Information Security for Economic and Social Development

Information economy, among other elements, heavily depends on the information security. Without the latter, the former cannot sustain its development. On the other hand, information security depends on technology development.

Developing and least developed countries may face significant challenges in meeting the requirements of the global market place without information security. The lack of technology development in information security, therefore, may constitute a serious infrastructure deficiency that is enlarging the digital divide.

The Asia-Pacific region has recently become the world leader in mobile phone connectivity. It represents more than half in mobile phone consumption in the world, which can boost the economic and social development in an unprecedented manner.

However, without information security overall performance of information economy in the region may not render desired results. It is against this background, ICT Policy Section of UNESCAP’s ICST Division prepared this publication with an aim of providing key aspects of information security for an audience mainly composed of policy and decision makers.

This publication is destined to major development actors of the information society, especially policymakers for information economy. It deals with key economic, legal, and social issues related to information security. The purpose of it is to help countries get prepared to face issues and challenges linked to information and communication technologies (ICT) deployment, uses and misuses.

Download the full text of Information Security for Economic and Social Development (PDF - 3.60 MB )

Table of contents

Foreword and Acknowledgements

Information Security for Economic and Social Development

The aims of this chapter are to define what information security is; and to point out the importance of information security for social and economic development; to identify the need for a global and interdisciplinary information security approach to master informational risks.

1.1 What is Information Security? (PDF - 33 KB)

1.2 Why Information Security Solutions Can Fail? (PDF - 474 KB)

1.3 Who Need Information Security? (PDF - 10.6 KB)

1.4 Who Is Responsible For Information Security? (PDF - 22.1 KB)

1.5 Why A Global And Interdisciplinary Approach Is Required? (PDF - 34.6 KB)

1.6 How To Deal With The Need Of An Interdisciplinary And International Approach Of Cybersecurity? (PDF - 56.3 KB)

1.7 Why Information Security Awareness Is Essential? (PDF - 12.0 KB)

1.8 How Building An Inclusive Society? (PDF - 356 KB)

1.9 Why Information Security Is Essential For Developing Countries? (PDF - 20.4 KB)

1.10 How To Improve Information Security? (PDF - 24 KB)

Understanding CyberCrime

The aim of this chapter is to define the scope of cybercrime. Most cybercrimes are illustrated by real cases of attacks, in order to better understand what cybercrime is and who could be cybercriminals.

2.1 What Are CyberCrime And Computer Related Crime? (PDF - 241 KB)

2.2 What Are CyberCrime Against Persons? (PDF - 51.3 KB)

2.3 What Are CryberCrime And Crime Against Assets? (PDF - 1054.7 KB)

2.4 What Are CyberCrime Against Institutions And State? (PDF - 118 KB)

2.5 Who Are The CyberCriminals? (PDF - 71.1 KB)

Fighting Against CyberCrime

This chapter presents some fundamental considerations to fight against cybercrime and highlights several legal aspects that contribute to building a trusted information society. It also introduces basic principles in computer forensic and deals with the notions of crime scene and digital traces. It presents a methodology to conduce effective investigation in a digital environment.

3.1 CyberCrime Is A Reality (PDF - 33 KB)

3.2 Why Is IT Security Enforcement Important For Fighting Against CyberCrime? (PDF - 240 KB)

3.3 Pursuing CyberCriminals (PDF - 27.3 KB)

3.4 Computer Forensic (PDF - 718 KB)

3.5 CyberCrime Legal Issues (PDF - 600 KB)

3.6 Why Internet Activities Are Vulnerable? (PDF - 134 KB)

3.7 Issues And Perspectives (PDF - 15.6 KB)

Improving Confidence In The Use Of ICT

This chapter identifies critical factors of success to built confidence in the use of ICT infrastructures and electronic services, in particular for e-Government applications and then introduces fundamentals principles in information security and privacy issues to increase awareness among actors and stakeholders of the information society.

4.1 Ensuring An Effective Information Society By Building Trust And Confidence Into ICT Services (PDF - 88.4 KB)

4.2 Privacy Issues In The Information Society (PDF - 51.1 KB)

4.3 Concluding Remarks (PDF - 25.1 KB)

Annexes

Annex A Glossary of main information security related terms (PDF - 99 Kb)

Annex B Some web references (PDF - 55 Kb)