Spain has positioned itself in fourth place worldwide in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024, consolidating its position as one of the leading countries in the field of digital security. This recognition reflects the country’s strong commitment to protecting its digital systems and creating a safe cyber environment for citizens and businesses.
The Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) is a tool created by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations. Its main objective is to measure and evaluate the level of commitment of countries in terms of cybersecurity.
Since its launch in 2015, the GCI has become a global reference that allows countries to measure their progress and compare themselves with other nations. In its fifth edition in 2024, the report evaluated 194 ITU member states, based on data collected between 2023 and 2024.
The GCI not only provides an overview of the state of cybersecurity in the world, but also allows:
– Identify areas for improvement for each country.
– Encourage international cooperation in this area.
– Help countries identify and prioritize areas that require more attention.
– Encourage countries to take proactive measures to improve their cybersecurity position.
The index is based on five key pillars, each designed to reflect fundamental aspects of cybersecurity:
– Legal measures: Evaluates the existence of legal frameworks to address cybersecurity and cybercrime.
– Technical measures: Analyzes the implementation of technical capabilities and the existence of institutions to manage cybersecurity.
– Organizational measures: Examines the presence of national cybersecurity strategies, policies, and organizations.
– Capacity development measures: Evaluates the existence of research, education, training, and awareness programs in cybersecurity.
– Cooperation measures: Analyzes partnerships, cooperation frameworks, and information exchange networks at national, regional, and global levels.
In this edition, the GCI has adopted a new tiered classification system, replacing the numerical ranking used in previous editions. This change aims to provide a more accurate view of countries’ performance by grouping them into categories that better reflect their level of commitment to cybersecurity.
It is important to note that the GCI measures countries’ commitment to cybersecurity, but does not evaluate the effectiveness or success of their initiatives. A country can have a high score in the GCI and still face significant challenges in the practical implementation of its cybersecurity measures.
Spain has demonstrated outstanding performance in the five pillars evaluated by the index, achieving almost maximum scores in all areas. The most relevant aspects of each pillar are detailed below:
– Strong legal framework
– Advanced technical measures
– Clear organizational strategy
– Promotion of capacity development
– International and national cooperation
In this edition of the GCI, a new tiered classification system has been implemented instead of a numerical ranking. Spain is at Level 1 (T1), representing countries that achieved an overall GCI score of at least 95/100, demonstrating a strong commitment to cybersecurity through coordinated and government-driven actions in all five pillars.
The fourth-place obtained by Spain in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 reflects the country’s commitment to digital security and its ability to adapt to a constantly evolving technological environment. This achievement not only positions Spain as an international reference in the field, but also strengthens confidence in its digital infrastructure, benefiting both citizens and businesses in an increasingly connected world.
However, it is crucial to recognize that cybersecurity is a constantly evolving field. Even with a high score, Spain must maintain an adaptive stance, continuously evaluating, establishing, and implementing appropriate measures to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.