October is Cybersecurity Month, also known as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. It's a good opportunity to learn what it protects and who makes it possible.
At " She is Digital," a program of Junior Achievement Americas, we train women ages 18 to 29 in cybersecurity. This month, we invite you to join us on a three-part journey:
- What It Is and Why It Matters. Let's start with the basics: what cybersecurity protects and why your digital life depends on it. We'll also look at its three pillars: confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
- The Gap in the Region. We review the IDB and OAS Cybersecurity Report 2025. It shows how much progress Latin America and the Caribbean have made, what gaps remain, and how to close them.
- The Cisco CCST Certification. We explain what the CCST Cybersecurity certification is, what it certifies, and why it could be your first step into the industry.
Finally, we'll tell you how we support you along that journey at She is Digital.
What Is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity protects digital assets: networks, devices, and data. It protects them from unauthorized access or misuse.
Why It Matters
Your life is online. School, work, banking, and social media all go through your accounts.
Your data is valuable. A compromised account puts your information and your money at risk.
Organizations need it. Every company must protect its information.
Its three pillars
Confidentiality. Only authorized individuals may access this information.
Integrity. Information is not altered without authorization.
Availability. The information is available when those with permission need it.
The Gap in Latin America and the Caribbean
The IDB and OAS Cybersecurity Report 2025 shows sustained improvement in the region. However, structural gaps persist on four fronts:
- Resources: We need to accelerate investment in cybersecurity.
- Talent: Gaps in professional development persist.
- Coordination: There is a lack of coordination among sectors.
- Critical infrastructure: This is one of the least mature areas.
The report also explains how to close them:
- political leadership, with the institutional capacity to implement policies;
- cybersecurity integrated into development plans;
- public-private partnerships and greater collaboration across sectors;
- up-to-date governance and standards to address the risks of artificial intelligence.
Talent is one of those factors. And the door isn't always open: in the tech industry, only 39% of job openings accept candidates without prior experience, compared to 59% in other sectors.
The CCST: An Initial Cybersecurity Certification
The CCST Cybersecurity (Cisco Certified Support Technician Cybersecurity) is a Cisco certification. It validates entry-level cybersecurity knowledge and skills.
What it certifies:
- Security principles: confidentiality, integrity, and availability, among others.
- Networks and Devices: Network and Endpoint Security.
- Vulnerabilities and Risks: Vulnerability Assessment and Risk Management.
- Incidents: Security Incident Management.
Why Get Certified:
- Validate your knowledge with Cisco's backing.
- Prepare for entry-level roles. The Cisco Networking Academy preparation track is designed for entry-level positions. For example: cybersecurity technician or analyst, and Level 1 technical support.
- It paves the way. It's the first step toward Cisco CyberOps Associate certification.
In She is Digital
Cisco is a partner of " She is Digital." In the program, each participant receives:
- cybersecurity training;
- preparation for the Cisco CCST certification;
- development of social-emotional skills;
- employment support.
More than 2,500 women have already been certified. More than 1,100 are already employed in the tech sector.
"I really think that cybersecurity training is something everyone should have. (…) I'm currently working in the transportation sector, and I'd love to delve deeper into the subject, especially because these days, with all the new devices being developed, data security is increasingly at risk."
Melissa García, a graduate of She is Digital México and a data analyst at Daimler Truck.
This month, get to know us
She is Digital It is a program of Junior Achievement Americas.
Sources: IDB and OAS, “Cybersecurity 2025: Vulnerabilities and Maturity Challenges for Bridging the Gap in Latin America and the Caribbean.” Cisco, “100-160 CCST Cybersecurity.”