In the year of its G20 presidency, Saudi Arabia launched the Global Cybersecurity Forum, held in Riyadh on February 4-5, 2020, creating a catalyst platform to drive cross-industry and multi-stakeholder dialogue and building towards a better cyber world for all.

Global cybersecurity thought leaders, policy makers, academics, government and international organization representatives and private sector players shared new thinking on the advancement of cybersecurity ecosystem capabilities and the elevation of whole-of-nation cybersecurity maturity. Furthermore, the Global Cybersecurity Forum facilitated efforts to unleash the investment and economic opportunities generated by growth and innovation in the cybersecurity industry. The Forum sets the stage for cybersecurity in the 21st century, launching an action-oriented roadmap, including an impactful international declaration as well as two global initiatives.

The Global Cybersecurity Forum included Over 56 sessions, involved 147 speakers and welcomed more than 3,500 participants from more than 51 countries. This momentous forum provided an incredible opportunity to engage and network with cybersecurity leaders, thereby contributing to a truly global forum that enhanced collaborative dialogue on the emerging cybersecurity challenges and created investments and economic opportunities within the cybersecurity industry and beyond.

While it is undeniable that personal accountability plays a critical role in cybersecurity at home and in the workplace, it is equally important to recognize that cybersecurity must be a national and international priority.

Enhancing global cybersecurity resilience: It is vital to enhance cybersecurity resilience worldwide in light of rapid digital transformations and the widespread use of emerging and interconnected technologies, which touch the lives of citizens across the globe, whether harnessed for their benefit or to their detriment.

Building inclusive cybersecurity capacity: In a cyber world driven by and interconnected through technology, cybersecurity risks transcend borders and cultures. Therefore, it is essential to promote an inclusive approach to the development of cybersecurity and cyber resilience, ensuring that all nations both contribute to and benefit from the opportunities of our digitalized world to the greatest extent possible.

The Global Cybersecurity Forum was also the platform from which two global initiatives instituted by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman were launched, calling in turn for protecting children and enabling women in the Cyber World:

Safe Children in the Cyber World, which aims to better protect Children in cyberspace by providing the right tools and educational materials to parents, teachers and policymakers.

Enable Women in Cyber, which sets forth a commitment to employ more women in cyber fields and to develop greater job opportunities for them in the future thanks to more comprehensive outreach and a global network of female leaders and mentors.