By James McKeigue

Copyright caymancompass

Speaking on the sidelines of the Security BSides Cayman Islands conference on 18 Sept., Minister for Social Development and Innovation Isaac Rankine told the Compass that the islands’ economy depends on solid cybersecurity.

Question: What is this government doing to protect the finance sector from cyber-security threats?
Answer: Well, we have our own internal cybersecurity defence strategy that is not only for government but also coordinates with the private sector as well. In addition to that, the Premier [André Ebanks is a long-time supporter of BSides, but was unable to attend the 2025 edition] and I are also putting together an AI Task Force, which we hope to launch very soon because we recognise the threats.

And as I said in my remarks [the minister was a keynote speaker at the Security BSides Cayman Islands conference], this is not just about technical issues such as network security or the like, but it’s also about our reputation, and we have to protect our reputation for the global financial sector.

Q: Are you worried about the standards of cybersecurity at local firms in Cayman?
A: Well, of course, it’s something we always worry about. Even with the best anti-hacking software, you will still have vulnerabilities. So, yes it keeps me awake at night. It’s not just the responsibility of the government but also for the private sector.

If we don’t stay vigilant, if you don’t stay on top of things, there’s always a risk that something could happen that we don’t want or don’t like, but we are trying to stay on top of it. We have a very good cyber-security expert in our department, Pamela Green. She’s doing a wonderful job as our first ever chief information security officer, and I applaud what she’s been doing with our staff.

We are on top of this issue. And again, like I said, we put together the AI Task Force to help us try and mitigate these things before they ever happen. AI is a very good tool, but in the hands of bad actors, it could be very devastating.

Q: How do you support young Caymanians to start their careers in cybersecurity?
A: We do it in various ways. We support our kids through scholarships in different initiatives, but we also have positions in the Computer Services Department [CSD] which really can build their skills up from there.

I had the opportunity earlier this year to speak to somebody who’s attending university in the US, but has also interned with us at the CSD. He told me one of the most beneficial things to him was coming back to work in the CSD, where he was able to use all the skills and knowledge he had learned at university. Coming back here meant he was able to transition and apply that expertise using real-world experiences, such as work and conferences, to build his cybersecurity expertise.

Q: Do you think young Caymanians entering cybersecurity would have to study abroad before returning?
A: Absolutely. It would be very beneficial for them. For example, my background is in telecoms engineering, so I studied abroad. That gave me the foundation to then do other things.

I would certainly advise young Caymanians looking at this sector to explore options for studying abroad. Not just because of academic reasons, but because it allows them to see other bits of the world, The culture, and the different business aspects they bring back home, will be very valuable. They will then realise how important it is for us back here in the Cayman Islands as well.

Q: Given this government’s financial constraints, how will you partner with the private sector to deliver training for Caymanians?
A: Well, we do have budget constraints, just like any other government in the world – small or large.

But we do offer scholarships, and they involve a significant investment from the government. And then we also have scholarships offered by the private sector. If you look on the Chamber of Commerce website, you will see a different types of private sector scholarships being offered.

So, we’re there to support these young Caymanians if they want to move in that field. And I would encourage them to do that, because there’s so many different jobs that they can find in that industry.