Session
Theater
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: This open forum would be structured as an interactive panel discussion with kick-off interventions (10 minutes), moderated panel discussion (30 minutes) and a Q&A (20 minutes). Through a theater setup, panelists can effectively engage with one another, examine the cyberthreat landscape, elucidate the types of transnational critical infrastructure that require protection and discuss existing initiatives and ongoing diplomatic processes with the audience in the room and online. A 60-minute duration would ensure a concise and focused agenda, maximizing the impact of discussions while accommodating attendees' schedules. Incorporating a dedicated Q&A session would engage panelists and the audience in a meaningful dialogue. Overall, this structured approach enables panelists to deliver comprehensive insights to the broader IGF community, empowering attendees with a deeper understanding of cybersecurity challenges and leaving enough room for the audience to share their insights and propose actionable steps to protect transnational critical infrastructure in an interconnected world.
Cyber-resilient digital infrastructure and connectivity play an essential role in fostering sustainable development. The Internet powers critical societal services, from healthcare and education to e-commerce and civic engagement. However, the rise of malicious cyber activities targeting critical infrastructure delivering essential services across borders poses an increasing threat to societies. Such activities can have potential cascading effects across borders and jurisdictions. Such spillover effects can also escalate regional and global tensions. In this context, strengthening collaborative efforts - across governments, civil society, the technical community and the private sector - to protect critical infrastructure at the national, regional, and global level is paramount. While global consensus acknowledges the imperative to bolster cyber resilience of critical infrastructure, it is becoming essential to build capacity and increase collaboration between the diplomatic and technical communities. Such capacity building and cross-sectoral collaboration are crucial to implement the UN framework for responsible state behavior in cyberspace and to protect essential digital services. Recent agreements in the UN - including at the UN Open-ended Working Group on ICT security (OEWG) - call for safeguarding transnational critical infrastructure through increased exchanges on good practices and the establishment of communication channels between states to mitigate ICT incidents and prevent escalation. This open forum aims to bring the IGF diplomatic and technical communities together to share experiences and good practices at regional and international level and to identify actionable steps to safeguard critical infrastructure delivering services across borders. Specifically, this open forum will explore how to engage the multi-stakeholder community, how to break silos between diplomatic and technical expertise, and how to foster greater cooperation among national cybersecurity agencies and computer emergency response teams. Additionally, the co-conveners will address what initiatives exist in this space and how to empower experts, particularly from developing countries, to effectively participate in them. Finally, participants will discuss how a future UN permanent forum on cybersecurity could contribute to a cyber-resilient digital infrastructure for the Internet we want.
To ensure seamless interaction between onsite and online participants, after the interactive panel discussion, the organizers will prioritize questions and interventions from the online audience before turning to onsite participants, ensuring inclusivity and equal engagement across both groups. Utilizing Slido online polling tools, we will collect input and written resources on the subject of critical infrastructure protection from all attendees. This will provide opportunities for all attendees to actively contribute and exchange ideas on this topic. The organizers will also leverage complementary online tools and platforms such as Slido and online polling tools to collect input and encourage engagement during the session. These tools will enable us to collect questions, gather feedback, and facilitate interactive polls in real time, enhancing engagement and fostering a sense of community among participants, regardless of their location. By incorporating these interactive elements and encouraging active participation from both online and onsite attendees, we aim to create a dynamic and inclusive discussion where diverse perspectives are not only valued, heard, and but also recorded to subsequently inform formal UN deliberations within the OEWG and more broadly.
