Saudi Arabia Named 'Role-modelling' In UN Global Cybersecurity Index

Saudi Arabia has achieved the top spot in the United Nations Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024, solidifying its status as a cybersecurity leader. The International Telecommunication Union acknowledged Saudi Arabia's exceptional performance, placing it in Tier 1 – Role-modelling among over 190 member states. This index evaluates countries' cybersecurity commitments using 83 indicators across five pillars: legal measures, organizational measures, cooperation measures, capacity development measures, and technical measures.

The Kingdom attained a perfect score of 100/100 on the GCI, earning 20 out of 20 points in each pillar. The National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) emphasized the index's importance as a global standard for cybersecurity. Saudi Arabia's excellence in all five pillars highlights its leadership in this field. The NCA attributed this success to the guidance and support from Saudi leadership and contributions from the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE).

The Saudi model for cybersecurity is based on centralizing cyber governance at the national level. This includes assessment, response, and national capacity building while decentralizing operations to national entities. This approach has significantly enhanced national cybersecurity and technical sovereignty and improved information sharing in international cooperation.

The NCA noted that this leading position continues the Kingdom's advancements, as shown by its recent first-place ranking globally in the cybersecurity indicator according to the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook for 2024. This achievement reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to cybersecurity excellence both domestically and internationally.

The NCA also highlighted strong collaboration among government, private, and non-profit sectors within the cybersecurity ecosystem as a key factor in this success. The authority serves as the national entity responsible for cybersecurity in Saudi Arabia and acts as the primary reference on related matters.

National Cybersecurity Authority's Role

The NCA aims to enhance Saudi Arabia's cybersecurity posture to protect its vital interests, national security, critical infrastructures, high-priority sectors, and government services. The authority’s efforts are crucial in maintaining the Kingdom’s leading position in global cybersecurity rankings.

This recognition by the United Nations Global Cybersecurity Index underscores Saudi Arabia’s dedication to maintaining robust cybersecurity measures. It also highlights the effective implementation of its comprehensive model that balances centralized governance with decentralized operations.

With inputs from SPA