THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is optimistic to achieve Tier 1 rating on cybersecurity globally in the next two to four years.
Based on the recent United Nations Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024 report, the Philippines ranked 53rd from 61st in 2020 – a significant improvement from Tier 3 (Evolving) to Tier 2 (Advancing) in key areas like providing technical skills, collaborating with other countries, organizing its cybersecurity efforts and building its capacity to fight cyber threats.
Tier 1 is the highest of the five tiers, reserved for “role modelling” countries that demonstrate a strong commitment in all five cybersecurity pillars.
Renato Paraiso, DICT assistant secretary and spokesperson, said the improvement in the country’s cybersecurity rating was due to government initiatives for the passage of the cybersecurity act and the issuance of Executive Order (EO) 58 adopting the National Cybersecurity Plan (NCSP) 2023 to 2028.
DICT said it has cooperated with other agencies for capacity building and upscaling of IT personnel.
“Hopefully, we reach Tier 1 within the next ratings. The last rating was four years ago. Hopefully in the next two or four years, we will reach Tier 1,” Paraiso said, in line with the country’s target to be an ICT hub in Southeast Asia.
The International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) GCI 2024 assessed national efforts across five pillars, representing country-level cybersecurity commitments: legal, technical, organizational, capacity development and cooperation. The report placed 46 countries in Tier 1.
Most countries are either “establishing” (Tier 3) or “evolving” (Tier 4) in terms of cybersecurity. The 105 countries in these tiers have largely expanded digital services and connectivity but still need to integrate cybersecurity measures, the ITU said.
Last April, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed EO 58 mandating all government agencies to adopt the NCSP 2023-2028, ensuring that the country is better protected against cyberattacks and online threats.
