This article has been written by Ms. Madhumita Barik a final year LLM student of Adamas University.

ABSTRACT :

Our world has changed because of the Internet. It has completely changed how we collaborate, communicate, and exchange knowledge on a worldwide basis in just one generation, spurring previously unheard-of breakthroughs in connectivity, equality, and human prosperity. We have created a thriving digital ecosystem on top of this Internet backbone by fusing systems and technologies with our economies, societies, and selves. By doing this, the values of its designers and users are now reflected in the digital ecosystem. Technology has aided in the advancement of equality, free speech, democracy, and innovation. However, they have also been abused to support digital authoritarianism and transnational repression; steal information and data; propagate misinformation; interfere with essential infrastructure; increase online harassment, exploitation, and abuse; aid criminals and promote violent extremism; and endanger peace and stability. As people and technology become more intertwined, both the best and worst aspects of humanity are made possible. 

KEYWORDS :

Cyber Security, Cyber Threats, United Nation, Global Resilience, Strategies, International Monetary Fund.

INTRODUCTION : In the modern global landscape, the United Nations (UN) is essential in tackling the growing challenges brought about by cyber security threats. With the world growing more interconnected, the digital sphere is essential to the operation of businesses, governments, and societies. But, because of their connectedness, organizations are also more vulnerable to a variety of cyber threats, such as state-sponsored attacks, cybercrime, and other nefarious behaviour that can have serious repercussions. We go into the main tactics used by the UN to combat cyber security threats in the sections that follow, highlighting the significance of global collaboration, the creation of standards and guidelines, capacity building programs, public-private partnerships, incident response systems, and the advancement of legal frameworks. The intersection of these strategies highlights the importance of a coordinated, multilateral effort and reflects a comprehensive approach to strengthen global resilience against cyber threats. It is critical to understand that adversaries are always evolving and adapting in the dynamic field of cyber security. As a result, the tactics covered here are a sample of current initiatives as of the January 2022 knowledge update. The UN and its member states keep improving and modifying their strategies in response to changing threats in order to guarantee the strong defence of digital infrastructures and the preservation of global peace and security.

Threats to Cybersecurity Demand an International Response: Money travels the world quickly, as we are all aware. Cybercrime is following suit, as demonstrated by Operation Taxied, and is gaining the ability to work together quickly across national boundaries. We have to keep up with the criminals’ speed and global integration if we want to establish a cyber-secure world. It won’t be sufficient to use local resources to combat a global threat. In order to coordinate their efforts, nations must take more internal and external action.

We have to keep up with the criminals’ speed and global integration if we want to establish a cyber-secure world:-

How to collaborate with others most effectively: To start, there are a lot of excellent examples of cooperation in the private sector. In many areas, including creating risk- and technical-management standards, organizing forums for information exchange, and allocating significant funds, the industry should be commended for taking the lead. International organizations, such as the Basel Committee and the Group of Seven Cyber Experts, are raising awareness and defining best practices for supervisors in the financial sector. This work is significant.

However, more needs to be done, particularly if we adopt a global viewpoint. There are four areas in which collaboration among international stakeholders can enhance national efforts:

Prior to anything else, we must deepen our knowledge of the risks, including their origins, characteristics, and potential effects on financial stability. To fully comprehend the risks, we require additional information on threats and the effects of successful attacks.

Second, we must enhance our cooperation in the areas of threat intelligence, incident reporting, and resilience and response best practices. It is necessary to improve information sharing between the public and private sectors, for as by lowering obstacles that prevent banks from informing law enforcement and financial supervisors about problems. Within a nation, communication between various public agencies must be seamless. The most difficult thing to do is get better at sharing information between nations.

Third, and related to the previous point, more consistency in regulatory approaches is required. Different nations now use distinct terminology, regulations, and standards. More communication will be facilitated by reducing this inconsistency. 

Lastly, nations must prepare for attacks because they are inevitable. In order to respond and resume operations as soon as possible, national and international crisis preparation and response protocols should be established. Crisis simulations have become essential for developing responsiveness and resilience because they highlight flaws in decision-making and process areas.

Linking the world’s dots:

Since cyberattacks can originate from any location in the world, or from multiple locations at once, crisis response procedures need to be defined both locally and internationally. This implies that in times of emergency, the appropriate authorities in neighbouring and, ideally, distant nations, should be aware of “whom to call.” International attention is needed to address this challenge, particularly for small and developing nations. For financial connections, many rely on correspondent lines or financial services offered by international banks. Creating cross-border response protocols will assist nations in comprehending their respective roles during a crisis and guarantee a coordinated reaction when one occurs. While the Group of Seven has made great strides toward fostering cybersecurity cooperation, every nation must be included in this endeavour. The IMF can be very helpful in this situation. The IMF has the capacity to bring emerging-market and developing country concerns to the attention of the world community because of its far wider representation than that of the majority of standard-setting organizations. Advanced economies should cooperate with other nations to exchange information, plan strategies, and develop capacity because any location is a good place to launch an attack.

