In the rapidly evolving cyberspace landscape, where technological advancements present both opportunities and challenges, CCB has emerged as a top priority. This is due to the role of CCB both in helping states safeguard their critical infrastructure against cyberthreats and in ensuring ICTs enable states to achieve prosperity and economic development. In recent years, efforts have been dedicated to maximizing the effectiveness of CCB activities and ensuring that they are conducted in a responsible way. This process has mainly focused on developing and advocating for a principles-based approach to CCB, particularly through the adoption of the OEWG CCB principles.
As this paper has explored, there is not one way of following a principles-based approach to CCB. The principles can – and should – be interpreted and applied to suit particular contexts. However, the significance, benefits and utility of a principles-based approach is clear: the standardizing function of the principles in CCB activities can help to make CCB more efficient and effective, supporting responsible delivery and contributing to the objective of an open, secure, stable, accessible and peaceful cyberspace, while encouraging a broader adherence to the UN framework of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.
A clear understanding of the principles, as well as their context and implementation, is imperative for an effective principles-based approach to CCB. In Section 1, this paper highlighted the critical role CCB plays in empowering states to leverage ICTs for economic development and security, and the potential of CCB principles to prevent misuse, and ensure effective and equitable implementation. In Section 2, this paper considered the principles themselves, looking at what they entail, how they play their part in a secure cyberspace and their relationship with other principles. In Section 3, this paper provided actionable and practical guidance on how to implement the principles.
From this exercise and analysis, two specific conclusions become apparent. First, the CCB principles encompass and contribute to a variety of objectives, from those elaborated within the OEWG to broader SDGs. Their purpose is not limited to contributing to the objectives outlined in this paper, and the technology-neutral drafting of the principles guarantees their broader and continued relevance. This is important because it ensures that the CCB principles remain flexible and adaptable for a cyber landscape that is rapidly developing. It is also an implicit recognition of the fact that CCB is not a static endeavour: as development and technology needs evolve, so will CCB, and both CCB and international development will need to align. Thus, as states continue their deliberations at the international level, within the current OEWG and elsewhere, it is important for them to identify connections to other fields and make greater efforts to share experiences and lessons learned. This can ensure that CCB is not isolated from international development and that a principles-based approach to CCB can draw on decades-long experience and practice.
Second, embracing a principles-based approach to CCB activities necessitates proactive engagement from the CCB community at various levels. Despite being developed in a state-led forum and existing within a framework that outlines responsible state behaviour in cyberspace, the principles are clear that CCB requires broader buy-in and is not exclusively a state responsibility. To this end, efforts at the international and regional levels should focus on raising and sustaining awareness of the OEWG principles, facilitating the sharing of experiences, building connections with related principles and actively engaging a diverse range of stakeholders. This broader involvement of the CCB community should be facilitated creatively and regularly, respecting the modalities of the current OEWG while recognizing its limitations. Recent OEWG initiatives to elevate the importance of CCB – such as the Global Roundtable on ICT Security Capacity Building held in May 2024 – can offer an important forum to discuss and promote the principles further.
At the national level, states should prioritize integrating these CCB principles into their national processes, policies and training frameworks, and formally declare their intentions to apply the principles to promote transparency and inspire others. States should also support initiatives led by the CCB community that are focused on operationalizing the principles. Multi-stakeholders, including governments, civil society, academia and the private sector, should voluntarily align their practices with the OEWG principles and integrate them into their organizational frameworks, supporting the implementation through awareness-raising, developing resources, conducting research and providing training.
Such a comprehensive and inclusive approach will ensure that CCB activities are not only effective, efficient and equitable but that they contribute to the ultimate objective of an open, safe, secure, accessible and peaceful cyberspace. By engaging all relevant actors and promoting broader adherence to responsible state behaviour in cyberspace, CCB can significantly enhance global cyber resilience and security.
