Cisco opens first cybersecurity innovation center in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Digital transformation is already part of Brazilians’ daily lives, and during the pandemic, the dependence on networks was quite evident. On the other hand, cyber threats have also made rapid progress.

A recent survey by Cisco found that 40% of organizations worldwide have reported a security-related incident in the last two years.

Cisco Secure, a global leader in technology and enterprise security, recognizes the importance of security to businesses and governments and has invested in initiatives that will change the perception of the issue in the national marketplace.

Ransomware attacks in which criminal organizations hijack victims’ files and demand a ransom, often in cryptocurrencies are common in Brazil. In 2020 alone, they turned over more than 2 billion reais (US$378 million).

“Fraud and cyberattacks have become very efficient and sophisticated. This leads to everyone being affected, while the defender is still waiting for the invasion to happen to act,” warns Ghassan Dreibi, Cisco Cybersecurity Director for Latin America to Exame newspaper.

Faced with this scenario, the executive argues for a change in mentality, commitment, and regulations. “We believe this change is possible through the concept of zero trust,” he says. “Is it more important to know how to defend yourself after something happens or to be prepared before something happens?” he asks.

To promote a safer Internet, Cisco focuses on two projects in Brazil: the Cisco Secure CyberHub and CiberEducação.

CISCO SECURE CYBERHUB

Cisco announced in June the CyberTech Brasil movement in partnership with the Distrito platform and created the Cisco Secure CyberHub, the country’s first center for cybersecurity innovation and experience.

The new space, located in the Jardins region of São Paulo, aims to promote startups and initiatives focused on cybersecurity, supporting innovation and addressing digital security practically and clearly, explaining the structure behind a cyberattack and its defense, and demonstrating the power of secure technologies and processes that are essential in this digital world.

Another important pillar of this collaboration strategy is to empower a new generation of professionals trained to provide operational support, advice, or sell solutions. And there is a shortage of people in this field – three million people are missing worldwide.

The Cisco Networking Academy training program already included a curriculum on security, but the network was more focused on networking and data communications. It was necessary to reformulate the course to reflect the new reality.

“We created an extension course on cybersecurity to increase knowledge of the Brazilian market, train professionals, and help them be adopted by companies,” the director said.

The project relies on partnership with educational institutions such as Senai, Centro Paula Souza, and the Brazilian Army Communications School. It’s technical training provides an initial foundation for those who want to pursue a career in technical informatics, and stimulates the search for other fields.

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