Launch of the 2nd edition of the Guide to Developing a National Cybersecurity Strategy
Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau
24 November 2021
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, everyone.
It's great to join you today for the launch of the 2nd edition of our Guide to Developing a National Cybersecurity Strategy.
Over the past two decades, people worldwide have benefited enormously from the growth and adoption of digital technologies, and the many opportunities they bring.
But while digital transformation is a uniquely powerful enabler of inclusive and sustainable development, it is vital that the underlying infrastructure and services be safe, secure, and resilient.
The COVID-19 pandemic has served to illustrate why.
Over the past 18 months, we've witnessed a surge in cyber incidents, malicious misinformation campaigns, and targeted cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure like hospitals.
With digital becoming the 'new normal', we need to act now to reinforce our cyber protection, and guard against bad actors.
That means that every country needs to put in place a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy.
The UN Secretary-General's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, and the new UN Common Agenda report, both emphasize the importance of trust, security, and stability in fostering universal digital inclusion.
But developing an effective cybersecurity strategy is a complex task.
So to help governments, back in 2018 a working group of partner organizations jointly developed and published the first Guide to Developing a National Cybersecurity Strategy – or 'NCS'.
Since then, the number of national strategies has increased significantly.
When the first NCS Guide was launched, only 76 countries had a National Cybersecurity Strategy.
Today, some 127 countries now have one in place, and I am proud to say that many used the first NCS Guide as a key reference.
That's good progress, but important gaps remain, especially in low-income countries.
We estimate that 60% of Least Developed Countries still do not have an NCS in place.
We need put our collective expertise to work to help these countries – and every nation – to protect their populations, and their digital resources.
Dear colleagues,
The fast-changing nature of cyberspace, our increased dependency on ICTs, and the proliferation of digital risks all call for continuous adjustments to every country's cybersecurity posture.
That's why this second edition of our NCS Guide could not come at a more critical time.
As with the first edition, I am confident that this new Guide will serve as an invaluable reference tool for policymakers, regulators, and every stakeholder with an interest in building a safe and robust digital environment.
The new edition of this Guide is, like its predecessor, the result of a unique, collaborative effort involving more than 20 specialist organizations from the public and private sectors, as well as academia and civil society, who shared their experience, knowledge, and expertise.
I would like to express my gratitude to them for their invaluable support, and for their commitment to making this project not just a great achievement in its own right, but an outstanding example of successful multistakeholder collaboration in the service of a safer, resilient and inclusive world.
Thank you.
