20 Oct Cybersecurity: The missing key to unlocking digital prosperity

Cybersecurity has long been treated as a technical matter, left to IT teams and security specialists. But as the world’s economy digitises, it is becoming clear that cybersecurity is no longer just about firewalls and passwords. It is the foundation upon which the entire global digital economy rests, according to Dr Hajar El Haddaoui, Director-General, Digital Cooperation Organization.

Without trust, the digital economy simply cannot function. Every digital service we rely on, from e-government portals and cross-border e-commerce, to digital payments and cloud-based supply chains, depends on resilient systems that citizens, businesses and governments believe are safe.

Initiatives such as the Global Cybersecurity Forum highlight the critical need to bring diverse stakeholders together to shape a secure, resilient and inclusive digital future.

Cybersecurity as a growth driver

The Digital Cooperation Organization’s Digital Economy Trends 2025 report highlights why this shift in perspective matters. More than 40 percent of industry leaders surveyed believe that new regulations will strongly support increased investment in cybersecurity, with optimism particularly high across Indo-Asia and the Pacific. Cybersecurity is now ranked among the top three areas where companies expect the highest return on investment, alongside digital platforms and workforce upskilling.

This tells us something important: strong cybersecurity is not just about managing risk. It is about creating opportunity.

• It reassures investors that their capital is protected.
• It gives startups the confidence to scale internationally.
• It enables governments to digitise essential services without fear of disruption.
• And for small and medium-sized enterprises, the backbone of so many economies, cyber resilience opens the door to global markets.

Cybersecurity, in other words, is becoming the unseen engine of economic growth.

The rising cost of inaction

At the same time, the risks are intensifying. Attacks are growing in scale and sophistication, with ripple effects across critical infrastructure, supply chains and financial systems. The economic costs already run into billions annually, but for fast-digitising nations the stakes are even higher. A single breach can undermine hard-won progress in building public trust and attracting investment.

This dual reality, cybersecurity as both an enabler and a threat, demands urgent attention.

Why cooperation is essential

No nation can stand alone against borderless cyber risks. Data, misinformation and attacks flow seamlessly across frontiers. If we want to protect the foundations of the digital economy, we need to strengthen cooperation:

• Harmonising regulations and standards so businesses can operate securely across borders.
• Sharing expertise and best practices to help emerging economies build capacity quickly.
• Investing in people, from training young cyber professionals, to empowering women in the cybersecurity workforce, to ensuring micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises are not left behind.

This is not only a technical challenge but a governance one. Cybersecurity must be understood as a pillar of economic policy and development strategy, not a niche domain.

A people-first approach to digital resilience

The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) works with 16 Member States across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe, representing over 800 million people. In every case, cybersecurity underpins our mission of building inclusive and sustainable digital economies.

Our research shows that when people trust digital systems, they are more likely to adopt online services, engage in e-commerce and upskill for digital jobs. That trust cannot be taken for granted, it must be earned through transparent governance, resilient infrastructure and inclusive digital policies.

Cyber resilience is also about equity. If women, youth and entrepreneurs in emerging markets are left exposed to cyber risks, the promise of digital prosperity will remain out of reach. Protecting their ability to participate fully in the digital economy is a collective responsibility.

Cybersecurity as the backbone of prosperity

The conversation around cybersecurity must evolve. It cannot be seen only as an overhead cost, a defensive necessity, or a technical fix. It is the backbone of digital trust, and digital trust is what allows economies to innovate, trade and prosper.

As leaders gather for the Global Cybersecurity Forum and beyond, the task ahead is clear. We must move from fragmented approaches to a shared vision: a digital future that is innovative and dynamic, but also resilient and trustworthy.

If we succeed, the rewards will be immense. A secure digital economy is not just safer it is fairer, more inclusive and more prosperous for all.