Global Cybersecurity Index

About Global Cybersecurity Index:

• It is a trusted reference that measures the commitment of countries to cybersecurity at a global level.
• It is to raise awareness of the importance and different dimensions of the issue.
• Each country’s level of development or engagement is assessed along five pillars namely, Legal Measures, Technical Measures, Organizational Measures, Capacity Development, and Cooperation – and then aggregated into an overall score.
• It is published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Key highlights of GCI 2024

• The report places 46 countries in Tier 1, the highest of the five tiers, reserved for “role modelling" countries that demonstrate a strong commitment in all five cybersecurity pillars. 
• With a remarkable score of 98.49 out of 100, India joins the ranks of ‘role-modelling’ countries, demonstrating a strong commitment to cybersecurity practices across the globe.
• Most countries are either “establishing" (Tier 3) or “evolving" (Tier 4) in terms of cybersecurity.

Key facts about International Telecommunication Union

• It is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies. It was established in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union.
• In 1947 the ITU became a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is an intergovernmental organization that coordinates between governments and private sector bodies with respect to global telecommunication and information communication technology (ICT) services.
• Member countries: It has a membership of 193 countries and more than 1000 companies, universities and international and regional organizations.
• Functions:
  • allocate global radio spectrum and satellite orbits;
  • coordination and setting of technical standards related to telecommunication/ICT;
  • work to improve access to ICTs in underserved communities worldwide;
• India and ITU: India has been an active member of the ITU since 1869 and has been a regular member of the ITU Council since 1952.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

Q1: What is Cybersecurity?

It is the practice of defending computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from malicious attacks. It's also known as information technology security or electronic information security.

Source: India Achieves Tier 1 Status in Global Cybersecurity Index 2024