CybersecurityWealth breeds cybercrime, but it does not automatically generate cybersecurity: Report

ITU, the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technology, has published the Global Cybersecurity Index 2017 (GCI-2017), which measures the commitment of ITU’s 193 member states to cybersecurity and is the second in this index series.

The GCI-2017 measures countries’ commitment to cybersecurity and helps them to identify areas for improvement. “Through the information collected, it aims to illustrate the practices in use so that ITU member states can identify gaps and implement selected activities suitable to their national environment – with the added benefits of helping to harmonize practices and fostering a global culture of cybersecurity,” the ITU says.

“At ITU, we are committed to making the Internet more secure, safer and trustworthy, for the benefit of all,” said Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary General. “While the impact generated by cyber-attacks, such as those carried out as recently as 27 June 2017, may not be eliminated completely, prevention and mitigation measures to reduce the risks posed by cyber-related threats can and should always be put in place. The GCI reaffirms ITU’s commitment to build confidence and security in the use of ICTs.”

ITU says that in addition to showing the overall cybersecurity commitment of ITU’s 193 Member States, the index also shows the improvement and strengthening of all GCI indicators, which are defined by the five pillars of the ITU Global Cybersecurity Agenda as: legal, technical, organizational, capacity building, and international cooperation.

The GCI-2017 also shows that there is space for further improvement in cooperation at all levels, capacity building and organizational measures.

“As the global community rapidly embraces ICTs as key enabler for social and economic development, it is vital that cybersecurity is made an integral and indivisible part of the digital transformation,” said Brahima Sanou, Director of the ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau. “We continue to encourage governments to consider national policies that take into account cybersecurity so that everyone can reap the benefits of the online world.”

The report found that Singapore has a near-perfect approach to cybersecurity. Many other rich countries have holes in their cyber defenses — wealth breeds cybercrime, but it does not automatically generate cybersecurity — but some poorer countries are doing things right.

The rest of the top 10 were Malaysia, Oman, Estonia, Mauritius, Australia, Georgia, France, and Canada. Russia ranked 11th. India was 25th, one place ahead of Germany, and China was 34th.

Reuters notes that the smallest rich countries also scored badly — Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino were all well down the second half of the table. The Vatican ranked 186th out of 195 countries in the survey.

Equatorial Guinea brings up the rear, with cyber wellness score of zero.

— Read the full ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2017 here; and see the ITU’s cyber-wellness profiles for 195 countries here.