Share

The Global Forum on Digital Security for Prosperity is an international multilateral and multidisciplinary setting for all stakeholder communities in this area. It brings together experts and policy makers to foster regular sharing of experiences and good practice on digital security risk and its management, as well as mutual learning and convergence of views on digital security for economic and social prosperity. 


The Global Forum holds thematic events involving policy makers and experts from all stakeholder groups. Outputs from these discussions influence international public policy discussions and can lead to the development of analytical work, principles and international policy recommendations, both at the OECD and in other international fora. Learn more about our past events.

How does digital security relate to cybersecurity?

"Cybersecurity" has become a complex and multifaceted area. It brings together at least four facets:

  • economic and social
  • technical
  • law enforcement
  • national and international security.

Digital security is the economic and social facet of cybersecurity. It concerns all stakeholders: businesses, public administrations, other organisations and individuals.  It covers how stakeholders protect their assets, safety, reputation, opportunities, and the continuity of their economic and social activities from the consequences of incidents disrupting the availability, integrity and confidentiality of hardware, software, networks and data.

The use of the word digital (as in digital economy and digital transformation) instead of cyber (as in cybercrime, cyberdefence, cyberwarfare and cyberespionage) emphasises the economic and social focus of the Global Forum.

What do digital security policies cover?

Digital security policies include, for example:

  • approaches to encourage good digital security risk management practice in organisations,
  • reducing the digital security skills shortage,
  • developing the digital security market,
  • fostering digital security innovation,
  • protecting critical infrastructures and essential services,
  • developing more secure digital products and services,
  • encouraging public-private partnerships to share risk-related information,
  • better protecting SMEs and government services at all levels,
  • etc.


"Digital security" does not cover digital issues directly related to law enforcement or national and international security, such as defense, arms controls, and confidence building measures.


Digital security for prosperity is part of a broader policy agenda to build sustainable trust in the digital economy and support the digital transformation of the economy and society.

Why do we need the Global Forum?

With the digital transformation of economies and societies, digital security risk affects all economic sectors, stages of the value chain and social actors. With the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence, our digital dependency keeps growing and the potential economic and social impact of digital security failures continues to increase.


Digital security risk is also cross-border in essence. Law enforcement and international security facets of cybersecurity are discussed in several international fora. However, international co-operation on economic and social aspects of cybersecurity is more limited. Yet most governments and stakeholders face similar challenges, although in different contexts, and have a common interest to better manage digital security risk for prosperity. They can greatly benefit from exchanging views, sharing good practice and shaping together an international agenda in this area. But they first need to engage in a dialogue on specific themes where progress can be made.


The objective of the OECD Global Forum on Digital Security for Prosperity is to fill the gap and offer an international multilateral setting where all stakeholders can discuss, learn from each other, and influence public policy making.

Why is the OECD involved?

The overarching mission of the OECD is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world: “better policies for better lives”.

The Global Forum on Digital Security for Prosperity builds on OECD’s longstanding digital security expertise since the early 1990s. OECD work in this area is part includes many analytical reports and legal instruments, such as the Recommendation of the Council on Digital Security Risk Management for Economic and Social Prosperity (2015), the Recommendation on the Protection of Critical Information Infrastructures (2008, currently under review), work on digital identity, malware, national cybersecurity strategies, RFID technologies, and more. It is part of a broader OECD agenda on digital economy policy.

 

For further information please contact the OECD Secretariat.