UN report calls for stronger actions to combat evolving cyber threats

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - United Nations' telecommunications agency urged for "stronger actions" to address evolving cyber threats in its latest report released Thursday, despite noting global advancements in cybersecurity.

The International Telecommunication Union's Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 (GCI 2024) highlighted that while countries have made significant strides in improving cybersecurity measures since the last index in 2021, the need for continued vigilance remains critical. The report emphasizes that building trust in the digital world is essential, according to the agency's Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin.

"Building trust in the digital world is paramount," Bogdan-Martin said in a statement. "The progress seen in the Global Cybersecurity Index is a sign that we must continue to focus efforts to ensure that everyone, everywhere can safely and securely manage cyberthreats in today's increasingly complex digital landscape."

The GCI 2024 report employed a five-tier analysis to evaluate countries' advancements in cybersecurity commitments, covering legal, technical, organizational, capacity development, and cooperation pillars. It identified 46 countries, including Türkiye, as Tier 1—designated for "role modelling" countries that exhibit a strong commitment across all five cybersecurity pillars.

The report also noted that the Africa region has made the most progress in cybersecurity since 2021. Legal measures were found to be the strongest cybersecurity pillar for most countries, with 177 nations having regulations in place for personal data protection, privacy protection, or breach notification.

Additionally, the report highlighted that 139 countries have active computer incident response teams, deemed crucial for national cybersecurity. It also observed an increase in national cybersecurity strategies, with 132 countries having a strategy as of 2024, up from 107 in 2021.

Moreover, 152 countries have conducted cyber awareness initiatives targeting the general population, including vulnerable and underrepresented groups, to foster a culture of cybersecurity.

However, the report pointed out a gap in the implementation of online child protection measures, noting that while 164 countries have legal measures for child online protection, only 94 have reported associated strategies and initiatives.

Cybersecurity threats such as ransomware attacks, breaches affecting core industries, costly system outages, and privacy breaches were highlighted as major concerns. The report cautioned that cyberattacks are seen as the fifth most likely risk to cause a global crisis in 2024.

"Recent global technical outages demonstrated the world’s dependency on digital infrastructure and the need for resilience," the report concluded.