Tobin Bradley, United States ambassador to Guatemala, said May 15, during a corporate security conference, to use China’s technology or do business with that country a risk.
This Thursday the XVII Regional Corporate Security Conference was held, organized by AMCHAM and the United States Security Advisory Council (OSAC). This year, the conference approach was cyber security and the challenges facing the region. About 180 companies participated in the conference, including some multinationals.
During his speech, ambassador Bradley launched an alert about China’s positioning in the region and said that the United States is willing to work with its neighbors and allies to achieve a prosperity that benefits everyone.
Foreign malignant actors are focused on undermining regional stability and support for democracy. We have seen the implementation of these threats throughout the hemisphere in recent years, such as actors in Costa Rica, Paraguay and Mexico. Using China or doing business with that country entails a risk, Tobin Bradley said.
Bradley added that countries cannot progress without the rule of law, resilience and trust; Therefore, it is important that corporate security professionals are trained.
You are in the first protection line, not only of information assets, but also of people, infrastructure and trust. In today’s world, where threats are increasingly complex – from attacks to organized crime and intrusions in service chains – alliances are more important than ever. Therefore, the United States is committed to strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors in Guatemala and throughout Latin America, said Ambassador Bradley.
Servio Camey, president of OSAC for Guatemala, was consulted by the free press about the statements of the US ambassador to the risks of Chinese technology and replied that each person or entity must do their own risk analysis.
He pointed out that many cameras of Chinese origin are observed in Guatemala.
I believe that if you are going to install a Chinese manufacturing chamber at your home and do not investigate, you don’t do your Due Diligence -Amployment due- to know if you have risks, if you have a Back hole – A computers remote control software, often used in a computer security context, “which is a door through which they can be infiltrated, is an individual and personal issue. I know many transnational companies that do not use Chinese cameras, but other more robust technologies precisely to guarantee the safety of their CCTV systems, especially in production units, where more precautions should actually be taken, Camey said.
He added that Ambassador Bradley has a lot of experience in cybersecurity issues, since he has worked in various United States government entities.
If there are warnings, I believe that we must listen to them and accept them as an internal risk management process. In this case, let’s say you are willing to listen to them.
They detect Guatemala delay in cybersecurity
According to Servio Camey, president of OSAC for Guatemala, in the last decade an evolution of cybercrime has been observed, but the country in general is lagging behind cybersecurity.
According to the expert, there are more and more infiltrations and it is easy to send Phishing and spam.
The crime is evolving significantly. We have seen that, for example, various bands have migrated to cybercrime, scam and other crimes that already use media such as net centers. So, security managers must also evolve towards cybersecurity, because I think Guatemala is a bit back in this field and we need more bastions in this area, Camey said.
They have just broken several companies that made pyramidal economic offers and all that used these media, Camey said, who added that society must also be better informed to avoid being a victim of scams or other cybercrime.
Asked about the weaknesses of the State of Guatemala in this area, he mentioned that the Government has improved in the protection of its information, but still requires foreign advice.
I believe that the State is evolving. If you observe, there are institutional collaborations; There are countries interested in providing support against cybercrime, but this must come from abroad. I know that the Public Ministry is developing some cybercriminality sections, the police are forming better experts; Now they can follow up on cases of pornography through cybercrime. But what helps a lot, sometimes, is the work with other countries, with Interpol, with other units that are collaborating, Camey said.