LATAM’S self-taught cyber talent is being overlooked even as the region faces a surge in cyberattacks, with a new Ekoparty study exclusively shared with Dark Reading suggesting organisations should broaden their hiring search. The report, based on a survey of 605 Latin American cybersecurity professionals, finds that 70% acquired their skills through informal learning pathways, while only 44% hold a university degree and 53% have at least one certification.
It also notes that 79% work in full-time roles, but 44% maintain a second related occupation such as research, teaching, or bug-bounty programmes. The study highlights structural barriers to entry, with about a third of respondents having fewer than three years of experience, and it observes that women enter the field seven to ten years later on average.
The authors warn that the region’s talent pool alone will not be sufficient to stay ahead of a threat landscape that Latin America already experiences as 40% more cyberattacks than the global average. According to Ekoparty, organisations must retune their hiring and foster developing talent to access this broader community. April 1, 2026.