ITU drives global effort to strengthen cybersecurity
Global index measures national cybersecurity resilience
Dubai, 2 April 2014 – ITU presented the
Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI),
a unique initiative launched by ITU and ABI Research to measure the levels of
cybersecurity in countries, at a forum held in Dubai today. It underlies ITU’s
commitment to strengthening cybersecurity and plugging the gaps worldwide while
building capacity at the national level, particularly in developing countries.
The long term aim is to drive further efforts in the adoption and integration
of cybersecurity on a global scale. A comparison of national cybersecurity
strategies will reveal those countries with high rankings in specific areas, and
consequently highlight lesser known – yet successful – cybersecurity strategies.
Based on questionnaire responses received by ITU Member States, a first
analysis of cybersecurity development in the Arab region was compiled and one
for the Africa region is under way. The objective is to release a global status
of cybersecurity for 2014.
“Greater connectivity also brings with it greater risk,” said ITU
Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré. “As our physical and cyber worlds overlap,
there is an increased need to address the related challenges of ensuring
security, human rights, rule of law, good governance and economic development.”
“In embracing technological progress, cybersecurity must form an integral and
invisible part of that process,” said Brahima Sanou, Director of ITU’s
Telecommunication Development Bureau addressing the forum. “Unfortunately,
cybersecurity is not yet at the core of many national and industrial technology
strategies.”
The goal of the GCI is to help foster a global culture of cybersecurity and
its integration at the core of information and communication technologies.
“Countries need to be aware of their current capability level in cybersecurity
and, at the same time, identify areas where cybersecurity needs to be enhanced,”
Sanou stressed.
The forum on Measuring Countries' Readiness and Build Capacity on
Cybersecurity was held at ITU’s World Telecommunication Development
Conference that opened in Dubai on 30 March and will be in session until 10
April.
Media Accreditation
Media accreditation for WTDC-14 is compulsory. Please see:
www.itu.int/en/newsroom/wtdc-14/Pages/media-accreditation.aspx
Media-relevant videos can be accessed at the WTDC-14
Newsroom: http://bit.ly/1jXuGP5 -
http://bit.ly/1mojk3Z
The Report is available at:
www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Cybersecurity/Pages/GCI.aspx
Photos are available at:
www.flickr.com/photos/itupictures