Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 Regional Analysis Latin-America and the Caribbean

Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 Regional Analysis Latin America and the Caribbean FEBRUARY 2026 Introduction Cybersecurity risk in 2026 is accelerating, fuelled by advances in AI, deepening geopolitical fragmentation and the complexity of supply chains. This analysis builds on the Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 (GCO 2026) to examine how these global trends are playing out in Latin America and the Caribbean, providing a focused view of the region’s evolving cybersecurity landscape. Key takeaways on Latin America and the Caribbean –85% of respondents from Latin America and the Caribbean report that risks related to AI vulnerabilities have increased in the past year (globally 87%). –51% of respondents report not having any processes in place to assess the security of AI tools before deploying them (globally 29%). However, 74% of respondents from this region report having implemented AI for cybersecurity (globally 77%). –Ransomware is the number one concern, followed by cyber-enabled fraud. Some 77% of respondents report that they or someone in their network have been affected by cyber-enabled fraud (globally 73%). –59% of organizations based in Latin America and the Caribbean report their cybersecurity strategies have evolved because of geopolitical volatility (globally 66%). –65% of organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean report a lack of critical people and skills to meet current cybersecurity objectives (globally 50%).Does your organization have a process in place to assess the security of AI tools before deploying them? Yes, we review periodically Yes, we review once I don’t know NoEast Asia and Pacific 48% 27% 5% 19% 40% 21% 13% 26%South Asia 36% 27% 10% 26%Europe and Central Asia56% 13% 7% 24%Middle East and North Africa 29% 18% 8% 45%Sub-Saharan Africa 19% 24% 6% 51%Latin America and the Caribbean56% 22% 4% 18%North America AI security AI risk perception –According to the GCO 2026 survey, 95% of organizations in the region believe AI and machine learning will have the greatest impact on cybersecurity in the next 12 months, and 85% report that AI-related risks have increased.AI for security –Organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean are actively adopting AI-enabled tools to strengthen their cybersecurity posture. Survey data indicates that 74% have already implemented such solutions, signalling strong momentum towards AI-driven security even if barriers remain. –Despite this progress, 59% of organizations in this region cite insufficient skills as a key hurdle in embracing AI (globally 54%), while 46% point to uncertainty about risk as a major barrier to embracing AI for cybersecurity (globally 39%). –This heightened concern is not unique to Latin America and the Caribbean but the region faces additional challenges. According to the survey, compared with other regions more than half of organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean (51%) report not having processes in place to assess the security of AI tools before deployment. Furthermore, data leaks are the most pressing cybersecurity issue linked to generative AI, according to 38% of respondents from the region.