ABSTRACT
In order to build capacity, one must identify a baseline of the challenges and existing capacities. The lack of reliable information in the region has always been a challenge when considering how to strategically approach cybersecurity capacity at a national and regional level. As a background to why building regional cybersecurity capacity is important, Latin American and the Caribbean is the region with the third-highest Internet usage growth in the globe from 2000 to 2019: a 2,325% growth rate. Cybersecurity initiatives in the region often compete with national infrastructure projects which often take precedence in national budgetary considerations. The Organization of American States (OAS) over the years has recognized that cybersecurity preparedness enhances a country’s readiness to respond to cyber threats. An open and secure Internet, in which citizens can engage and trust, is of paramount importance to the OAS.
