As countries become more digitalized, they are also increasingly vulnerable to cyber risks and challenges that threaten the security and resilience of their networked infrastructures and systems and can erode public trust in the digital environment. Threats to cybersecurity, data protection, and privacy are global, and that’s why addressing them requires a holistic, coordinated, collaborative approach. Stakeholders need to share knowledge, build capacity and expertise, assess risks at the country and local levels, and provide incentives for the private sector to invest in more secure digital infrastructure and technology. A demand-driven approach, tailored to the specific needs, capacities, and resources of low- and middle-income countries, as well as greater collaboration among governments, businesses, and development institutions, is needed to build trust, improve awareness, and achieve more resilient development outcomes.
This ongoing series of events is organized by the World Bank’s Digital Development team and helps facilitate knowledge sharing, build capacity, highlight good practices, and underscore the importance of more fully integrating cybersecurity into the development agenda.
Summary: This event covered how digital transformation of critical infrastructure (CI) sectors has introduced new cybersecurity risks that can undermine the safety, security, and resilience of these sectors and the continuous and reliable delivery of essential services. Speakers looked at how the combination of increased digital dependency and its related risks requires governments to strengthen their institutional, regulatory, and operational capacity and adopt policies, strategies, and technical measures to improve the cybersecurity and resilience of critical sectors.
Summary: During this workshop, experts and practitioners learned about the development of an innovative approach to assessing and improving the cyber resilience of critical sectors, explored the use cases that informed its development in the health, energy, financial and digital infrastructure sectors, and covered good practices on how to implement it. The development of this resource is part of the World Bank’s larger efforts to mainstream cyber resilience into the development agenda and support countries in securing their increasingly digitalized and interconnected critical infrastructure sectors.
Summary: The event focused on how to develop and retain a professional cybersecurity workforce with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to fill some of the most in-demand cybersecurity roles in government and industry. Speakers shared success stories from around the world and best practices in closing the cybersecurity workforce and skills gap and showcased skills training initiatives that can contribute to growing local talent and expertise.
Summary: Developing countries often struggle with a lack of cybersecurity skills and funding to strengthen capabilities, gaps in institutional capacity, and inadequate governance, legal, and regulatory frameworks, especially around protection of critical infrastructures. This event covered the cybersecurity-related challenges that developing countries experience as they become more digitalized as well as the policies, tools, and resources needed to protect their digital transformation and minimize related cybersecurity risks.
Summary: The under-representation and under-utilization of female talent is both a critical business issue and a hindrance to the development of more secure and resilient economies and societies, as well as the overall safety and protection of countries. This session covered ways to design a cyberspace that is safer and more inclusive for women while also narrowing the cybersecurity workforce and awareness gap.
Summary: To reap the benefits and manage the challenges of digitalization, countries need to frame the rapid increase of digital-enabled infrastructures and services within a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy. To support leaders and policymakers in the ongoing development, establishment, and implementation of national cybersecurity strategies and policies, this session, organized by the World Bank and ITU, delves into why these national strategies matter to make the most of them.
Summary: Speakers from the World Bank, USAID, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development discuss why cybersecurity and digital resilience should be incorporated into digital investments and how to build the necessary de-risking mechanisms throughout the digital investment lifecycle. Speakers also covered ways to foster greater collaboration and cooperation among funders, implementers, and recipient countries to ensure more resilient and successful outcomes.
Summary: Over the last decade, cyber-attacks and intrusions have continued to increase both in number and sophistication. The COVID-19 pandemic, and the consequent shift to living and doing business online, has only exacerbated this troubling trend. The event covered the increasing threat posed by ransomware attacks, and focused on several themes including governmental response, economic impact, law enforcement, incident management, and capacity building.
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