Cyber Security

How Well Countries Are Prepared To Combat Cyberwar?

Earlier we discussed what is GCI and how it is determined. In this article, we will see how the countries are getting benefitted by the GCI.

In today’s interconnected world when attack vector is ever increasing and threats are dynamic the quote of Dolly Parton is very well applicable.

We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails

We cannot stop the attacks but we can prepare to reduce the impact of the compromise. The intention of the GCI is to help countries to have a common platform to define, measure and monitor the requirements to protect countries IT infrastructure from cyber-attacks. Countries can share and learn from each other, defend cyber-attacks more efficiently and effectively.

The Global Cybersecurity Architecture (GCA), as explained in the previous article provides the 360-degree view based on five pillars Legal, Organizational, Technical, Capacity building and Co-operation. The GCI assessment is based on the questionnaire which measures 24 parameters or Indicators, these parameters are derived from five pillars of GCA.

The data gathered using this questionnaire helps how countries start to implement cyber security. In turn, showing the practices that have been applied in some countries enables them to be used as a point of reference or a starting point in other countries.

An index can serve many purposes, but first and foremost, it can enable nation or states to map out their security postures, understand where they need to make improvements significantly and measure progress over time. As the first iteration of a truly global index, the GCI has sought to pool relevant data from multiple sources.

The countries who are lagging behind can adopt, adapt, and apply certain aspects depending on their national context, with the aim of promoting better practices and making them more widespread. All of this doesn’t stop at a national level, but can be extended to a global level through exchange and cooperation.

The CGI initiative contributes directly to understanding the security situation of the countries involved, as well as encouraging a culture of cyber security, in the aim of increasing and improving the protection of information and other assets internationally.

Following table provides the survey details conducted by ITU in 2017. Total 193 countries participated in this survey.

Out of the 193 Member States, there is a huge range of cyber security commitments, as the heat map below illustrates.

Level of commitment: from Green (highest) to Red (lowest)

(Source https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-d/opb/str/D-STR-GCI.01-2017-PDF-E.pdf)

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