Cyber security at Davos

Even as the world prepares for the new technologies of the fourth industrial revolution, a deeply connected world is emerging. Connected devices, people and machines are together shaping change in unforeseen ways. While much of it has positive implications, the dark side is getting a lot of attention.

The World Economic Forum has launched the Centre for Cyber Security (C4C) to enable the creation of a global collaborative platform for countering cyber threats. As cyber-attacks don’t see the boundaries between countries, industries and organisations, everyone is at risk if even one is vulnerable.

As it happens, the vulnerability is rising and the worlds ability to cope with it remains poor. Economic loss because of cyber crime is predicted to reach $3 trillion by 2020 and 74 per cent of the world’s business can expect an attack in an year.

Privacy and related issues have been in the spotlight because of data breaches in several companies. However, the threat of attacks on transportation systems, governance agencies, regulators, utilities can have far more disastrous consequences.

“The cybercriminal revolution will continue to challenge traditional security models and offer new opportunities for all citizens, businesses and governments to work together to counter digital crime,” says a C4C paper.

In the transportation sector, civil aviation has high vulnerability. To mitigate the vulnerabilities, the International Centre for Civil Aviation (ICAO) is driving a coordinated approach to security. “Cybersecurity is a growing concern for civil aviation, as organisations increasingly rely on electronic systems for critical parts of their operations, including safety-critical functions. Cybersecurity encompasses the protection of electronic systems from malicious electronic attack (unlawful interference) and the means of dealing with the consequences of such attacks,” an ICAO assessment states.

A project sponsored by ICAO in coordination with the C4C and key aviation stakeholders will aim at developing a global cyber trust framework to enable flight operations in a digitally connected environment.Airplane makers, airport companies, intelligence agencies and airlines will have to come together to create an agency like InterPol for aviation but one can respond rapidly and in real time.

The C4C is working to bring several sectors together with five objectives. Foster global governance; stimulate efforts to reduce cybercrime; facilitate global cyber crisis management; anticipate future threats and risks; and develop a global security workforce.

These objectives will guide the sectoral and policy response to cyber security. Among these anticipation of future risks is the most difficult as malafide hackers are usually ahead of the policing systems. The issue of capacity and capability to counter attacks is also very poor. A new category of cyber crime fighting professionals will have to be created in each country and sector for effective security of our connected systems. On the positive side, this will create work opportunities for millions. However, this will require a concerted effort and a common skilling approach to ensure there is global compatibility.

Sharing of data and information is important. While the health care sector shares information about diseases, the transportation or ulility sector does not have strong mechanisms. A cyber attack that brings down a country’s power grid is a reality today. The world needs global management of cyber security with focus on creating policies that enable sharing, harmonising and interoperability of cyber security systems.

It is easier for people to imagine physical threats. Cyber crimes can be far more insidious than data leaks. A recognition of the threats was visible at Davos 2019. WEF’s C4C plans to trigger cooperation and collaboration across the world in a way that hasn’t happened in history.