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)
Ms. Marie Humeau, Senior Cyber Policy Officer, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UNOG, Government, Western European and other States Ms. Wenting He, Associate Researcher with the Security & Technology programmes, UNIDIR, Intergovernmental Organization, Asia-Pacific States Mr. Orhan Osmani, Senior Cybersecurity Coordinator, Cybersecurity Division, Telecommunication Development Bureau at the International Telecommunication Union, Intergovernmental Organization, Eastern European and other States Ms. Tereza Horejsova, Outreach Manager, Global Forum for Cybersecurity Expertise, Civil Society, Easter European States Mr. Pavel Mraz, Cybersecurity Researcher in Security & Technology programme, UNIDIR, Intergovernmental Organization, Eastern European States
Mr. Orhan Osmani, Senior Cybersecurity Coordinator, Cybersecurity Division, Telecommunication Development Bureau at the International Telecommunication Union, Intergovernmental Organization, Eastern European and other States Ms. Shariffah Rashidah Syed Othman, Director of Policy and International Cooperation at the National Cyber Security Agency of Malaysia, Government, Asia-Pacific States Ms. Dr. Nadher Alsafvani, MENA Cyber Advisor, Digital Conflict Department, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Asia-Pacific States Ms. Dr. Towela Nyirenda-Jere, Head of Infrastructure, Digitalization and Energy, African Union Development Agency, Intergovernmental Organization, African States Ms. Franziska Klopfer, Principal Project Manager for Cybersecurity Governance, Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, Civil Society, Western European and other States Mr. Pavel Mraz, Cybersecurity Researcher in Security & Technology programme, UNIDIR, Intergovernmental Organization, Eastern European States
Ms. Marie Humeau, Senior Cyber Policy Officer, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UNOG, Government, Western European and other States
Ms. Wenting He, Associate Researcher with the Security & Technology programmes, UNIDIR, Intergovernmental Organization, Asia-Pacific States
Ms. Tereza Horejsova, Outreach Manager, Global Forum for Cybersecurity Expertise, Civil Society, Easter European States
Targets: This open forum directly aligns with SDG 9 by addressing the need for resilient and sustainable digital transnational infrastructure (SDG 9.1). By addressing innovative solutions to achieve cyber-resilient digital infrastructure, it also indirectly contributes to the overarching goal of upgrading infrastructure to be sustainable and resilient in the face of evolving threats and challenges (SDG 9.4). This forum also aligns with SDG 16 by addressing cybersecurity as a means to promote peace and security. By discussing international cooperation measures to protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats, it contributes not only to promoting effective, transparent and accountable institutions for cyberspace governance (SDG 16.6), but also contributes to promoting the rule of law and responsible state behavior in cyberspace at the national and international levels (SDG 16.3). This forum also directly supports attainment of SDG17 by underscoring the importance of partnerships in addressing cybersecurity challenges and protecting critical infrastructure. By bringing together stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, and the private sector, it fosters multi-stakeholder collaboration and knowledge-sharing to enhance global cybersecurity resilience (SDG 17.17). Through seeking to mobilize effective partnerships and cooperation for a resilient digital infrastructure, the forum also contributes to achieving SDG 17.16.
Report
Transnational Critical Infrastructure Faces Growing Cyber Threats. Transnational critical infrastructure (CI), including energy systems, communications networks, subsea cables, space assets, and cloud infrastructure, plays a pivotal role in providing essential services across borders. Malicious ICT activities targeting CI can have cascading national, regional, and global effects, escalating tensions and undermining international stability.
Breaking Silos Between Diplomatic and Technical Communities Is Essential. Effective protection of transnational CI requires improved collaboration between the diplomatic and technical communities. This includes fostering CERT-to-CERT cooperation, creating communication channels, and sharing good practices to address ICT incidents proactively.
Capacity Building and Multi-Stakeholder Cooperation Should Be Prioritized. To safeguard transnational CI, it is essential to build capacities in developing countries, empower technical experts, and engage stakeholders, including governments, civil society, and the private sector, to identify risks, implement solutions, and enhance global cyber resilience.
(1) Strengthen Collaboration Between States and Technical Experts. Enhance CERT-to-CERT cooperation across regions to detect, respond to, and recover from ICT incidents targeting transnational CI. Establish effective communication channels between states during ICT crises. Encourage greater stakeholder engagement in future UN cybersecurity discussions and other fora.
(2) Build Capacity for Developing Countries. Support developing countries in identifying their transnational critical infrastructure and mitigating cyber threats through scenario-based resilience planning and training programs. (3) Convene Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues on Protecting Transnational CI. Organize a series of multi-stakeholder dialogues to examine evolving threats and the types of transnational CI requiring protection.