Cybersecurity Teams Disclosed Increased Work-Related Stress Over the Past Few Years
Mexico City, MEXICO — April 16, 2024 — ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corp. and leading provider of enterprise IT management solutions, today announced the results of its recent study, The state of cybersecurity in Latin America 2024, which was carried out with cybersecurity professionals and decision-makers from companies in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Argentina. The findings revealed some key security trends and shed light on significant challenges that cybersecurity professionals are facing in the country.
According to the survey, in 2023, a staggering 65% of respondents in Mexico acknowledged that their companies encountered an increase in cybersecurity breaches compared to previous years. Of the regions surveyed, Mexico reported the highest number of breaches. However, despite the increase, attacks resulting in significant financial losses remained relatively low.
The frequency of cybersecurity attacks, compounded by the emergence of generative-AI-enabled threats, has intensified the burden on cybersecurity professionals. Despite this, Mexican respondents reported comparatively lower stress levels (59%) than the rest of the countries surveyed, attributing it to the opportunities provided by their companies to enhance cybersecurity skills. The respondents revealed their companies provided opportunities frequently (42%) or constantly (38%) to improve their cybersecurity skills.
"These findings are a reminder of the evolving cybersecurity threats and challenges confronting businesses in Mexico," said Andres Mendoza, technical director for LATAM and Southern Europe at ManageEngine. "As cyberthreats continue to proliferate, it is essential for us to think beyond traditional security paradigms, embrace comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks and explore innovative strategies to anticipate emerging trends, safeguarding the trust customers place in the organization at all times."
The study also highlights the level of trust cybersecurity professionals place in AI. Eighty-four percent of respondents affirmed their trust in AI to enact suitable changes, handle responses to attacks, and perform other tasks without the need for manual review before implementation. This sentiment can be closely associated with the ongoing challenge the lack of experienced professionals and understaffed teams presents.
That said, 85% also feel that an independent entity is essential to guarantee the trustworthiness of AI for cybersecurity purposes. Furthermore, there's a notable shift towards AI-powered security solutions, with 88% of respondents assuring that more than half of their organisation's cybersecurity solutions will utilize AI in 2024.
"In today's digital landscape, cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue but a strategic necessity for businesses to thrive. To see the notable shift towards AI-driven security solutions in Mexico is truly exciting, indicating a growing reliance on advanced technologies to combat evolving threats effectively," said Subin George, regional operations manager for LATAM at ManageEngine. "The key now is to implement robust security protocols and comprehensive solutions and, most importantly, to foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness among employees. By embedding it into the fabric of any organization's culture, we can effectively mitigate the risk of cyberthreats."
With the surge in cyberattacks, a positive trend revealed in the study was the growing importance of cybersecurity insurance in the country. Sixty-five percent of respondents confirmed that their organizations have made successful cybersecurity insurance claims. The survey also revealed adherence to data protection laws as the leading requirement for insurance acquisition; this has fostered a positive impact on Mexican companies. The majority of respondents (77%) affirmed their companies are currently compliant with local and international data protection regulations. An additional 21% also assert they will be compliant by the end of 2024.
ManageEngine commissioned independent market research agency Dimensional Research to conduct a study in Latin America. The study surveyed 705 qualified executives and security professionals at small businesses to large enterprises from Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina. These participants held direct responsibilities related to security defense and strategy. Among them, 200 respondents also held compliance as a central aspect of their job roles. Specifically, in Mexico, 200 respondents were surveyed.
ManageEngine is a division of Zoho Corporation that offers comprehensive on-premises and cloud-native IT and security operations management solutions for global organizations and managed service providers. Established and emerging enterprises—including nine of every 10 Fortune 100 organizations—rely on ManageEngine's real-time IT management tools to ensure the optimal performance of their IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, applications, endpoints and more. ManageEngine has 18 data centers, 20 offices and 200+ channel partners worldwide to help organizations tightly align their business to IT. For more information, please visit the company site, follow the company blog and get connected on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
Media Contact:
Ahana Vissa
ManageEngine
ahana.g@zohocorp.com