cyberattacks becoming increasingly frequent and sophisticated, the Cyber Lab, which will be embedded within the Department of Computing in the Faculty of Science and Technology at UWI Mona, is poised to become a national hub for talent development, advanced research and collaborative problem-solving in the fight against cybercrime.

UWI Mona deputy principal Dr. Tomlin Paul, who brought remarks on behalf of principal, Professor Densil Williams, said, “This really marks the beginning of a landmark partnership between the UWI Mona campus and Precision Cybertechnologies, a company that is already leading the way in securing digital infrastructure across the Caribbean.”

He described the Cybersecurity Lab as a direct bridge between higher education and the workforce, and a model of what 21st-century education must look like.

Paul’s remarks were followed by Tyrone Anderson, senior director within the Ministry of Education. On behalf of his ministry, he had a strong call-to-action for the event’s attendees.

“Together, let us build a future where schools, institutions and citizens are not just digitally connected, but digitally protected, ” he said.

PCDS managing director Dr. Ronald Walcott delivered a presentation titled ‘Establishing a Regional Cybersecurity Lab: Reengineering Threat Intelligence to Secure the Caribbean’.

“Our belief is that we should be active hunters, not passive defenders,” he said, regarding his company’s approach to cybersecurity. “We can hunt down malware and destroy it before it can become pervasive and intrude.”

He noted that PCDS will be gathering data from its Cyber Lab at UWI Mona and another based in Trinidad.

“We are creating a threat intelligence platform that can be used by anyone in the region,” he said.

“It will support national security, academia and businesses.”

Delroy Simpson, chief technical director in the Security Risk Reform and Transformation Policy Unit of the Ministry of National Security, gave the keynote address and provided the context for why the work of PCDS and its upcoming Cyber Lab at UWI Mona is so important.

He said, “It is estimated that Latin America and the Caribbean endure over 2,600 cyberattacks per organisation per week, well above the global average.”

He added that cybercrime globally is projected to cost nearly US$1.2 trillion annually by the end of 2025, an amount that is 58 times Jamaica’s GDP for 2024.

Other speakers at the event included Dr Curtis Busby-Earle, senior lecturer in the Department of Computing and PCDS chairman Richard Smith, who gave the vote of thanks.

As cyber threats continue to evolve, the establishment of the Precision Cybersecurity Lab sends a clear message: Jamaica is not only ready to fight back, but mitigate cyber threats, and it is building a fit-for-purpose army to do it.

The launch of the Precision Cybersecurity Lab Initiative also served as the formal introduction of PCDS to the Jamaican market.

A member of the Trinidad and Tobago-based ASSL Group, PCDS is the Caribbean’s premier managed cybersecurity provider, with existing operations in Barbados, Guyana and St. Lucia.

Its expansion into Jamaica is part of a wider commitment to enhancing cyber-readiness across the region through partnerships, technology transfer and education.