ITU launches GCI to strengthen cybersecurity

Launched at a forum held in Dubai last week, the GCI 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, ITU scribe Hamadoun […]

Launched at a forum held in Dubai last week, the GCI 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, ITU scribe Hamadoun Toure said in a statement emailed to Daily Trust at the weekend.
He said 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, adding the  objective is to release a global status of cybersecurity for 2014.
“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.