The Cyber Security Awareness Forum of CTU ICT Week was held on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort. The event was attended by officials from both public and private sectors, along with students from secondary schools. The event was started with a presentation and followed by two panel discussions addressing the importance of cyber security and evolving digital outlook.
Bevil Wooding, Director of Caribbean Affairs at the American Registry for Internet Numbers, and Tracy Hackshaw, Head of Post Business Management, shared the information via presentation. They were also accompanied by a team from the Caribbean Cyber Security Agency. The panel discussion was held by very energetic professionals. Discourses on strategic risk management, strong security control, and cyber security in business were the important elements of the panel discussion.
The e-Government Coordinator for St. Kitts and Nevis, Ophelia Blanchard, asserted that the government is upgrading cyber security as it is the top priority to transform the island digitally. “It is important to ensure that our citizens are educated about the consequences of cyber-attacks and look at ways in which they can secure their devices and their data in a safe way,” she stated.
A second panel shared the knowledge on the topics related to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. They addressed the significance of AI and machine learning in cyber defense and its implications for the Caribbean. They encouraged the members to include skilled students from secondary school as they are more aware of smart devices, technology, and artificial intelligence.
While speaking for students, Ophelia Blanchard added, “Students are exposed to the technology, and we really want to safeguard them. We have an emphasis on child protection online to ensure that we put measures in place to safeguard our youth as they engage in technology even more than the adults.”
The Caribbean Telecommunication Union Information and Communication Technology (CTU ICT) looks forward to establish and transform the digital landscape of St. Kitts and Nevis by improving the information and communication sector and enhancing cyber security. In the CTU ICT week, the delegates discussed about 5G technologies, cloud sharing, AI (artificial intelligence), and undersea cables.
“This forum provides an opportunity for educating participants not just about cybersecurity but also cyber resilience in the event of an attack, how you can ensure that proper disaster recovery is done to safeguard your information and recover quickly,” Ophelia Blanchard added.
The CTU ICT Week 2024 was commenced on September 30 and closed on October 4. The regulators of the event and the members who participated in the event are urged to agree upon the policies and follow the regulations.
