Mexico is in the middle of a digital revolution.
Nearshoring, cloud adoption, e-commerce expansion, and AI-driven automation have helped transform everything from manufacturing plants in Monterrey to financial institutions in Mexico City. In just the last five years, Mexico has seen explosive growth in digital platforms and smart infrastructure, fueling economic momentum and global competitiveness.
But this progress comes with a caveat: the digital acceleration has outpaced cybersecurity readiness.
According to a 2023 report, Mexico was one of the top six most-targeted countries globally for cyberattacks. In addition, Mexico suffered 31 billion cybercrime attempts during the first half of last year, or 55% of those in Latin America.
In some industries, particularly manufacturing and government, successful attacks cost an average of USD 2 million annually.
The message is clear: as digital connectivity expands, so do emerging cyber threats. And attackers are not slowing down.
Targeted Industries and Threat Patterns
Mexico's strategic industries are now bullseyes for sophisticated threat actors, from ransomware gangs to nation-state-sponsored groups and criminal syndicates using phishing-as-a-service.
- Public Sector: Government institutions face repeated breaches and data leaks. Without a national cybersecurity law or a fully funded agency, many remain unprepared for coordinated attacks or large-scale disruptions.
- Industrial/Manufacturing: Mexico's automotive sector is a prized target due to its integration with global supply chains. Many facilities rely on industrial control systems (ICS) and operational technology (OT) environments that are not secured by traditional IT controls, creating high-stakes vulnerabilities.
- Financial Services: With the rapid growth of mobile banking and fintech platforms, cybercriminals are targeting login credentials, transaction systems, and APIs. Meanwhile, regulatory enforcement struggles to keep up.
- Retail: E-commerce is booming, but so is fraud. Attackers are exploiting customer trust through spoofed websites, fake domains, and sophisticated phishing kits.
Among the most pressing threats are ransomware campaigns and supply chain compromises, both of which pose serious threats to critical infrastructure. No longer isolated, these attacks are systemic, well-funded, and often politically motivated.
Why Mexico Is in the Crosshairs
So why is Mexico experiencing this surge in cyberattacks?
There are several interlocking reasons:
Geopolitical and Economic Proximity
With a strategic position in the middle of a regional digital supply chain to the United States, Mexico is also a proxy and a pressure point for cybercrime groups that need leverage or opportunity for disruption.
Fragmented Regulatory Framework
Mexico currently lacks a dedicated federal cybersecurity law. While multiple laws touch on elements of cybersecurity, data privacy, telecommunications, and consumer protection, they are not unified, enforceable, or adequately modernized.
Initiatives to create a Federal Cybersecurity Law and a National Cybersecurity Agency are in progress but have not yet materialized. Meanwhile, outdated policies leave many critical sectors exposed.
Underinvestment in ICS and OT Security
Industrial environments are especially vulnerable. Many factories still operate with legacy systems that lack encryption, segmentation, or monitoring. And yet these environments control power, water, transportation, and manufacturing lines, making them ideal targets for ransomware and destructive malware.
Also, the convergence of IT and OT is happening faster than entities can secure it. That gap is where attackers thrive.
Awareness and Coordination Gaps
Mexico's National Cybersecurity Strategy, introduced in 2017, has seen little implementation. Public-private collaboration exists but remains patchy. And for many small to mid-size enterprises, cybersecurity training, response planning, and threat sharing remain luxuries, not necessities.
Yet awareness is shifting. The upcoming administration under President Claudia Sheinbaum is expected to take a more scientific and collaborative approach to cybersecurity, offering hope for greater investment, legislation, and institutional leadership.
Fortra's Proven Detection and Mitigation Tools
While legislation and coordination evolve, businesses need to take immediate steps to defend themselves. Cyber resilience begins at the asset level, with visibility, control, and detection.
Fortra provides a layered, proven set of tools designed to help Mexican organizations detect threats early, reduce attack surfaces, and ensure integrity across critical systems.
File Integrity Monitoring (FIM)
Fortra FIM technology detects unauthorized changes in real time, whether in system configurations, software binaries, or critical files, allowing organizations to catch breaches early and stop them from spreading.
Security Configuration Management (SCM)
Fortra helps businesses maintain secure system configurations that align with industry benchmarks such as NIST, ISO 27001, and CIS. This is especially vital in environments with complex regulatory requirements or hybrid infrastructures.
Log and Event Management
With Fortra centralized log management, companies can monitor network anomalies, flag suspicious activity, and improve forensic investigations. Today, speed is everything, especially when dealing with advanced persistent threats.
OT and ICS Monitoring
ICS security is a discipline. By monitoring OT environments for deviations, unauthorized connections, or lateral movement, firms can gain visibility into risks that traditional tools miss. These tools help detect and contain threats, support compliance, audit readiness, and long-term risk reduction.
From Vulnerability to Vigilance
Mexico's digital growth is something the country can be proud of, but it must also herald the beginning of a new era of cybersecurity, one that demands prudence, investment, and collaborative strategy.
Mexican business leaders in the public, financial, industrial, and retail sectors have a clear mandate: move cybersecurity from a technical issue to a boardroom imperative.
This means conforming with international norms like the UN Cybercrime Convention, investing in ICS security and real-time monitoring, and choosing proven solutions to provide the integrity, visibility, and resiliency that emerging cyber threats demand.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this and other guest author articles are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect those of Fortra.
