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OAS and Cisco to Launch Cybersecurity Innovation Councils in Latin America

Creating a new platform for cybersecurity education, best practice sharing, and collaboration 

• The Organization of American States (OAS) and Cisco are launching a joint effort to create Cybersecurity Innovation Councils in Latin America.
• The Councils represent a joint effort from the public and private sectors.
• Cisco and the OAS are leveraging the Cisco Networking Academy in Latin America to promote educational resources that can help close the professional skills gap in cybersecurity.

The Organization of American States (OAS) and Cisco today announced joint efforts to democratize and boost cybersecurity adoption across Latin America through the creation of the Cybersecurity Innovation Councils. This initiative will serve as multi-stakeholder spaces in which leaders and experts from the private sector, public sector, academia, NGOs and security technology vendors will collaborate to drive innovation, raise awareness, and expand best practices, aiming to help solve digital risks and challenges affecting the digital society.

The Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, said that “these Councils create spaces for collaboration between technology leaders, experts from the public and private sectors, universities and non-governmental organizations to promote innovation, raise awareness and expand best practices.  All of this, in order to help solve the risks and challenges facing our societies, and foster an open, secure and reliable digital environment throughout our region.”

“As countries across Latin America digitally transform, cybersecurity will be the foundation for achieving their national priorities. Our partnership with the OAS will help set the stage for communities across Latin America, their governments, and their businesses, to take full advantage of the digital economy,” said Michael Timmeny, SVP and Chief Government Strategy Officer, Cisco.

Education is the foundation of driving awareness and the democratization of cybersecurity. Therefore, in addition to the Cybersecurity Innovation Councils, both Cisco and the OAS are leveraging Cisco Networking Academy in Latin America to promote educational resources that can help close the professional skills gap in cybersecurity – allowing citizens to access trainings and career opportunities in this field and help build the workforce of the future. This training offer can be found here.

Cisco and the OAS will deploy their expertise and leverage the regional footprint to lead important dialogue that will generate outputs in order to address cybersecurity challenges in Latin America. Cybersecurity is a foundational Cisco tenet to help transform digital businesses. This initiative is especially relevant in a global industry where attacks have resulted in financial damages greater than US$500,000, including, but not limited to, lost revenue, customers, opportunities, and out-of-pocket costs to organizations, according to  Cisco 2018 Cybersecurity Report

About the OAS

The Organization of American States (OAS) is the main political forum in the region, bringing together all independent nations of the Western Hemisphere to jointly promote democracy, strengthen human rights, promote peace, security and cooperation and advance in the achievement of common interests. Since its origin, the OAS has had the main objective of preventing conflicts and providing political stability, social inclusion and prosperity in the region through dialogue and collective actions such as cooperation and mediation.

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that has been making the Internet work since 1984. Our people, products, and partners help society securely connect and seize tomorrow's digital opportunity today. Discover more at newsroom.cisco.com and follow us on Twitter at @Cisco.

Reference: E-057/19