Session
Organizer 1: Timea Suto, 🔒International Chamber of Commerce
Organizer 2: Nan Schechter, USCIB
Organizer 3: Whitney Jolivet, Digital Agency of Japan
Speaker 1: Rene Summer, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Cagatay Pekyorur, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: DeWitt Brett, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 4: francesca bosco, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 5: Julia Rodriguez, Government, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Timea Suto, Private Sector, Eastern European Group
Whitney Jolivet, Private Sector, African Group
Nan Schechter, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: A Round Table format is best-placed for the type of cross-sector, collaborative session that we envisage. It will be optimal for establishing an atmosphere that ensures both participants and panellists can engage in fruitful discussion, and that they can do so on equal footing through a seating arrangement conducive to multi-person dialogue. To allow time for in-depth discussion and also accommodate a constructive Q&A section to address the questions, feedback and thoughts of the audience, 90 minutes is the most suitable timeframe for the session.
1. What are the barriers and cross-border challenges that hinder interoperability and effective coordination against evolving cyber threats to critical infrastructures and essential services? 2. How can public-private partnerships be optimised to address the challenges in safeguarding critical infrastructures and essential services? 3. What are the current industry best practices that can be elevated to strengthen cyber-resilience?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental importance of protecting critical infrastructure in the digital age. They will grasp the interconnected nature of cyber risks and their potential impact on global stability and security. They will understand the multifaceted challenges and barriers involved in safeguarding critical infrastructure, and the ways to overcome them through tangible examples from experts from across governments and industry. Attendees will also learn about the challenges posed by divergent definitions and requirements for critical infrastructure protection, as well as the necessity of international collaboration and harmonized efforts. Ultimately, attendees will leave equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to contribute effectively to the protection of critical infrastructures and the advancement of cybersecurity worldwide.
Description:
Digital transformation is now an intrinsic part of every country’s development, creating enormous opportunities and enabling everything from distance learning to economic advances in logistics, manufacturing, and agriculture, as well as societal advances such as improvements to health care, education and other public services. However, the rapidly expanding centrality of cyberspace in our everyday lives also increases its potential for risk. These vulnerabilities are even more worrisome in the case of critical infrastructures and essential services, which are crucial for the well-being of societies, for preserving the public order and security of nations. Ensuring trust in the digital economy requires the protection of the availability, integrity, confidentiality of these most essential infrastructures and services to ensure resilience. Furthermore, in an increasingly interconnected world, the significance of critical infrastructure protection extends across borders to a global scale. With shared dependencies and potential cross-border impacts, a breach in one region can impact another. Harmonised efforts to set a baseline to protect critical infrastructure are crucial for fostering international collaboration, resilience against emerging threats, and ensuring the stability of the interconnected systems that underpin the modern world globally. However, divergent global definitions of critical infrastructure and essential services, and contradictory requirements pose challenges for international cooperation, coordination to decrease cyber threats and the development of effective risk mitigating solutions. In this session experts from across stakeholder groups and regions will discuss how efforts can be aligned to set a baseline for the protection of the cybersecurity of critical infrastructures and foster international collaboration, resilience against emerging threats, and ensure the stability of the interconnected systems that underpin the modern world globally. Starting from the premise that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, discussions will aim to bring recommendations on how all stakeholders could effectively work together to mitigate risks and curb cyber threats.
The session will present an overview of substantive challenges and barriers to safeguarding critical infrastructure and essential services. Specific outputs will include a comprehensive report of best practices and interoperable policy recommendations that will enable a cyber-resilient sustainable future.
Hybrid Format: Prior to the session: to ensure speakers and attendees get the most out of the session, regardless of their chosen way of participation, organizers will make use of the session’s page on the IGF website and social media channels to share preparatory material and kick-start a dialogue. A preparation call will be organised for all speakers, moderators and co-organisers so that everyone has the chance to meet and prepare for the session. During the session: the moderators are experienced in animating multistakeholder discussions and will complement each other in merging onsite and online speakers and attendees. Onsite participants will be encouraged to connect to the online platform to stay informed and engage with discussions in the chat. Following the session: moderators will encourage participants to make use of the IGF website and social media channels to share further comments and contribute to the session’s report.