Latin American Orgs Lack Confidence in Cyber Defenses, Skills

Latin American organisations remain the least confident about their countries’ ability to defend critical infrastructure from cyberattacks, with only 13% expressing confidence and 49% not confident, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026. The report also highlights a shortage of cybersecurity talent, noting that more than two-thirds of organisations in the region lack the necessary people and capabilities, and only 31% believe they have the skilled workforce needed to succeed.

The findings come as Latin America and the Caribbean have seen a rise in incidents, with Check Point Research reporting a 53% year‑over‑year increase in cyberattacks last year, around 40% higher than the global average. Analysts emphasise that gaps in governance, limited financial resources and uneven digital infrastructure access all contribute, but the talent shortfall stands out as a pervasive, systemic constraint. AI can bolster defence, but the study stresses that solid cybersecurity skills remain essential to translate digital growth into resilience.