It is a pleasure to be here with you today for this important session.
Regrettably, cyber-risk is continuing to grow.
Over the past few years, we have seen this unfolding with:
A rise in ransomware and malware attacks,
A rise in threats against our data,
Growing concerns about the security of satellite communications,
Attacks on infrastructure as fundamental as undersea communications cables,
and, alongside this: the impact on infrastructure from natural disasters and climate change.
We should be clear about what this all means.
These rising incidents pose significant socio-economic consequences for the world.
Not only do they impact livelihood and legitimate businesses, but they also erode the trust in the one thing we are trying to create: digital transformation.
And with new technologies in fields such as AI, the metaverse and others, the risks will only grow.
So, the conclusions are also clear.
Digital resilience can therefore no longer be separated from broader societal resilience.
At ITU, we have adopted a holistic approach to digital resilience, focusing our efforts along four key areas:
We need to ensure that the power of digital reaches everyone.
We need to invest in preparedness.
We need to ensure that we do our bit to address the root causes of our vulnerability – particularly the climate crisis.
Now, more than ever, we all need to work together as we look towards building a digital resilient future.
This is why, combining the two WSIS Action Lines on C2 and C5, ITU has organized this session today, with an eye to the future: the next frontier – space.
We are currently witnessing a tipping point in the space industry.
It is fast becoming one of the key drivers of digital transformation.
New actors, applications and industries are appearing,
Satellites are extending the reach of broadband and the Internet of Things.
Ensuring digital resilience will require bringing all the relevant players to the table to develop clear strategies, build robust relationships, and establish strong trust.
Together, we need to prepare for the challenges we can already anticipate – and those that are not even on our radar yet.
There is a steep learning curve, and this is where the ITU comes in.
I have mentioned trust several times. I believe it is critical to facilitate future digital resiliency.
With its broad membership of 193 governments and over 900 members from industry, academia and other international and regional organizations, ITU is a globally trusted partner that provides governments, the private sector and civil society with a platform to forge meaningful and effective partnerships that can advance digital resiliency.
We stand ready to provide an inclusive, facilitative, and trusted global platform for everyone to come together and build the digital future we want.
