Adoption of digital certificates is crucial to strengthen cybersecurity in 2025

Analysis by Cláudio Rezende, GlobalSign Brazil Operations Director

In a scenario where phishing and deepfake attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the ability to verify the sender's identity in an email becomes crucial. The report CISO Village 2024 At Team8's recent event, featuring chief information security officers (CISOs), 75% of executives expressed greater concern about phishing attacks, while 56% identified deepfake fraud (both video and voice) as another critical risk.

an Check Point Software study It also showed that over 90% of attacks on businesses worldwide originate from malicious emails. Therefore, it's essential to strengthen the security of these communications. Using Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) certificates – which encrypt messages point-to-point, maintaining data integrity – is one of the most recommended strategies for 2025.

An important point to analyze is the correlation between the Digital Competitiveness Index, cyberattacks, and the need for S/MIME Certificates in Brazil. The country's low digital competitiveness index, as evidenced in... World Economic Forum ReportIt highlights challenges in various areas, including technological infrastructure and cybersecurity. A lack of maturity in these areas increases Brazil's vulnerability to cyberattacks, which can negatively impact businesses and the overall economy.

Given this, adopting S/MIME certificates emerges as a crucial tool to strengthen cybersecurity and boost Brazil's competitiveness, as it offers several benefits, such as:

• Guaranteeing sender identity and message integrity, protecting against fraud and phishing attacks.
• Message encryption, ensuring only authorized recipients have access to the content, protecting sensitive information; and
• Meeting the legal requirements of various sectors, such as Healthcare and Finance, facilitating compliance with regulations and avoiding penalties.

Considering the points highlighted above, I believe the widespread adoption of S/MIME certificates in Brazil can significantly improve the country's competitiveness by strengthening trust in electronic transactions, boosting e-commerce and the digital economy; mitigating cyber risks, protecting businesses and citizens from financial losses and reputational damage; creating a more secure and trustworthy business environment, attracting foreign investment and driving economic growth; and promoting technological innovation through a favorable environment for the development of cybersecurity solutions.