In a digital environment where threats are relentless, national productive sectors face a critical scenario: an attempted cyber intrusion every minute. Given this reality, analyzed by ESET Venezuela experts during their 7th Technology Breakfast for Journalists, data protection has ceased to be a technical option and has become a priority for economic survival.

Today, efficient risk management and the adoption of global standards are the only barriers capable of preventing a complete business shutdown.

During this high-level meeting, emerging trends that are redefining the protection of digital assets were explored. Special emphasis was placed on how local organizations must adapt their infrastructures in the face of the increase in sophisticated attacks that jeopardize operations and data integrity in an increasingly interconnected and demanding ecosystem.

Michele Flammia, General Manager of ESET Venezuela, welcomed attendees, highlighting the brand’s commitment to digital education and protecting strategic assets against current challenges.

Alarming figures that drive proactive action

Carlos López Rodríguez, the company’s Support and Training Manager, emphasized that cybersecurity must be viewed as an ongoing process: “Prevention and training cost less than stopping an attack once it has begun.” He also emphasized that certifications and work on control frameworks provide a real guarantee to third parties and clients.

For his part, José Luis Rangel, Commercial Manager of ESET, warned about the lack of visibility in the market: “Almost 40 % of companies don’t know if they are currently being compromised or if they were in the past.”

According to experts, a cyberattack occurs worldwide every 39 seconds, making it a statistically more likely threat than a fire. The economic impact of this operational paralysis can be reduced by up to 97% with adequate investment in training and frameworks such as ISO 27001 or NIST.

The human factor and social engineering

Martina López, a cybersecurity researcher at ESET Latin America, highlighted that social engineering remains the primary entry point for criminals. Using techniques like quishing (QR phishing) and dynamic phishing, attackers exploit the sense of urgency and trust of employees. In the country, the most frequently impersonated entities include DocuSign, MetaMask, and the Telegram platform, taking advantage of peak interest in AI tools and the current national situation.

Key recommendations for resilience

To strengthen defenses, specialists suggest three fundamental pillars:

• Tabletop Drills: Practicing crisis scenarios allows for the identification of weaknesses in response protocols before a real disaster occurs.
• Real Certification: Obtaining third-party endorsements that validate international standards provides real trust and security to clients.
• Device Security: Disable notifications on the lock screen to prevent the theft of passwords or credentials and always enable two-factor authentication (2FA).

Cybersecurity requires operational maturity; it is contradictory to fear quantum computing while working with obsolete systems. As López concluded, “training and practicing will always cost less than stopping a cyber intruder’s operation once it has begun.”

Video coverage with more details

For more information, visit the ESET website: https://www.eset.com/ve/. Also, follow them on social media: Instagram (@esetla) and Facebook (ESET).

Through on-site coverage and information from ESET and Comstat Rowland Comunicaciones Estratégicas Integrales

Audiovisual production: Ida Febres

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