IGF 2021 WS #156
Cybersecurity capability and skills - sustainable approaches

Organizer 1: Karis Bouher, PGI

Speaker 1: Sebastian Madden, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Lara Pace, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Patryk Pawlak, Intergovernmental Organization, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4: Kerry-Ann Barrett, Intergovernmental Organization, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 5: Reem Al-Shammari, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 6: Baha Khasawneh, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group

Moderator

Lara Pace, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Online Moderator

Cardona Mariana, Intergovernmental Organization, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)

Rapporteur

Lara Pace, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

Format

Round Table - Circle - 90 Min

Policy Question(s)

Cybersecurity practices and mechanisms: What are the good cybersecurity practices and international mechanisms that already exist? Where do those mechanisms fall short and what can be done to strengthen the security and to reinforce the trust?
International standards: How should international standards address the different requirements and preferences of governments and citizens in different countries?

By holding a debate on sustainable approaches to building cyber security capability and developing cyber security skills, our ambition is to place a discussion of this importance on an international stage bringing together multiple stakeholders to inform the discussion. Much cyber security capacity building occurs and this should be celebrated. However, in order to really create transformational programmes of capability development we need to equip nations with the capability to own each process. The element of ownership of each process is key to sustainability.

In order to establish trust across stakeholders at a regional/international level in cyber security and across economies at large, we need to foster and strengthen the uptake of standards and certifications, not only for those stakeholders that are cyber security actors per se but also across the economy in its entirety.

SDGs

1. No Poverty
4. Quality Education
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
17. Partnerships for the Goals


Targets: 1 - Specifically 1.5, 1.a, 1.b;
4 – Specifically 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 4.7, 4.a, 4.b
8 – Specifically 8.2, 8.3, 8.6, 8.10;
9 – Specifically 9.5, 9.a, 9.b, 9.c
17 – Specifically 17.6, 17.8, 17.9, 17.5, 17.16, 17.19

Description:

This session will provide an understanding of what it means to manage digital risk and what national cybersecurity capability and capacity constitutes. It will introduce the challenge of building comprehensive programmes designed to be holistic, sustainable, and affecting a multitude of sectors and stakeholders.

We will include language that will describe the challenge of coordination and managing various stakeholders to contribute to a single landscape, that contributes to national security of a nation or territory.

It will also introduce syntax suggesting capability building (or capacity building as is used interchangeably) should be categorised as national investments much like any other economic investments are treated or spoken about. It would automatically suggest language that looks to seek out return on those investments and how as an international community, we can seek to maximise return on investments through multi-party partnerships.

1. Provide an understanding of what we mean by impact of capacity building interventions.
2. Provide an example of sustainable approaches to building skills and workforces.
3. Encourage comprehensive approaches to building cyber education across the entire educational sector.

Expected Outcomes

1. A joint publication will have been published in advance of the workshop, with key findings evidencing our description.

2. The workshop will broaden the discussion on the subject as well as profile practical examples of experience of sustainable approaches across the globe.

3. This session will serve to build a better understanding of impact and evaluation of cybersecurity interventions.

4. The session will help in improve the stability and trust of Cybersecurity practices and mechanisms, and international standards.

The Moderators will chair the discussion and elicit interaction and input from the participants. Prior planning around speaker expertise will be conducted, including development of questions identified to have the best input to ensure each person has equal opportunities for both sharing perspectives and participating in the discussion. Pre-session briefings will also be held to ensure all participants are aware of the expected outcomes, which will positively impact overall quality and conciseness of the discussion.

Online Participation



Usage of IGF Official Tool. Additional Tools proposed: Social media, specifically Twitter and LinkedIn, and multimedia (for contextualising the discussion).