Cybersecurity in times of digital transformation 

In an increasingly digitized world, the creation of a culture of cybersecurity—focused on raising risk awareness, promoting the safe and responsible use of cyberspace, and applying advanced techniques, tools, and policies for protection—is a fundamental pillar for preventing threats.
It is no coincidence, then, that this 4th National Cybersecurity Conference plans to hold activities and talks in schools, universities, and workplaces, as well as a technology event for these purposes.
The ideology of Fidel will be present, who taught us that "independence depends on technology, depends on science in today's world," and that to be free we must educate the entire population. 
Thus, he planned the use of television for educational purposes as early as 1961; he promoted the introduction of computers at different levels of education, denounced espionage programs and the blockade of telecommunications in our country, and created the Youth Computer and Electronics Clubs and the University of Information Sciences (UCI).
When the United States government launched several operations in 1959 to send radio and television signals with subversive content to Cuba, Fidel led the implementation of a comprehensive system of organizational, regulatory, technical, educational, political, communicative, and diplomatic measures designed to ensure the protection of the Cuban radio spectrum, which resulted in a resounding defeat for U.S. imperialism in the technological sphere.
A telling example was the interference, just minutes after it went on air on March 27, 1990, of the signal from the misnamed TV Martí—a measure that remained in place while it was on the air. Fidel insisted on a key question: How could our sovereignty have been preserved without well-trained and skilled specialists and technicians?
Today, globally, there are 500,000 cyberattacks per minute; 60% of leading fraud prevention companies detect security breaches only after suffering financial losses; threat monitoring has detected malicious domains linked to data theft; and more than 90% of cyberattacks are made possible by human error, reflecting the urgency of promoting good practices among those involved. 
Furthermore, 56% of experts believe that artificial intelligence will give cyber attackers an advantage in the coming years, as well as facilitating phishing* and the spread of fake news. 
Added to this is the fact that the shortage of specialized personnel rose from 6% in 2022 to 20% in 2024.
Advances in the computerization of Cuban society in recent years, internet access, and the ongoing digital transformation have led to an increase in the use of digital technologies in our country.
In this context, the work of the National Cybersecurity Working Group, created in November 2021, has been consolidated. Assisted by a Secretariat, it has led through various processes the priorities defined in Directive 02 of the President of the National Defense Council to strengthen the country's cybersecurity.
In this way, it has systematically monitored the management of cyberattacks and incidents, the vulnerabilities present in our networks and those of the users who receive the services; the strengthening of the country's critical and vital infrastructures; the development of national technologies, tools, and content such as toDus, Picta, Apklis, Transfermóvil, and EcuRed; the training of higher and upper-secondary level specialists in universities; the authorization of entities that provide cybersecurity services; and the technological security of automation and operational technologies.    
In projections for next year, attention to human resources in the sector will be a priority, seeking greater efficiency in their use based on structures adjusted to the reality of the country; moving forward with concrete actions in the areas of education, training, and communication to raise awareness of risk among managers, specialists, and the population regarding the safe and responsible use of internet applications and platforms.
The modernization and expansion of the technological infrastructure that ensures the country's digital transformation process is vital to this objective, as is the application of Artificial Intelligence tools in the protection of cyberspace and technologies to strengthen the control and monitoring of the national radio spectrum. 
Although the University of Camagüey joined the UCI in training cybersecurity engineers during the current academic year, it is necessary to increase the number of universities offering this training and to promote the preparation of specialists in short courses. 
It is also important to improve education, training, and preparation programs in cybersecurity at all levels of education, from primary school to university.
The agenda for 2026 will also include the development of Cuban applications that give us greater technological sovereignty and enable us to deal with cyberattacks in different forms, the updating of legal provisions in this area, the strengthening of links with priority countries, and the generation of national content.
The 4th National Cybersecurity Conference will highlight the idea expressed by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, at the closing of the First National Workshop on Computerization and Cybersecurity on February 20, 2015:
"The only way Cuba can integrate itself into the internet in a sovereign manner is with a national vision and an infrastructure with integrated national services that benefit all of its institutions, organizations, and citizens. We need to distinguish ourselves as a socialist country through an internet and computerization that includes everyone and benefits everyone (...)".

* Attacks that use social engineering and technical resources to steal consumer identity credentials. The term phishing comes from the English word fishing, and refers to users (victims) "taking the bait" and giving away their access credentials.