Signing ceremony in Washington State (Photo: OAS)

The agreement, which took place at Microsoft’s headquarters in Washington State, will work to strengthen the regional body’s efforts to improve cyber security in the region.

OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said the agreement was “another example of the OAS’ commitment to working with relevant actors in the Americas.”

“This partnership will have both hemispheric and global benefits as we seek to strengthen the cyber security capabilities of our member countries,” Insulza said. “New technologies are critical for development and security and we must keep in mind that cyber threats are continuously evolving.”

The OAS said that, under the agreement, the two sides could work together to implement projects focusing on cyber security.

“Cybercriminals are increasingly sophisticated in preying on consumers and no one organization can fight them alone,” said Brad Smith, executive vice president and general counsel at Microsoft. “The agreement we’ve signed today will help the private and public sectors fight cybercrime more effectively, and make the internet safer for all.”

The pact was signed during the Global Cybercrime Enforcement Summit.