“Cybersecurity is our collective responsibility, and we must work together in protecting our digital infrastructure and promoting a safe online environment…”
That statement from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, at today’s inauguration of the Overwatch Cyber Fusion Centre, which is a collaboration between Precision Cyber Technologies, Digital Solutions and the Inter-American Development Bank’s IDB Lab,
Overwatch’s raison d’être is to serve the entire English-speaking Caribbean and possibly to expand into the wider region.
“This is the first Security Operations Centre (SOC) in our region and marks a pivotal milestone in our country’s, and the region’s, cybersecurity Infrastructure,” the Prime Minister stated.
During his address at Overwatch’s inauguration, Dr Rowley urged all sectors of society—government agencies, businesses, academia, and individual citizens—to actively participate in safeguarding T&T’s cyberspace.
According to the PM, attacks against a nation’s cyber infrastructure are “a new form of terrorism”.
“The rapid advancement of digital technology and the parallel growth of the digital economy has increased our vulnerability to threats of cyber-attacks,” Dr Rowley observed.
He noted that the increasing prevalence of cyber-attacks “have put many governments at the mercy of this new form of terrorism, which signals the criticality of more robust countermeasures.”
“Our country must make more secure and concerted efforts to protect our sensitive information and systems from being compromised. In addition, we are observing both the expansion of our digital footprint, and the integration of technology into our daily lives. Undoubtedly, this will increase our cybersecurity vulnerabilities,” he added.
The Prime Minister pointed to the establishment of the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the introduction of the Cybersecurity Investment Tax Allowance (CITA) as two important interventions in the bid to reduce this country’s vulnerability to cyber-attacks.
He notes that CITA was created to incentivise companies to invest in cybersecurity software and hardware that would aid in prevention, detection, response and recovery. It will facilitate up to $500,000 in tax credits.
“iGovTT, the implementation partner of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, has completed a series of consultations with representative groups across Trinidad and Tobago and will shortly launch its newest App which is designed to facilitate the [CITA] applications process,” PM Rowley reported.
Another critical intervention which the PM highlighted is the partnership created between Precision Cybertechnologies and T&T’s two major universities—the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) and The University of the West Indies (The UWI)—to enhance cybersecurity training and education.
“The goal of this partnership is to develop a new generation of cybersecurity professionals equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to tackle the challenges of tomorrow,” the Prime Minister said. “This investment in our human capital will both strengthen our defences and empower our youth, thus creating new opportunities for them in the burgeoning field of cybersecurity whilst assuring the SOC's [Security Operations Centre’s] long-term effectiveness.”
PM Rowley also noted that Overwatch’s services are designed to be accessible and affordable. He said for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) would be able to utilise its services.
“This inclusivity will create the environment for even the smallest businesses in our region to protect themselves against cyber threats, and so foster a secure and resilient digital economy,” he said.
