- Costa Rica declared a national emergency after cyberattacks disrupted critical services, underscoring the need for stronger regional cybersecurity cooperation, in April 2022.
- Paula Brenes Ramírez, president of the Yod Foundation, addressed ongoing challenges in Latin America’s cybersecurity through her research, which was selected for the 2024 Líderes Programme by LACNIC.
What happened
Costa Rica faced a series of cyberattacks that disrupted critical services such as healthcare and payroll in April 2022. As a result, the country declared a national emergency—the first of its kind in Latin America. The incident showed the urgent need for stronger regional cooperation and cyber diplomacy.
Two years on, cybersecurity still poses a serious challenge in Latin America. Paula Brenes Ramírez, president of the Yod Foundation, tackled these issues in her research. Her project was chosen for the 2024 Líderes Programme by LACNIC. Brenes investigated cybersecurity policies and interviewed experts. She focused on how trust networks—collaborations among governments, businesses, civil society, and experts—can help combat regional cyber threats.
The research also looked at cyber diplomacy, which uses digital tools to achieve foreign policy aims. Brenes gained practical insights from experts, including representatives from Digi Americas Alliance and ADELA, who shared their strategies for cooperation.
To raise public awareness, Brenes created videos using artificial intelligence. These videos depict real cyberattacks in the region. Her findings highlight the importance of integrating cybersecurity policies across all sectors, expanding international cooperation, and boosting the collaboration of Cybersecurity Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs).
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Why it is important
This research underscores the importance of cybersecurity collaboration in Latin America. The 2022 cyberattacks in Costa Rica showed how vulnerable critical services can be. Declaring a national emergency was a wake-up call, revealing the urgent need for better regional cooperation and cyber diplomacy.
Two years later, the threat persists. Paula Brenes Ramírez’s research offers a proactive approach. By investigating trust networks—bringing together governments, businesses, civil society, and experts—she explored ways to strengthen cybersecurity defences. Her interviews with experts from Digi Americas Alliance and ADELA offered practical insights into building these networks.
Brenes also used AI to create videos illustrating real cyberattacks, helping raise public awareness. Her findings stress integrating cybersecurity policies across sectors and fostering regional and international cooperation, particularly among CSIRTs. This focus on actionable collaboration is crucial to improving Latin America’s cybersecurity resilience and safeguarding essential services.
