Saudi Arabia Ranks First over the World in Cybersecurity Index 2024

The report issued by the United Nations through its specialized agency for information and communications technology revealed the classification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a leading model in the highest category (Role-Model) of the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024, which measures the commitment to cybersecurity of more than (190) member states of the United Nations.

While the index measures the commitment of countries through (83) sub-indicators distributed over five axes, the Kingdom achieved a rate of (100%) in all criteria, which made it classified as a leading model in the highest category of the United Nations Cybersecurity Index 2024.

The National Cybersecurity Authority explained that the index is a basic reference in the cybersecurity sector at the international level; It measures, in a comprehensive manner, the cybersecurity models followed in different countries, due to the wide scope of its standards and axes, which are distributed over the following aspects: 1) Legal measures: These are concerned with the availability of cybercrime legislation and cybersecurity regulations. 2) Regulatory measures: These cover national cybersecurity strategies and the extent to which there is an actor responsible for cybersecurity in countries. 3) Cooperation measures: These cover cooperation efforts in the field of cybersecurity, as well as concluded bilateral agreements, multilateral agreements, and partnerships between the public and private sectors. 4) Capacity building measures: These include standards related to cybersecurity specialists obtaining certificates and accreditations, professional training courses, and educational programs in cybersecurity, as well as support for research and development and incentive mechanisms, in addition to launching awareness campaigns. 5) Technical measures: These are concerned with topics related to cyber incident response teams. The Cybersecurity Authority explained that this pioneering position achieved by the Kingdom is the result of the guidance and support of the wise leadership in laying the foundation stone for the Saudi model in cybersecurity, as the Authority leads its work and efforts with the contribution of the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE).

The Saudi model is based on the centralization of cyber governance at the national level, including assessment, response and national capacity building, and decentralization of operations assigned to national entities. The outputs of this successful model have contributed to enhancing national cybersecurity and technical sovereignty, and enhancing information sharing through international cooperation.

The Authority also stated that the Kingdom’s cyber classification in this index is an extension of its advanced position in a number of international indicators, the latest of which was the Kingdom’s achievement last June of the first place globally in the Cybersecurity Index according to the Global Competitiveness Yearbook for 2024; noting that this achievement is the culmination of the Kingdom’s tireless work in enhancing cybersecurity at the local and international levels, and the high integration between all actors in the cybersecurity system in the Kingdom from the government, private and non-profit sectors.

The National Cybersecurity Authority is the competent authority for cybersecurity in the Kingdom, and the national reference in its affairs. It aims to enhance it to protect the vital interests, infrastructure of the state, and its national security. It is also responsible for stimulating the growth of the cybersecurity sector in the Kingdom, encouraging innovation and investment in it, and setting policies, governance mechanisms, frameworks, standards, controls, and guidelines related to cybersecurity; to achieve a safe and reliable Saudi cyberspace that enables growth and prosperity.

In this regard, the Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Cybersecurity Authority, Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, on his behalf and on behalf of the members of the Board of Directors of the Authority and all its employees, extended congratulations and blessings to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister – may God support them – on the occasion of the United Nations, through its specialized agency for information and communications technology, classifying the Kingdom as a pioneering model in the highest category of the United Nations Cybersecurity Index 2024. He pointed out that the Kingdom’s classification in the highest category in the Global Cybersecurity Index is an embodiment of its advanced position in various international indicators related to the cybersecurity sector, and an affirmation of the proactive and insightful vision of the wise leadership – may God support it – in establishing the cybersecurity sector in the Kingdom in a comprehensive manner with its security and development aspects and with its various local and international dimensions; which made the Saudi model in cybersecurity a successful and pioneering model that is internationally recognized. He appreciated the great support that the cybersecurity system receives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz – may God protect them – as the Authority has received since its establishment the sound directives, support and follow-up from the wise leadership – may God support them. Dr. Al-Aiban explained that the cybersecurity system, since the beginning of its establishment, has received continuous guidance from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince – may God protect him – as His Highness stands behind all the achievements made for the cybersecurity sector in the Kingdom, and that Vision 2030 and its ambitious programs that stem from the Kingdom’s long history and its continuous development path, have made the Kingdom a pioneering and leadership model to be emulated in various fields, including the Kingdom achieving the first place globally in the cybersecurity index according to the Global Competitiveness Yearbook for the year 2024 AD. He added that the cybersecurity sector in the Kingdom has witnessed significant development in record time, since the establishment of the National Cybersecurity Authority as the competent authority in the Kingdom for cybersecurity, and the national reference in its affairs, and the establishment of the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE), and that the Kingdom’s prestigious position in this index is the result of the efforts made to enhance cybersecurity in the Kingdom, and the high integration between all national entities in this vital and promising sector, especially since the Saudi model is based on the centralization of cyber governance at the national level and the decentralization of operations entrusted to national entities. The doctor concluded his statement by thanking the wise leadership – may God support it – for its continuous support for the cybersecurity system in the Kingdom, and thanking the national entities that contributed to reaching this advanced level, stressing that the National Cybersecurity Authority will continue to move forward in implementing the tasks assigned to it, and work with all partners towards reaching a safe and reliable Saudi cyberspace that can grow and prosper.