Precision Cybertechnologies and Digital Solutions (PCDS), in partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus, will launch the Precision Cybersecurity Lab this week at the S Hotel in New Kingston.

In a move to strengthen Jamaica’s digital defences and prepare the next generation of cyber professionals, the launch event will unveil plans for the state-of-the-art cybersecurity lab on Thursday (July 3).

The upcoming lab, which will be housed within the Department of Computing at UWI’s Faculty of Science and Technology, represents a US$75,000 investment in Jamaica’s digital security infrastructure.

It will offer advanced training, real-world simulations and research opportunities, while also facilitating a structured internship programme for UWI students.

The launch of the Precision Cybersecurity Lab will mark the formal entry of PCDS into the Jamaican market. A member of the ASSL Group headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago, PCDS is the Caribbean’s premier managed cybersecurity provider.

With a regional presence in Barbados, Guyana, and St. Lucia, PCDS brings to Jamaica a wealth of expertise in combating cyber threats through cutting-edge technology, innovation and regional collaboration.

The Precision Cybersecurity Lab initiative aligns with growing regional and global concerns over cybercrime and the need for robust, locally grown solutions to protect digital assets, institutions, and citizens.

Cybercrime continues to pose an increasing threat to individuals, businesses and government institutions across Jamaica. In recent years, both public and private sector entities in Jamaica have experienced cyberattacks that disrupted operations, exposed sensitive data and compromised public trust. With more services moving online, the potential fallout from a major cyber incident is greater than ever.

Combating these threats requires more than just firewalls and anti-virus software. It calls for a pipeline of trained professionals, localised expertise and coordinated response strategies. The Precision Cybersecurity Lab is a critical step in that direction, which will help Jamaica to proactively build resilience and drive innovation in the field of digital security.

“The Precision Cybersecurity Lab is an investment in Jamaica’s future, and, by extension, the wider Caribbean,” explained Dr Ronald Walcott, PCDS managing director.

“By building this local capacity and offering hands-on training, we are strengthening resilience against cyber threats for the whole region. This is a facility from which not only Jamaicans, but other Caribbean nationals, will benefit.”

Dr Curtis Busby-Earle, lead researcher of the Computer Intrusions, Forensics and Exploitations Research (CIFER) group in the Department of Computing, agrees with Walcott.

“The real-world training that PCDS will provide to students of our cybersecurity major will ensure that Jamaica has well-trained and highly skilled professionals to combat the ever-growing cyber threat,” he said.

UWI Mona principal Professor Densil Williams added, “We are proud to have partnered with Precision on this initiative. When we were approached by the organisation with its proposal, the benefits to our students, the country and the region were evident. We now look forward to completing the lab and executing our internship programme together.”