Cyber security is a growing challenge. Though the last 20 years have witnessed the blossoming of the commercial Internet, which planted the seed of an interconnected and global digital network, cyberspace has become the ‘nervous system’ through which society operates.

Huawei has released a white paper on cyber security authored by the company's global security officer, John Suffolk.

He states that in a world where over 87 per cent of the population are mobile users, cyber security has turned out to be a growing global challenge demanding rational and universal solutions.

The paper outlines the impact cyber security is having on technology, the global supply chain, and society. As governments, enterprises and consumers have become increasingly reliant on ICT solutions that integrate inputs designed, developed, coded and manufactured by multiple suppliers globally, the scale of cyber security has grown exponentially, he adds.

Suffolk says the development of interconnected networks has encouraged investment and enabled new consumption models that have driven global economic growth.

“Open networks connect the world, facilitate economic exchanges across regions, and promote global trade. As reported by the World Bank, for every 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration, the GDP in developing countries will increase 1.38 per cent,” he adds.

Real-world evils go digital

As a result of the digital and broadband revolutions, age-old real-world evils ranging from vandalism, theft and disruption to espionage and wilful destruction have naturally gravitated to the new digital environment, he says.

The paper notes that there has been a dramatic increase in the use of technology by governments, enterprises and consumers. By the end of 2011, global mobile users reached 5.96 billion people accounting for 86 per cent of the global population, an increase of 12.3 per cent from 2010.

International protection software vendors now claim that there are 12 new unique malware technology threats being created every second of every day. Huawei has said it would welcome a coordinated international approach to principles of data protection and cyber security.

“There is much we can do if we show collective will, determination, openness and transparency,” says Suffolk. The technology landscape is complex, and is getting more so, given the growing role of smart phones and cloud computing and the extensive use of application stores that contain software developed around the world to differing quality and security standards.

>amritanair.ghaswalla@thehindu.co.in

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