The Regional Association of Oil, Gas and Biofuels Sector Companies in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARPEL) in conjunction with the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Ministries of Modernization and of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Argentina, organized the seminar "Cybersecurity in critical infrastructures in a technologically dependent and interconnected world."

Around 200 Information Technology (IT) and Operations Technology (OT) professionals shared two days with experts and high-level government authorities, where the most recent technologies, methodologies, cybersecurity management systems and processes were analyzed.

"It is key to ARPEL to be able to collaborate with oil and gas companies so that they can reduce their vulnerability to potential cyber attacks, which, as is well known, put at risk the integrity of infrastructures," stated Jorge Ciacciarelli, ARPEL Executive Secretary, at the opening session.

"We consider it is imperative that companies in the region have the knowledge and the resources to develop more effective response plans at the time an emergency occurs. These potential attacks on critical infrastructure of our industry make it essential to be aware of the importance of the approach to this issue within companies," he added.

On the other hand, Francisco Laines, Ambassador to the OAS, noted the work being done by this Organization from a comprehensive, multidimensional and multisectoral approach to cybersecurity. "Strengthening security and improving the protection of critical infrastructures in the Americas is the general objective of our Cybersecurity Program. The declaration for the protection of critical infrastructures against emerging threats was adopted in March 2015, and in recent years we have trained representatives of almost all OAS Member States in these issues,” he said.

Laines added that "considering the international and interconnected nature of cybercrime, the response should not be limited to one country or sector, but must include governments, the private sector, and even individuals. Recognizing the importance of this collaboration, through public-private partnerships and the creation of a network of players committed to the fight against the threat of cybercrime are, therefore, very important steps."

The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Modernization of Argentina, Andrés Ibarra, through a videoconference. In his message, the Minister highlighted that the government is "focused on the generation of a State for the 21st Century,” with a strong emphasis on citizen services, and along this line, everything that constitutes the electronic government is highly important. We are aware of the problem around the world with respect to hacking and violation of information and data. In this respect, we are doing a very important job with other ministries and we have created the Cybersecurity Committee with the Ministries of Defense and Security."

As informed by the OAS, Latin America and the Caribbean is currently one of the Internet populations with the fastest growth in the world. This implies a large challenge for cybersecurity, and in particular, for cybersecurity in critical infrastructures. This is why, this seminar created an important space for cooperation and the exchange of knowledge.

As a result of this event, ARPEL and the OAS will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to work closely in the security of critical infrastructures.