ITU - Cybersecurity Gateway

PRIVATE SECTOR

The creation of an online environment of trust and confidence involves the application of existing laws, regulations and commercial norms to the electronic environment, through the amendment or extension of existing instruments or through judicial interpretation. In some areas new instruments may also be required. However, creating an environment of trust is not only the responsibility of policy-makers, regulators and the courts.

The private sector has an important role to play in its own right and in cooperation with government in developing business norms, standards and codes of conduct, as well as in identifying and encouraging the adoption of good practices.

The Role of Businesses and the Private Sector

As information and communication infrastructures are often owned and operated by the private sector, these actors’ involvement in building a global culture of cybersecurity is critical. In many countries it is the private sector that is the first to act on the rapid technological development that are constantly taking place, as they need to assess the impact and opportunities this may involve for the company specifically.

As effective security requires an in-depth understanding of the various aspects of information and communication networks, the private sector’s expertise should be increasingly involved in the development and implementation of a country’s cybersecurity strategy.