From January 26 to February 20, 2026, the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies delivered the Cybersecurity Fundamentals Asynchronous Course to more than 50 participants from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Facilitated by Perry Center Professor Dr. Boris Saavedra and Cyber Policy Fellow Dr. Heriberto Acosta-Maestre, the course was conducted online and designed to provide participants with foundational knowledge of cybersecurity at the political and strategic levels, with an emphasis on defense-sector perspectives.

The course strengthened participants’ understanding of governance in cyberspace, support the informed and appropriate use of cyber tools, and encourage the development of cybersecurity and defense policies that support national decision-making and promote cooperation at the national, regional, and international levels. It also aimed to foster an environment conducive to the exchange of ideas and professional collaboration.

The course consisted of nine pre-recorded academic modules, accompanied by assigned preparatory readings. Course topics included cybercrime, the protection of critical infrastructure, public-private partnerships, cybersecurity norms and procedures, incident response, the cyber domain, artificial intelligence and automated processing, generative artificial intelligence in cybersecurity, and United States cybersecurity policies. The course also featured contributions from visiting professors Diego Rodríguez, Gianncarlo Gómez, and Angélica Castillo — all WJPC alums.

Throughout the month, participants engaged with the material in a self-paced format that emphasized independent learning and applied reflection, enabling them to contextualize cybersecurity challenges within their respective institutional and national frameworks.