APEC Peru 2024 Blocks Over 500,000 Cyberattacks During High-Stakes Summit
Peru's APEC 2024 summit successfully fended off over 500,000 cyberattacks during the Economic Leaders' Week held in Lima. With the cooperation of various government agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Armed Forces, and National Police, Peru set a new standard in cybersecurity for international summits. The efforts ensured uninterrupted access to critical IT systems, including websites and accreditation, while protecting sensitive information from cyber threats. This marks a significant achievement in digital security at global events, reinforcing the importance of cybersecurity in an increasingly connected world.
APEC Peru 2024 Successfully Thwarts Over 500,000 Cyberattacks During High-Level Summit
Lima, November 25, 2024 — Peru's APEC 2024 chair has announced the successful defense against over 500,000 cyberattacks aimed at disrupting the APEC Economic Leaders' Week, held in Lima from September 9 to 16. This cybersecurity achievement highlights the country's robust preparedness in safeguarding vital infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted access to IT resources for world leaders, delegations, and media members throughout the high-profile event.
In addition to securing critical systems, the summit witnessed the unanimous adoption of 20 documents by consensus, reinforcing Peru's leadership role in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
Cyber Defense at the Forefront
Ambassador Carlos Chavez-Taffur, Chair of the APEC Peru 2024 Presidency Working Group, emphasized the event’s success in meeting rigorous cybersecurity standards, noting, "We ensured that APEC Peru 2024's critical systems were secure, safeguarding both personal data and sensitive information while allowing seamless access to websites, the accreditation system, and the wireless network."
Remarkable efforts by the cybersecurity teams included blocking more than 450,000 malicious requests targeting the accreditation system and the event's official website. The Lima Convention Center and the Ministry of Culture’s IT infrastructure were also shielded from nearly 1,000 malicious attempts to disrupt operations during the summit. Despite the heavy volume of up to two million requests per hour, the accreditation system and official website remained fully operational throughout the event.
Strategic Coordination Across Multiple Agencies
This was the first time that the Peruvian government coordinated cybersecurity efforts at such a large scale, with various sectors working in tandem. In addition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the team involved the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM), the Peruvian Armed Forces (FFAA), the National Intelligence Directorate (DINI), and the Peruvian National Police (PNP). Together, these agencies played a pivotal role in detecting cyber threats, analyzing vulnerabilities, and maintaining the integrity of the digital infrastructure.
Ambassador Chavez-Taffur highlighted the unprecedented level of collaboration, stating, "This integrated effort set a new precedent for cybersecurity coordination between government entities in Peru. The joint effort allowed us to proactively address and mitigate potential risks, ensuring the safety of our digital environment."
Cybersecurity Threat Landscape and Response
Cybersecurity experts had raised concerns in the lead-up to the event about potential cyberattacks from a range of threat actors, including hacktivists, cyberterrorists, cybercriminals, and state-sponsored cyber warriors. Reports from both PCM and DINI indicated that these groups might attempt to disrupt the summit’s digital infrastructure to further their own political, financial, or ideological agendas.
In preparation, the APEC Peru 2024 Information Technology team, supported by specialized cybersecurity units within PCM, FFAA, DINI, and PNP, created real-time monitoring systems and response protocols. These measures were designed to detect digital security incidents, assess vulnerabilities, and analyze emerging threats in cyberspace. Notably, they employed cutting-edge technology to protect against increasingly sophisticated cybercriminal tactics.
APEC's Global Impact and Peru’s Role
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which includes 21 economies representing 62% of the global GDP, 48% of global trade, and 38% of the world’s population, is a major platform for international diplomacy and trade. For Peru, hosting APEC for the third time, following successful summits in 2008 and 2016, was an opportunity to showcase its growing capabilities in international security, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of cybersecurity.
As the host nation for APEC Peru 2024, Peru underscored its commitment not only to economic development but also to strengthening digital infrastructures in an increasingly connected world.
Cybersecurity and Digital Resilience: A New Priority for Global Events
As cyber threats grow in scale and sophistication, the successful defense against these attacks during APEC Peru 2024 sets a new benchmark for future international events. This outcome reflects a broader global trend towards increasing focus on cybersecurity as part of national security and event planning. Countries are now more aware than ever of the need for comprehensive, multi-agency strategies to protect critical digital infrastructure, especially during high-profile summits like APEC, where the risks of cyberattacks can have far-reaching consequences.
Moving forward, the successful efforts by APEC Peru 2024 may serve as a model for other international forums, demonstrating how coordinated cyber defense can mitigate risks and ensure the continued flow of information, secure communications, and access during major global events.
