India ranks 23rd among 165 nations in 2017 Global Cybersecurity Index

India ranked a high 23rd out of 165 nations in the 2017 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI), a global index that measures the commitment of nations across the world to cybersecurity.

The second Global Cybersecurity Index was released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN telecommunications agency, on 5 July 2017.

India ranked 23rd on the index with a score of 0.683 and has been listed in the maturing category, which refers to 77 countries that have developed complex commitments to cybersecurity and engage in cybersecurity programmes and initiatives.

Singapore topped the Global Cybersecurity Index with a 0.92 GCI score.

Top 10 countries in the 2017 Global Cybersecurity Index

What are the main objectives of GCI?

• To measure the type, level and evolution over time of cybersecurity commitment in countries and relative to other countries;

• To measure the progress in cybersecurity commitment of all countries from a global perspective;

• To measure the progress in cybersecurity commitment from a regional perspective;

• To measure the cybersecurity commitment divide, i.e. the difference between countries in terms of their level of engagement in cybersecurity programmes and initiatives.

Five pillars of GCI:

Legal: Measured based on the existence of legal institutions and frameworks dealing with cybersecurity and cybercrime.

Technical: Measured based on the existence of technical institutions and frameworks dealing with cybersecurity.

Organizational: Measured based on the existence of policy coordination institutions and strategies for cybersecurity development at the national level.

Capacity Building: Measured based on the existence of research and development, education and training programmes; certified professionals and public sector agencies fostering capacity building.

Cooperation: Measured based on the existence of partnerships, cooperative frameworks and information sharing networks.