New Computer Security Experts for the Region

More than 30 private company, government agency and security force representatives receive training at a LACNIC workshop in Cochabamba.

IT managers representing government agencies, banks, universities and security forces have gathered in Cochabamba (Bolivia) for three days of training and to analyze the security problems most relevant to the countries of the LAC region.

This new group of specialists will join the group of professionals already trained by the AMPARO Project, an initiative of the Internet Address Registry for Latin America and Caribbean (LACNIC) initially supported by Canada's International Development Research Center (IDRC).

The Basic Training Workshop on Information Security organized by LACNIC in Cochabamba is being held from Tuesday, 10 December to Thursday, 12 December and is sponsored by the Bolivian Telecommunications and Transportation Regulation and Oversight Authority.

During the meeting, specialized instructors provide information and training on the creation of national Computer Security Incident Response Teams, how to handle sensitive information on the Internet, as well as incident management.

Carlos Martinez, responsible for the AMPARO Project and LACNIC's Stability and Security programs, noted that the workshop being held in Bolivia was planned in response to the local community's perceived demands. "Our goal is to build computer security incident response capabilities so that, in the future, they will have the know-how needed to follow their own path," said the expert.

These workshops help coordinate regional efforts to address the growing security challenges posed by the significant increase in the number of online social and economic transactions. Participants learn how to limit the impact of criminal and terrorist actions against the region's organizations and institutions.

The AMPARO Project promotes the creation of Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs), for which it has created original content for training computer security experts throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. AMPARO also strives for community participation in exchanging experiences and knowledge and the development of technical material on relevant issues in the field of computer security.

For more information on this meeting and future workshops, please visit the AMPARO website (http://www.proyectoamparo.net/).