At the IMF, we assist nations in acquiring the knowledge and abilities necessary to identify and successfully mitigate cybersecurity risks. We regularly collaborate with a wide range of public and private sector stakeholders, and our international partners follow suit. Effective cyberattacks have the ability to impede financial development by sowing disbelief, particularly in cases where financial and personal information is compromised. We must uphold confidence and guarantee the security of information and communications technologies if we are to benefit from new technologies that have the potential to open up markets and increase financial inclusion. Because cybersecurity is evolving at an incredibly rapid rate, there is always more to be done.

The UN has taken a proactive approach to combating cybersecurity threats by implementing a number of frameworks and initiatives. Globally, cybersecurity threats present serious challenges that impact individuals, businesses, and governments equally. The UN and the international community have been concentrating on the following general issues and strategies to improve global resilience against cyber threats, though specific tactics may change over time:

1. Global Collaboration:

• Promoting cooperation amongst member states, businesses, and civil society organizations in order to tackle cybersecurity issues as a group.
• Promoting the sharing of knowledge and best practices in order to improve situational awareness worldwide.

1. Standards, Values, and Consents:

• establishing and advancing global standards and guidelines for appropriate online conduct.
• encouraging the creation of international treaties or agreements to control state behaviour in cyberspace.

1. Building Capacity:

• supplying less developed nations with infrastructure development, technical know-how, and training to improve their cybersecurity capacities. 

1. Awareness and Education about Cybersecurity:

• Putting awareness campaigns into action to inform the public, private sector, and governmental entities about cybersecurity best practices.
• Improving educational initiatives to produce a workforce with cybersecurity expertise.

1. Lawful Structures:

• Creating and maintaining national legal frameworks to combat cybercrime and safeguard vital infrastructure.
• Encouraging the harmonisation of global cybersecurity legal standards.

1. Reaction to incidents and exchange of information:

• Encouraging member states and pertinent stakeholders to share information in real time about cyber threats and incidents.
• Putting in place coordinated incident response systems to quickly address cyberattacks.

1. Public-Private Collaborations:

• Promoting cooperation to improve cybersecurity measures between public and private sectors.
• Encouraging the exchange of information between public and private organizations so that they can jointly combat cyberattacks.

1. Innovation in Technology:

• Promoting the development of cybersecurity research and technology.
• Encouraging the use of cutting-edge technologies to improve cybersecurity, such as block chain and artificial intelligence.

1. Planning for Resilience:

• Creating and carrying out organizational and national resilience plans to lessen the effects of cyber incidents.
• Carrying out risk analyses and creating backup plans for vital infrastructure.

CONCLUSION : The UN’s efforts to combat cyber security risks and advance global resilience demonstrate a dedication to overcoming the difficulties posed by a world that is becoming more interconnected. The UN’s strategies emphasize that cyberspace is a domain that needs coordinated international efforts to maintain stability, security, and the defence of fundamental rights. The UN’s approach is based on international cooperation, which emphasizes cooperation between member states, private sector entities, and civil society. A common understanding of appropriate behaviour in cyberspace is facilitated by the sharing of knowledge, the development of best practices, and the establishment of standards and guidelines. This spirit of cooperation carries over to UN capacity building projects, which help less developed nations improve their cyber security capabilities and create a more resilient and inclusive digital environment. Through the utilisation of both private sector innovation and governmental authority, public-private partnerships facilitate a comprehensive response to cyber threats. In order to create a more flexible international community, the UN promotes the adoption of technological frameworks, incident response procedures, information exchange, and cybersecurity awareness. Through the utilisation of both private sector innovation and governmental authority, public-private partnerships facilitate a comprehensive response to cyber threats. In order to create a more flexible international community, the UN promotes the adoption of technological frameworks, incident response procedures, information exchange, and cybersecurity awareness.

Reference :

1. This article is published on

https://www.un.org/counterterrorism/cybersecurity

1. This article is published on

https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Cybersecurity/Pages/cybersecurity-national-strategies.aspx

1. This article is published on

https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2020/01/13/blog-cybersecurity-threats-call-for-a-global-response

1. This article is published on

National-Cybersecurity-Strategy-2023.