Experts convened by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and Sciences Po are calling for coordinated action among countries to improve digital resilience and protect essential services such as health, finance and emergency response.
“Resilience must be embedded in the DNA of the technologies we depend on,” said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General. “This report urges us to consider the systemic nature of risks and rethink how we protect the systems that connect and empower humanity.”
“As our societies become more dependent on digital technologies, disruptions caused by disasters can cascade through systems and across borders, triggering far-reaching and potentially catastrophic failures,” said Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Director of UNDRR. “We must plan, build, and maintain digital infrastructure with systemic risk in mind, now and in the future. Digital infrastructure must be resilient infrastructure.”
The Risks of Digital Dependence:
Digital technologies have revolutionized how we live, connect, and work, but our growing reliance on these systems has created risks that often go unnoticed.
A severe solar storm could disable satellites, disrupt navigation systems, and destabilize power grids, with recovery times measured in months. Extreme temperatures could overload data centers, causing mobile service outages, as well as failures in healthcare systems and financial transactions. Meanwhile, earthquakes or other natural hazards can sever vital internet connections, slowing business operations and leaving entire nations offline for weeks.
Any specific scenario may seem isolated and unlikely, not alarming enough to prompt a timely global response. However, digital vulnerabilities are real, and unexpected incidents are inevitable.
The report highlights another vulnerability: societies have become dependent on digital systems without maintaining analog skills or ensuring adequate backup options.
When large systems fail, offline alternatives are not always available.
“Addressing systemic risks means looking beyond the data and working in an interdisciplinary way,” said Arancha González, dean of the Paris School of International Affairs at Sciences Po. “This report shows how data-driven policymaking can help us build resilience in an increasingly interconnected world.”.
Turning Knowledge into Action:
The report urges policymakers, the private sector, and civil society to act now to prevent these risks from becoming a “digital pandemic,” and calls for a global commitment and coordinated action.
The authors suggest considering six priorities to safeguard critical digital infrastructure. The findings are the result of a collaborative process involving experts from 12 countries, representing national authorities, the private sector, academia, and international organizations.
Deepen knowledge: Identify vulnerabilities, map cross-sector dependencies, develop models of potential chain reactions, and maintain analog competencies.
Modernize risk management: Treat unintended digital disruptions as a fundamental risk by updating legal and disaster risk management frameworks, as well as incentives.
Strengthen standards and planning: Establish robust backup systems and conduct joint multi-sector scenario planning.
Improve coordination on critical risks: Proactively coordinate around high-impact risks affecting space weather, submarine cables, satellites, and data centers.
Foster social resilience: Equip communities and organizations with the means to withstand and recover from digital disruptions, building adaptive capacities.
Foster trust and collaboration: Develop capacities, bring stakeholders together, and promote shared awareness and accountability across sectors and borders.
