ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024: A Changing Cybersecurity Landscape

2025-03-17 09:42:01

Executive Summary

The ITU Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024 reveals significant changes in the global cybersecurity landscape. This year, 12 countries achieved a perfect score, highlighting their commitment to strengthening cybersecurity measures. The tier-based ranking system, introduced for the first time, provides a more nuanced perspective on national progress.

Key findings include:

A 27% global improvement in cybersecurity scores since 2020.
Denmark’s rise to the top, primarily due to enhanced cybersecurity cooperation.
A notable drop in rankings for Germany and Switzerland, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration.
The growing importance of legal frameworks, with 177 countries enacting cybersecurity laws.
Skill shortages and lack of cybersecurity awareness remain major challenges.
Public-private partnerships and international cooperation are essential for sustained cybersecurity resilience.

While significant progress has been made, cybersecurity threats are evolving rapidly. The report underscores the need for stronger alliances, better workforce training, clearer cybersecurity strategies, and advanced technological adoption. Countries that invest in these areas will be better equipped to tackle future cyber threats.

Introduction

Cybersecurity has become a global priority, and the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024 provides a fascinating insight into how different nations are stepping up their efforts. This latest edition reveals a dramatic shift in the rankings, with some unexpected players making it to the top while others struggle to keep up.

One of the biggest changes in this year’s report is the move from a traditional ranking system to a tier-based model, which provides a more nuanced view of how countries are progressing. Let’s dive into the key findings and what they mean for the global cybersecurity landscape.

The New Cybersecurity Leaders

A major highlight of the GCI 2024 is the 12 countries that scored a perfect 100 points, reflecting strong cybersecurity commitments. These nations, listed alphabetically, are:

Denmark
Egypt
Finland
Indonesia
Italy
Mauritius
Qatar
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
United Kingdom (UK)

What Stands Out?

Only four countries—Saudi Arabia, South Korea, UAE, and the UK—retained their top positions from 2020.
Denmark’s rise is particularly interesting. It climbed the ranks mainly due to improvements in cybersecurity cooperation, showing that working together makes a difference.
Germany and Switzerland, two of Europe’s strongest economies, have dropped in rankings due to weaker cooperation efforts, proving that cybersecurity isn’t just about technology—it’s about teamwork.

How ITU Measures Cybersecurity

The GCI score is based on five main categories, each worth up to 20 points, making a total possible score of 100:

Legal Measures – Cybercrime laws, national regulations, and enforcement mechanisms.
Technical Measures – Cybersecurity infrastructure, incident response teams (CIRTs/CSIRTs), and security frameworks.
Organizational Measures – National cybersecurity strategies and governance policies.
Capacity Development – Awareness campaigns, cybersecurity education, and professional training.
Cooperation Measures – International partnerships, public-private collaborations, and inter-agency coordination.

The Biggest Trends in Cybersecurity Today

1. More Nations Are Taking Cybersecurity Seriously

The global cybersecurity score has jumped 27% since 2020, showing that more countries are investing in protecting their digital landscapes. However, progress is uneven, and some countries still struggle with basic cybersecurity measures.

2. Legal Frameworks Are Getting Stronger

177 countries now have some form of cybersecurity law.
151 have data protection regulations in place.
However, many nations still lack clear breach notification requirements and enforcement mechanisms, which means cybercriminals can operate with less fear of repercussions.

3. Technical Readiness Varies Significantly

139 countries have national Computer Incident Response Teams (CIRTs) to manage cybersecurity threats.
Only 83 nations participate in regional cybersecurity networks, missing out on valuable collaboration opportunities.
While more nations are adopting cybersecurity standards, the implementation is inconsistent, leading to vulnerabilities.

4. Cybersecurity Strategies Are Growing, But Are They Effective?

132 countries have a National Cybersecurity Strategy (NCS), a crucial step in organizing cyber defenses.
However, many lack clear action plans or measurable goals.
Only 64 countries conduct regular cybersecurity audits, which are essential for identifying weaknesses and improving security.

5. Skill Shortages and Lack of Cyber Awareness

Cyber awareness campaigns exist in 152 countries, but many fail to measure their effectiveness.
99 countries offer cybersecurity industry incentives, such as training programs and scholarships, yet there’s still a massive workforce gap.
Cybersecurity jobs are growing faster than the workforce, making it harder for businesses and governments to secure their systems.

6. Collaboration is Key, But Many Countries Lag Behind

166 nations are involved in international cybersecurity agreements.
However, only 108 have public-private partnerships, meaning many governments aren’t leveraging the expertise of private sector cybersecurity firms.
Countries that work together tend to perform better, proving that cybersecurity is a global challenge that requires cooperation.

The Future of Cybersecurity: What Needs to Happen?

1. Stronger Global Cybersecurity Alliances

Governments need to prioritize international collaboration to tackle cyber threats that don’t respect borders. Intelligence sharing and joint cyber exercises can help nations respond faster to attacks.

2. Invest in Cybersecurity Talent

With a global shortage of cybersecurity professionals, governments must make education and training a priority. Schools should include cybersecurity in their curricula, and businesses should provide employees with training to recognize and defend against cyber threats.

3. Clearer and Stronger Cybersecurity Strategies

It’s not enough to have a cybersecurity strategy—it needs to be actionable. Governments should:

Define clear, measurable objectives.
Conduct regular cybersecurity audits.
Involve multiple stakeholders in decision-making.

4. Better Technology Adoption

Cyber threats are evolving, and so should our defenses. Countries need to:

Invest in AI-powered threat detection.
Implement Zero Trust security models.
Strengthen supply chain security to prevent cyberattacks on essential services.

5. Expand Public-Private Partnerships

Governments and businesses must work together to improve national cybersecurity resilience. Private sector companies often have better threat intelligence and cutting-edge technology, making them valuable partners in cyber defense.

Final Thoughts

The ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 paints a clear picture: cybersecurity is improving, but there’s still a long way to go. While some countries have stepped up their game, others are falling behind, particularly in areas of cooperation and capacity building.

As cyber threats become more sophisticated, policy commitments alone won’t be enough—governments need to ensure that cybersecurity measures are effectively implemented and continuously improved.

The future of cybersecurity will be defined by how well nations can work together, train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, and deploy cutting-edge security measures. The race is on, and cybersecurity must remain a top priority for every country moving forward.

References

ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 Report
ITU Official Publications
Cybersecurity Industry Reports and Expert Analyses