Expertise, Flexibility: The Backbones of Cybersecurity Leadership

Q: How would you rate Check Point’s position in the Mexican market, and what factors have contributed to its success?
A: We continue to be a leading player in the Mexican cybersecurity market, positioning ourselves among the Top 3 brands in the sector. Our success in Mexico can be attributed to two crucial factors. First, our software-based security platform offers extensive flexibility, protecting various vectors, including networks, mobile devices, and the cloud. This adaptability allows us to cater to a wide range of clients and secure their assets across multiple environments. Second, since our founding in 1993, we have evolved significantly. Although we initially pioneered perimeter security with our Stateful Inspection technology, we have expanded our portfolio to encompass comprehensive data protection anywhere, whether on mobile devices or the cloud.

Q: Which products within your portfolio have been particularly favored by Mexican companies?
A: From SMEs to large corporations, all are embracing our solutions. Our flexibility allows us to adapt to different organizational sizes and offer a personalized approach. Among our products, Quantum, our perimeter security solution, remains the most relevant and preferred. However, in the past five years, we have seen significant growth in the adoption of Harmony, which protects data in transit, and CloudGuard , which secures cloud environments. These four strategic pillars — Quantum, Harmony, Cloud, and Infinity Global Services — are key to addressing the diverse needs of the Mexican market and ensuring sustained growth in these segments.

Q: What achievements has Check Point made within the government sector, and how do you meet its specific needs?
A: We have made significant progress with governments thanks to our Check Point Maestro solution, designed to address specific challenges of scalability and flexibility. Unlike traditional models that require the purchase of oversized equipment in anticipation of growth, Check Point Maestro offers a hyper-scalability solution based on actual consumption. This allows government entities to adapt to increased demand, such as during exceptional situations like the pandemic or election periods, without making disproportionate investments in infrastructure. By enabling clients to adjust computing power based on their real and temporary needs, Check Point Maestro ensures that security investments remain relevant and maximize their value over time. This flexibility has been especially valued in government contracts, where adaptability to fluctuating budgets and demands is crucial.

Q: What are some examples of how Check Point’s solutions continue to add value for your partners?
A: We worked with a major Mexican university, which faced an issue of saturation and data leakage. We implemented Check Point Maestro, which allowed for the flexible and scalable integration of additional capacity to handle the sudden increase in students post-pandemic. This solution not only resolved the problem quickly, but also allowed the client to maximize its existing investment without needing to replace equipment. 

Another example is our partnership with the government of Puebla, where we adapted the Check Point Infinity contract to consolidate various security solutions within its budget, achieving efficient and cost-effective integration.

Q: How do you support your partners in terms of training and specialization?
A: We support our partners, including integrators, telecommunication companies, or Global System Integrators (GSI), through segmentation. We offer training and specialization programs tailored to each partner's needs, particularly in emerging areas such as cloud security. Through our channel programs, we provide training that enables partners not only to sell but also to implement and support our solutions. We implement strategies that reward both emerging technology sales and compliance with training requirements, facilitating partner growth and adaptation. This approach has proven effective in maintaining long-term relationships and promoting continuous development within the sector.

Q: What are the main strengths Check Point is bringing to the Mexican business landscape?
A: We stand out by offering a comprehensive platform that goes beyond niche solutions, such as traditional perimeter protection or antivirus. Our strength lies in providing a cybersecurity architecture that not only covers basic protection needs but also detects and mitigates additional risks that may not be evident to our clients. With over 30 years of experience and a global network of sensors, we can offer a broad and detailed view of emerging threats and ongoing attacks. This allows Mexican businesses to benefit from our experience and adaptability, receiving robust and up-to-date protection against a wide range of threats, both local and international.

Q: What are the main cybersecurity threats you are observing in Mexico, and how is Check Point adapting its offerings to effectively address these trends?
A: In Mexico, the main threats continue to be phishing and ransomware, which have become increasingly sophisticated and recurrent. Phishing is no longer limited to emails but also occurs through social media and AI-assisted identity spoofing techniques, such as voice cloning. We are adapting our offerings to address these threats by integrating advanced solutions that not only detect and mitigate attacks, but also educate users on safe practices. We are also strengthening our tools to handle higher volumes and more complex attacks, emphasizing the importance of combining technology with security policies and ongoing training to maximize the effectiveness of our solutions.

Q: What are the main cybersecurity challenges Mexican companies face, and how is Check Point addressing them?
A: Mexican companies face several significant cybersecurity challenges, especially following the rapid digital transformation during the pandemic. Many adopted cloud services without implementing adequate security measures, and some are now reversing this move due to cost and security concerns. We are addressing these challenges by offering robust solutions to secure cloud platforms, improve network visibility, and support the migration of services back to on-premise environments. We are also raising awareness among development and DevOps teams about the need to protect Industry 4.0 infrastructure.

Q: How will Check Point strengthen or expand its position in Mexico in the coming year?
A: We are strengthening our presence in Mexico through significant investment in expansion. We plan to grow our employee base by 20% in 2025, which will enable greater national coverage. We continue to expand our presence through strategic acquisitions, such as the recent purchase of Cyberint a Threat Intelligence & Digital Risk Protection company to enhance our offerings. We are also driving the transition to cloud-based solutions with consumption-based payment models, benefiting both end-users and business partners by offering flexibility in acquisition and costs.

Q: What recommendations would you give to Mexican companies that are just beginning to implement cybersecurity measures within their operations?
A: Mexican companies should not assume that using cloud solutions or mobile tools ensures complete protection. Many mistakes arise from believing that cloud security covers all needs, when in reality, providers only guarantee service availability, not data protection. It is crucial to seek advice from security manufacturers or specialized channels and conduct a risk analysis to gain visibility into potential vulnerabilities. Any service or solution also should meet minimum cybersecurity standards, especially AI-based tools, which must be properly configured to avoid security breaches. Companies should reach out to experts for audits to identify vulnerable assets and prevent incidents before they occur, ensuring robust protection from the start.