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As part of the BELLA II project and representing the Cybersecurity Group of Research and Education Networks of Latin America and the Caribbean (eduLACSeg), RedCLARA participated in Cybersecurity Month by organizing two virtual meetings aimed at promoting collaboration, increasing knowledge, and strengthening digital security in the region.

On October 10, RedCLARA's member National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) hosted the first event, "AI and Cybersecurity: Threats and Opportunities," in collaboration with the Latin American and Caribbean Cyber Capacity Center (LAC4). The seminar explored the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in the region, its multiple interactions with cybersecurity, policies addressing these advancements, and the risk management framework of the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA).

Amit Ashkenazi, an Israeli cybersecurity and AI consultant, led the event and emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to address challenges as well as policies to integrate AI safely and responsibly.

During the meeting, Ashkenazi highlighted three key dimensions of the relationship between AI and cybersecurity: its offensive use, its application to enhance digital security, and the inherent risks it presents. One of the main challenges, he mentioned, is finding a balance between improving the accuracy of AI models and ensuring data privacy and sovereignty.

“Risk management remains the most effective tool against cybersecurity threats, even with the risks posed by AI. Protecting AI and protecting ourselves from its risks requires understanding its full lifecycle and implications,” explained Carlos González, RedCLARA's Services Manager.

The event generated valuable insights on how to drive AI development in the region, establish the right balance in regulations, and how AI differs from other technological products and processes.

"Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity: An Opportunity or a Threat?" was the topic of the second meeting on October 15. Carlos González and Liliana Estrada Galindo, the Red Ciberlac Coordinator, moderated the Cybersecurity Tuesday initiative of the Latin America and Caribbean Cybersecurity Network of Excellence (Red Ciberlac). The panel discussed AI's advances and challenges in the field of cybersecurity, highlighting the importance of collaboration and RedCLARA's crucial role in creating networks of knowledge and technological cooperation in the region.

Speakers at this second event included experts from the National Research and Education Networks of Mexico (CUDI) and Guatemala (RAGIE): Juan Pedro Cáceres, Cybersecurity Engineer at Zigi App and professor at the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, and Mónica Munguía García, Head of the Computing Center at the Autonomous University of Hidalgo in Mexico and member of the Ibero-American Blockchain and Cybersecurity Network (RIBCI), of which RedCLARA is a founding member.

The meeting emphasized the importance of raising awareness among all stakeholders, including younger populations, about the risks and opportunities presented by AI. To maximize the benefits of AI and mitigate its potential negative impacts, participants stressed the need to work on multiple fronts: from individual action and the development of national regulations to the implementation of technological controls throughout AI's lifecycle.