The energy sector was the second most vulnerable to cyberattacks in 2022

In recent years, cyberattacks have increased worldwide, reaching Latin American countries. According to data from the Nozomi Networks agency, the five most affected sectors between July and December 2022 were critical manufacturing (181), energy (65), drinking water and sewage systems (20), healthcare and public health (19) and transportation systems (16).

Thus, one of the most vulnerable sectors in the industrial environment is that of energy, which has been reporting continuous attacks in the last decade. However, it is also one of the most prepared due to the regulations that have been implemented to deal with cybercrime.

“The energy sector has been permanently attacked in the last 10 years; therefore, much has been prepared. In Latin America, we see regulations in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and little by little other countries have joined to improve best practices around cybersecurity in the energy field,” said Fernando Castro, regional sales director of Nozomi Networks in South America. .

Increases in the region

More and more companies in Latin America are betting on protecting their virtual security in the face of the rise in cyberattacks, even monetized, in the region. The field is not limited only to the financial sector, but also includes mining, industrial, and medical companies, among others.

“As countries grow in maturity, cybercriminals are going to have more restrictions on accessing infrastructures, this generally happens in developed countries. In those who are developing —Latin Americans— until now security measures are being adopted; That is why they are a propitious environment to unleash attacks”, said Ruben Avendaño, South America pre-sales engineer at Nozomi.

Among the countries that have registered the most cyber thefts are Brazil and Mexico, due to the extent they have; but they have also increased in Peru, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Panama.

Expectations

The prospects for the next 3 or 5 years is that the distribution channels oriented to the cybersecurity continue to grow, even at double annual digits. In addition, it is expected that the regulations of the Latin American countries will advance, which will lead to the implementation of more controls and that the companies bet on the care of their infrastructure. “In the last year we have tripled the number of companies that want to work in the field of industrial cybersecurity. There is an upward trend and demand,” Castro said.