The national cybersecurity strategy of Guatemala

The National Cybersecurity Strategy of Guatemala (2018), published by the Ministry of the Interior, is the country’s first official framework to address threats from cyberspace. It was designed in alignment with the National Security Policy 2016–2020 and with international commitments, such as the Organization of American States (OAS) resolution on adopting comprehensive cybersecurity strategies.

The strategy begins with a diagnosis of Guatemala’s cyber landscape, highlighting rapid growth in internet use, the digital divide between urban and rural areas, limited institutional capacities, and the absence of strong legal frameworks. It notes the lack of a national incident response team, insufficient coordination between public and private actors, and vulnerabilities in critical infrastructures such as electricity, telecommunications, and finance.

It establishes a vision where Guatemalans gain greater awareness of cybersecurity, valuing and using digital technologies safely, with shared responsibility across government, private sector, academia, and civil society. The overall goal is to strengthen national capacities so that citizens can exercise their rights, participate, and develop in cyberspace securely.

The strategy is structured around four strategic pillars:

1. Legal frameworks – adopting laws on cybercrime, data protection, and critical infrastructure protection, as well as aligning national rules with international standards.
2. Education – integrating cybersecurity into school curricula, training justice and law enforcement actors, and building professional expertise.
3. Culture and society – fostering a culture of cybersecurity through awareness campaigns, public–private cooperation, and trust in digital services.
4. Information technologies – improving technical standards, building national capabilities for prevention and incident response, and promoting secure digital innovation.

Governance of the strategy is placed under the National Security System, with a proposed National Cybersecurity Committee to coordinate institutions, monitor progress, and strengthen cooperation with the private sector and international partners. The document also emphasises the importance of resilience: ensuring that, even when incidents occur, Guatemala can restore critical services quickly and limit damage