At the time of writing, digital trends and their exponential proliferation due to the COVID-19 pandemic have thrust the global population onto a new trajectory of digitalization and interconnectedness. One of the starkest and most troubling new consequences of our digitalized existence is the increasingly frequent, costly and damaging occurrence of cyber incidents, sometimes even paralyzing critical services and infrastructure. This trend shows no signs of slowing, notably as sophisticated tools and methods become more widely available to threat actors at relatively low (or in some cases no) cost.

Signs of increasing digitalization are everywhere. The International Telecommunication Union recently reported that fixed broadband access has increased significantly on all continents as a direct result of teleworking, distance learning, remote entertainment and telemedicine.1 Most technologically advanced countries prioritized the expansion of digital consumer tools, fostering digital entrepreneurial ventures and investing in innovation across universities, businesses and digital authorities2 whereas emerging economies prioritized increasing mobile internet access, training digital talent and generating investment in R&D and digital enterprises. This begs a question: How will smaller and less powerful countries protect themselves and their natural resources if they are not able to protect their digitally connected infrastructure? The cybersecurity poverty line question becomes even more pressing in the ever-increasing surge of connectivity.