Safety Detectives: Please share your company background, how you got started, and your mission.
SILIKN: SILIKN was created in 2019 as a response to a large number of cyberattacks. SILIKN was born from a technological base, from the learning and teaching of open source technologies, such as Linux, and from the need to understand and adopt technology to improve people’s lives. We are living in a time where cyber threats have increased, and cybercriminals are preparing better and better and developing highly sophisticated tools. In Mexico, as in other Latin American countries, there is a strong digital divide, so the adoption and use of technological tools have not been as fast as required. This makes Latin American countries perfect targets for cybercrime. But in this challenging time, SILIKN, has created an ecosystem of information, advice, education, and training in technological matters that also seeks the best tools, capacities, skills, and knowledge of cyber security to the entire community. SILIKN’s mission is a great challenge: SILIKN protects the digital life of people and organizations and in this way, they can develop their full potential, in order to create an environment of continuous progress.
SD: What is the main service your company offers?
SILIKN: SILIKN is divided into three units: the first is the consulting unit, where we advise organizations and governments on cyber security, data loss prevention, fraud prevention, crisis prevention, and social engineering subjects. The second unit is focused on providing digital security technology services, including pentesting services, vulnerability analysis, risk analysis, incident response, crisis management due to cyber attacks, red team, blue team, and operational business continuity. The third unit is aimed at providing education, awareness, training on cyber security issues, where we give workshops, webinars, courses, and boot camps that include official international certifications. We need to have more and more cybersecurity experts who can enter the job market and can help organizations defend themselves against cyberattacks. SILIKN’s training programs help fill this talent gap while giving its students the opportunity to find work in cybersecurity in a faster and more effective way.
SD: What is something unique that helps you stay ahead of your competition?
SILIKN: At SILIKN we never give up. It’s hard to beat someone who never gives up. And we have learned that our mindset as an organization is always to keep going. If we want to help reduce cyberattacks and eliminate cybercriminals, we have to learn, teach, fight and help others every day. This is a relentless war where the priority is to protect people and organizations or else we will have nothing to protect in the future. These have undoubtedly been difficult times—both work and personal—but we have found that the best we can do is adapt. Adaptation in highly complex environments is essential, and this has allowed us to continue with our activities and to learn to be more creative.
SD: What do you think are the worst cyberthreats today?
SILIKN: The worst cyberthreats, contrary to what appears in the mass media and social networks, is not ransomware, or DDos attacks, nor is it social engineering or phishing. The worst cyberthreat is the ability of cybercriminal groups to operate, organize, attack, learn, understand, share and be much better prepared than authorities and governments. That is the real threat: the ease with which cybercriminals operate from anonymity and apply all their expert knowledge to perform malicious acts. Understanding how these cybercriminal groups work is essential in order to stop them. Throughout history, there have been attacks based on religion, race, economy, politics, ideology, survival, sexual preferences, group affiliation, and so on. It is the first time in history that we are exposed to any kind of attack… for nothing. Anytime, anywhere we can be attacked. Why is cybersecurity important? Because a protected world allows us to continue with our lives and strive, fulfill our goals without having to worry about being attacked. But, everything changes when it happens to you. Today we must take care of each other. Learn and teach. Teach and learn. Because what is at risk is not the future … it is the present.