AI Skills are Crucial to Close Latin America’s Cybersecurity Gaps

There is a direct correlation between the scarcity of qualified professionals in Latin America and the Caribbean and an increase in the frequency and cost of security breaches, reports Fortinet. In its 2025 Cybersecurity Skill Gap report, Fortinet identifies AI as a key tool to mitigate this deficiency, though a lack of implementation experience presents a challenge for organizations.

According to Fortinet’s report, the growing sophistication of cyberthreats, coupled with an estimated deficit of 329,000 professionals in the region, exposes companies to significant operational and financial risks. "If the skills gap is not closed, organizations will continue to face increasing breach rates and costs," says Carl Windsor, CISO, Fortinet. "The results signal a turning point for both the public and private sectors."

The shortage of cybersecurity talent has evolved from a forecast into a quantifiable risk factor. The Fortinet report, which surveyed 400 IT and cybersecurity leaders in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, argues that this gap is directly linked to the deterioration of a company’s security posture. In 2024, 86% of organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean experienced at least one cyber intrusion, an increase from 81% in 2023, reads the report.

The volume of attacks has also intensified. The report shows that one-fifth of companies reported five or more breaches in 2024, an increase from the four percent that faced the same frequency the previous year. More than 60% of respondents (63%) identified a lack of security skills and training as a primary cause of these intrusions. The financial impact remains high, with 35% of affected organizations reporting costs exceeding US$1 million from cyber incidents in 2024, a figure consistent with findings from 2023, reports Fortinet.

The Dual Role of AI

The adoption of AI-based cybersecurity technologies is becoming widespread across the region. Fortinet’s report indicates that 98% of the organizations surveyed already use or plan to implement them. The general perception is positive, as 83% of cybersecurity professionals expect AI to optimize their functions, primarily in threat detection and prevention.

However, the report reveals a critical paradox: the tool is insufficient without the expertise to manage it. Although 78% of respondents state that AI improves their teams' effectiveness, more than half (54%) of IT leaders in the region identify a lack of personnel with AI experience as the main obstacle to successful implementation. Furthermore, 76% of organizations that suffered nine or more cyberattacks in 2024 had AI tools, which suggests technology adoption without proper training does not guarantee greater resilience.

Cybersecurity has risen on the agenda of boards of directors, with 83% in Latin America prioritizing the topic in 2024, reports Fortinet. Nevertheless, a gap exists in understanding the emerging risks associated with AI. Fewer than half of respondents (45%) indicated that their boards fully comprehend the potential risks that this technology poses to the organization. According to the report, this may hinder the allocation of adequate resources for training and risk mitigation.

For hiring managers, professional certifications are a key differentiator. The report finds 92% of IT managers in the region prefer to hire certified candidates, as certifications validate specific knowledge (67%) and demonstrate an ability for continuous updating (57%).

Despite this recognition, corporate support for obtaining these certifications has decreased. In 2024, only 82% of organizations stated they were willing to fund employee certifications, a reduction from 94% reported in 2023. This contraction in training investment could exacerbate the skills gap.