Increasing the cyber resilience of International Organisations and NGOs in Geneva

At the initiative of the State Secretariat of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the National Cyber Security Centre, in partnership with the République and Canton de Geneve, the CyberPeace Institute is pleased to host part of the programme at the Cyber capacity & Community building event.

Digitisation has revolutionised the operations of international and non-governmental organisations. As the International Geneva increasingly relies on technology to serve its missions, the new CyberPeace Analytical Report: NGOs serving Humanity at risk: Cyber Threats affecting “International Geneva”, issued by the CyberPeace Institute. At the occasion of the Cyber capacity & community building event, Stéphane Duguin, CEO of CyberPeace Institute, will present the report that focuses on understanding the risks and threats faced by NGOs in Geneva. Further, the publication highlights the growing risks that Geneva based NGOs face from an ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.

Event schedule:

• 09:00 – 11:00/Part I: A presentation of the report on cyberthreats targeting NGOs in International Geneva and results, by Stéphane Duguin, CyberPeace Institute. (session bilingual in French and English)
• 12:00 – 14:00/Part II: A decision-making cyber exercise with brown bag lunch for IOs and NGOs, by Florian Schütz, the Swiss Federal Cyber Security Delegate, NCSC. (session in English, only for IOs and NGOs)
• 14:15 – 17:30/Part III: What is already available? Presentation of existing cyber security offers of different partner organisations for IOs and NGOs in Switzerland. (session in English, only for IOs and NGOs)

About the report:

NGOs have a critical role in providing healthcare, education, disaster relief, and advocating for human rights. The CyberPeace Analytical Report, explores how these NGOs confront a complex cyber threat environment. NGOs are prime targets for cyberattacks aimed at disrupting activities, accessing sensitive data, and discrediting operations. Such attacks have a direct impact on the lives and security of vulnerable populations. Further, they challenge the NGOs’ ecosystem of partners and donors. This comprehensive report is the result of a year-long research project with NGOs in Geneva. The report aims to enhance awareness and share knowledge with key stakeholders. Bolstering capacities and cyber resilience is particularly important in the humanitarian sector. Moreover, the report will serve as a blueprint for future analyses on cyber threats against NGOs.

Key findings:

• 70% of NGOs don’t think or aren’t sure whether they have an adequate level of resilience to recover from a disruptive cyberattack.
• 33% of NGOs lack IT support or technical expertise.
• 87.5% of smaller NGOs (1-10 staff members) report not having IT support.
• Over a quarter of NGOs fail to keep an inventory of physical assets.

The call to action is clear: collaborative efforts are essential to support NGOs in building their cybersecurity defences and ensure their safety and security. This will therefore contribute to the broader goal of cyberpeace.

This report will serve as a catalyst for positive change, fostering a safer digital environment. Consequently, this change embodies the values of compassion and hope in an interconnected world – from public institutions to philanthropic organisations (private and corporate foundations).

Registrations are open until 23 November 2023.