With Grand Cayman on the cusp on revamping how it disposes of garbage – at the proposed ReGen waste-to-energy and recycling facility rather than at the long overused ‘Mount Trashmore’ landfill – technology will play a large role in both the construction and the operation of the plant.

As Tropical Storm Grace lashed Grand Cayman on 18 Aug., electricity across the island went out, leaving most residents to sit out the strong winds and rain in homes with no lights and no air conditioning. But at a handful of homes, when the CUC power blinked off, Tesla Powerwall batteries snapped into action in a fraction of a second.

A hacker holding assets hostage for a hefty ransom was once a common storyline in many a Hollywood movie, but this act has quickly become one of the leading real-life cyber-attack strategies against companies and private individuals.

Cayman’s data protection legislation forms a key part of efforts to ward off cyber criminals seeking to misuse personal information or exfiltrate data gathered through legitimate business practices.

Gone are the days of cloaked hackers in darkened basements launching attacks; instead, cyber-security professionals are now facing organised cartels of digital terrorists determined to make profit off any gaps they can exploit within corporate and government bodies.

With Cayman’s economic stability now heavily vested in financial services, as tourism remains closed, keeping assets ‘cyber secure’ within that industry and within government is not just a reputational concern, but crucial to the country’s very survival.

Amid the opportunities and threats posed by the rapid advancement in technology, the Cayman Compass Issues section this month looks at how the Cayman Islands could create a smart island at the forefront of that change and the steps we would need to take for that to happen.

Experts call for improvements in Cayman's tech infrastructure for best-in-class internet access, as well as stronger IP legislation.

From cryptocurrency to NFTs and blockchain technology, Cayman has plenty of room for growth in the tech industry