Overview
As economies and societies continue to go digital, cybersecurity risks are growing. Many essential services like energy, banking, education, and healthcare rely heavily on internet-connected systems and infrastructure. These threats are rising faster than many developing countries are currently able to keep up. The World Bank collaborates with countries to build capacity to protect critical infrastructure and systems, increase cyber awareness, and foster trust so that people, governments, and businesses can thrive in today’s digital landscape.
Cybersecurity Diagnostics, Governance and Institutions
The World Bank supports countries in assessing cybersecurity maturity, establishing cybersecurity governance structures, and strengthening institutions for implementation. This includes developing legal and regulatory frameworks for cybercrime and cybersecurity along with national-level cybersecurity strategies.
Cybersecurity Risk Management and Critical Infrastructure Protection
The World Bank collaborates with governments to evaluate and manage cybersecurity risks and put measures in place to lower these risks effectively. Pinpointing the critical infrastructure of a nation - across finance, energy, health, transport, and telecom sectors - and establishing the right systems and investments to protect and manage this critical infrastructure are crucial.
Cyber Incident Response
The Bank collaborates with countries to better prepare for, prevent, detect, mitigate, and respond to major cybersecurity incidents. This includes working to strengthen national incident response teams and advising on how to manage cybersecurity attacks, keep businesses running, and recover from cyber incidents. The Bank supports programs that promote information sharing about cybersecurity threats among different groups and simulations and drills to prepare for cyber incidents.
Cybersecurity Skills Development and Awareness Raising
The World Bank supports countries in boosting local talent in cybersecurity for both the government and private sectors and increasing job opportunities for women and minority professionals in this field. Raising awareness about the importance of cybersecurity for everybody, including the public, is another important part of the Bank’s work.