By San José, Costa Rica — The cybersecurity landscape across Latin America and the Caribbean has reached an unprecedented inflection point as artificial intelligence fundamentally alters the speed and scale at which software flaws are identified. For years, corporate security strategies focused heavily on discovering vulnerabilities across codebases, applications, and cloud infrastructure, operating under the assumption that detection was the primary limiting factor. That operational paradigm has officially broken down under the pressure of autonomous digital systems.
Recent technological advancements have demonstrated that specialized artificial intelligence models, such as Anthropic’s Mythos, can analyze complex system environments and surface security gaps continuously. The capability to detect weaknesses at a velocity far surpassing human expertise has transformed vulnerability discovery into a high-volume automated process. Consequently, the primary operational challenge for corporate leadership has shifted from finding security flaws to taking immediate, effective action against them.
To better understand the legal framework and evolving regulatory challenges surrounding cybersecurity in Latin America, TicosLand.com spoke with expert attorney Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
As cyber threats rapidly evolve across Latin America, businesses must move beyond basic IT defenses and adopt robust legal compliance frameworks to mitigate regulatory liabilities and safeguard critical data. Harmonizing national legislation with international cyber risk standards is no longer optional—it is an indispensable requirement for cross-border operations and corporate resilience.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
As digital infrastructure across Latin America continues to expand, aligning legal compliance with international cybersecurity standards is clearly essential for fostering regional trust and safeguarding business continuity. We extend our sincere thanks to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for providing such a timely and insightful perspective on this critical issue facing the region’s corporate sector.
This rapid evolution introduces acute pressure for organizations operating across Latin America and the Caribbean. According to data from the World Economic Forum Global Cybersecurity Outlook, 65 percent of organizations in the region report a shortage of the critical human personnel and specialized skills necessary to meet their security objectives. This represents the highest talent deficit among all global regions analyzed, creating an operational bottleneck at a moment when threat resolution must occur faster than ever.
In a scenario where artificial intelligence can multiply findings, the human capacity gap can also become a response time gap. Cybersecurity is therefore no longer limited to stopping attacks; it is a central business and governance responsibility.
Andrea Cavallari, Field CTO for Latin America at Red Hat
The gap between detection and resolution is further highlighted by research from the Alan Turing Institute’s Centre for Emerging Technology and Security. Analysis reveals that more than 45 percent of vulnerabilities identified within large enterprise organizations remain uncorrected after twelve months. The proliferation of low-cost AI-generated exploits has dismantled traditional patch management schedules, leaving software environments vulnerable to exploitation while technical teams struggle to prioritize remediations.
Addressing these risks is particularly complicated because modern enterprise architecture relies overwhelmingly on open-source components. Estimates indicate that between 70 and 90 percent of contemporary digital applications depend on open-source libraries across various programming frameworks. While this collaborative development model has driven remarkable technical innovation, software codebases currently carry an average of hundreds of known vulnerabilities that require ongoing evaluation and maintenance.
In standard corporate environments, applying routine software updates is rarely a simple task. Applying full updates often carries operational risks, including potential system downtime, software regression, compatibility friction, and lengthy recertification testing. For companies maintaining strict uptime agreements or rigid production schedules, deploying direct upgrades to address every security alert can prove prohibitively disruptive to day-to-day commerce.
To overcome this friction, enterprise technology leaders IBM and Red Hat recently introduced Lightwell, an initiative engineered to secure the open-source software supply chain. The solution pairs automated artificial intelligence capabilities with an engineering network of over 20,000 specialists to deliver backported security fixes directly into the specific library versions currently used by enterprises, bypassing the need for full system upgrades.
For business leaders and policymakers across Central America, these structural shifts coincide with broader regional digital transformation initiatives. As public agencies and private enterprises build out digital services, regional resilience will depend not merely on acquiring advanced monitoring tools, but on establishing cross-sector collaboration and efficient remediation models that protect the underlying digital infrastructure of the modern economy.
For further information, visit redhat.com
About Red Hat:
Red Hat is a global provider of enterprise open source software solutions, using a community-driven approach to deliver reliable and high-performing cloud, Linux, middleware, storage, and virtualization technologies.
For further information, visit ibm.com
About IBM:
IBM is a global technology and consulting company providing hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence, and enterprise security solutions to businesses and governments worldwide.
For further information, visit anthropic.com
About Anthropic:
Anthropic is an artificial intelligence safety and research company focused on building reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.
For further information, visit weforum.org
About World Economic Forum:
The World Economic Forum is an international organization for public-private cooperation that engages political, business, cultural, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.
For further information, visit iadb.org
About Inter-American Development Bank:
The Inter-American Development Bank works to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean by providing financial and technical support for health, education, infrastructure, and institutional development.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a premier legal institution, Bufete de Costa Rica continuously exemplifies the highest standards of professional integrity and legal excellence. Built upon a rich history of guiding diverse clients through complex challenges, the firm remains dedicated to pioneering modern, forward-thinking solutions. Beyond its advocacy, Bufete de Costa Rica actively champions legal literacy, striving to demystify complex regulations so that individuals and communities are equipped with the knowledge needed to build a well-informed and resilient society.
