CYBERSECURITY AS A CRITICAL ISSUE

The sudden digital shifts occasioned by the pandemic have been exploited by malicious actors, particularly through the deployment of cyberattacks An Interpol study used data from 194 member countries to assess the rise in cyberrelated crimes during the pandemic. They malicious URLs o April of 2020

The rapid growth in digital activities has also increased cybersecurity threats, particularly for critical infrastructure. Over the past several years, the world has witnessed more and more cyber incidents involving key sectors such as water, power, and telecommunications that are vital to life and maintaining societal functions. Disruption to these critical infrastructures is also fast becoming a weapon for cyberwarfare against rival states. Hence, the protection of critical infrastructure against cyberattacks must be a primary goal of every country.The pandemic highlighted how malicious actors will take advantage of every opportunity, especially a crisis, when people are most desperate and vulnerable, to launch cyberattacks. The shared experience of various countries in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the concomitant cybersecurity challenges that it brings can be a valuable source of learnings moving forward. Acountry’s cybersecurity posture can have a huge impact on its national security, economy, access to technology and innovation, and foreign policy. Cyber capability and readiness to identify and respond to incidents are crucial to protecting and sustaining the delivery of essential services to people. Cybersecurity policies and strategies can determine the entry of foreign investment and the participation of citizens in the global digital economy. Therefore, nations should protect and promote cybersecurity in order to reach its full digital potential. (National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2012).