The development landscape is undergoing a profound transformation with the advent of digital technologies. These tools not only redefine our approach, but also have the potential to strengthen democracy and human rights. Through increased civic engagement, political participation and improved accountability, digital technology is becoming a catalyst for positive change.

Digital innovations, ranging from identification methods to payment systems and platforms, play a crucial role in expanding access to public services. This not only promotes financial inclusion, but also improves people's lives by integrating them into the digital economy. Building a robust digital infrastructure also contributes to national resilience by ensuring the continuity of essential government services in the event of natural disasters and human accidents. Digital capabilities are invaluable when it comes to reaching and organizing communities, mitigating risks and improving overall preparedness.

However, the transformative power of digital technologies is not without its challenges. In addition to the many benefits, their development and use also come with risks and harms that are often unforeseeable. These include threats to privacy, the spread of misinformation and, above all, problems with cyber security.

In the era of COVID-19, fake news and misinformation have greatly increased, leading to an infodemic that has been exacerbated by the rapid spread of false and inaccurate information on social media. In addition to the threat of cyberwar, cyberattacks have resulted in the closure of hospitals, have taken electrical grids offline, and brought major cities to a standstill. Contrary to popular belief, cyber security is not just the domain of IT experts, but a collective responsibility that extends to every individual.

Surprisingly, human error is cited as the cause of around 95 per cent of all cyber attacks. A lack of basic cyber security knowledge, coupled with a limited understanding of scam methods, contributes to the vulnerability of systems. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive approach, it is crucial to dispel the misconception that cyber security is limited to IT professionals.

In this context, the importance of a Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) becomes clear. CERTs, which operate at various levels of government, are made up of information security experts and are tasked with protecting organizations from cybersecurity incidents. Their tasks range from combating data breaches and denial of service attacks to providing alerts and guidelines for dealing with incidents. In addition, CERTs play a proactive role in public awareness campaigns and contribute to research to improve security systems.

To shed more light on the topic of cybersecurity and its many implications, we have put together a short video that highlights the collective responsibility we have to protect digital landscapes and emphasizes the central role of CERTs in strengthening the ICT infrastructure of institutions, facilities and government agencies. Learn the intricacies of cybersecurity in the video and familiarize yourself with the knowledge you need to safely navigate the digital age.