Experts at the Ministry of National Security CyberSMART Conference on Tuesday shared insights on ways regional organisations have been fighting cybercrime and cybercriminal organisations.

While giving her keynote address, Kerry-Ann Barrett, Chief of Cybersecurity Section at the Organisation of Associated States (OAS), stated that as countries digitise and connect citizens online for more efficient government services, cybersecurity risks associated with these advances are becoming more pronounced.

“The shift to improve our service delivery and competitiveness will automatically increase attacks, as the more connected we become, the greater the number of potential entry points for launching cyberattacks,” Barrett said.

She noted that government officials and institutions need to also utilise technical experts in an effort to ensure safety across digital platforms. “We take it as a foregone conclusion that when we implement off-the-shelf solutions and we don’t invest in the technical expertise that is needed in our country, we are going to be safe,” she said. “There are some real unique challenges in our region where even with investment in technological solutions, we need to have the resources or expertise to be able to work with these solutions.”

She emphasised that the OAS mission for the past 20 years has been to strengthen the cybersecurity framework from across the Americas, with a focus on providing technical assistance, building capacity, and providing regional and international cooperation. “At the core of our efforts lies a firm commitment to creating a safe, resilient, inclusive digital environment where gender is considered fully integrated into essential components of making a sustainable approach to cybersecurity,” Barrett added.

Dale Joseph, Chief Analyst Cyber for CARICOM IMPACS, the arm for crime and security in 15 CARICOM member states and six associate states, further outlined some cyber trends in the region.

Joseph said that CARICOM IMPACS has seen an increase in remote working and digital skills training as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has resulted in a few member states working on work-from-home policies to guide remote work within the region.

However, this poses challenges from a cybersecurity perspective. “Some of the existing challenges we have in the region are limited cybercrime policies and laws. If there is no law, there is no crime; therefore, how we legislate technology-based crime will guide how we could respond to it,” he said.

“There is also a shortage of skilled professionals from a cybersecurity perspective and from a law enforcement investigative perspective. Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI) is on the rise and has been used by criminals to perpetrate identity theft. We are also seeing more sophistication as it relates to business email compromises leading to fraud or financial issues,” Joseph added.

He highlighted that there are also cryptocurrency-related crimes, data breaches, and unauthorised access, and youth involvement in a series of online crimes, including sextortion.

To address these challenges, CARICOM IMPACS has adopted a strategic approach to deal with cyber matters. “We have been advancing the CARICOM Security and Cybercrime Action Plan, advancing capacity building and training by delivering training in cryptocurrency investigations, open-source intelligence, and dark web investigation in our breakout room,” Joseph added.

He noted that in 2024 the OAS launched the Cyber Fusion Unit (CFU), a coordination unit with responsibility for coordinating responses to cyber incidents, cybercrime, and cyber defence matters within its member states. “The CFU is dedicated to protecting the region’s critical infrastructure, promoting trust and cooperation, and enhancing the overall cyber resilience of CARICOM Members,” he said.