maintenance of the security properties of the organization and user’s assets against relevant security risks in the cyber environment.”5 Effective cyber security would ensure system availability, integrity, authenticity, confidentiality, and non-repudiation. It would address user privacy and enhance trust in related systems. 3.0 A Case for Action The globally-interdependent network of digital ICT infrastructures referred to as “cyberspace” is the underlying force driving the growth of the global knowledge economy. ICT continues to impact all sectors of society in countries worldwide, enabling new business practices, new modes of government-citizen engagement, and changes in interpersonal interactions. This, as a result, changes the face of, inter alia, economic, social and political structures and activities, public infrastructure, public services, education and national security. The ICT industry itself is also continually growing. Within the last decade, technologies have become even more powerful. Access to cyberspace has now become easier through new mechanisms such as mobile devices and mobile broadband, whereby, digital content can be produced and shared within minutes on social networks. Threats to cyberspace are of critical concern to all countries. The ITU reports that there is evidence to show that cyber attacks are growing in sophistication, frequency and gravity; for example, due to the automation of business processes, it is estimated that as many as 80 million hacking attacks are conducted daily®. Security firm Symantec reports that global annual losses resulting from cybercrime are valued at USS$388 billion. In a study conducted in twenty-four (24) nations by the firm, 69% of those surveyed claimed to 5 International Telecommunication Union Definition of Cybersecurity, http://www. itu.int/en/ITU-T/studygroups/com17/Pages/cybersecurity.aspx 6 International Telecommunication Union, “Understanding Cybercrime: A Guide for Developing Countries’, April 2009, p. 72