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Digital transformation can unlock enormous economic and social gains—but without strong cybersecurity foundations, these gains are fragile.
The Guide to Developing a National Cybersecurity Strategy (NCS Guide) supports governments, especially in low- and middle-income countries in approaching cybersecurity strategically and systematically, aligned with national development priorities. It provides practical guidance on long-term planning to help countries set priorities, allocate resources, and build capacity over time.
Powered by Multistakeholder Collaboration
As with previous editions, this Guide is the result of a collaborative and inclusive multistakeholder effort. Reflecting the collective expertise of a working group made up of 37 organizations from the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society, it has become a widely recognized and authoritative reference for national cybersecurity strategy development.
What’s New in this Third Edition
This edition sharpens the focus on practical measures to strengthen national cybersecurity posture in response to today’s evolving risks. Key updates include:
More practical and easier to use: Streamlined guidance and actionable recommendations, while preserving the Guide’s “process + content” approach and full compatibility with the 2021 edition.
Financing and long-term sustainment: Stronger emphasis on multi-year resourcing across the full strategy lifecycle, aligned with national budget and public investment cycles.
Technological foresight and adaptability: A new principle focused on horizon scanning and policy agility to anticipate disruptive technologies (e.g., AI, IoT, 5G/6G, quantum) and translate foresight into strategy and regulation.
Stronger governance and risk management guidance: Expanded recommendations on roles, accountability, coordination, stakeholder engagement, risk-based requirements for operators, and incident response capacities.