Virtual University Journals

Prioritizing Cyber-Security Measures for Pakistan National Government Websites: A Strategic Assessment of Governance and International Cooperation

ISSN: Print (3106-8049) Online (3106-8057)
Doha, Muqarrab Akbar
Abstract: The paper will discuss the increasing cyber threats to Pakistani national websites through the assessment and prioritization of governance-based and international cooperation-based cybersecurity interventions through the ISM-MICMAC methodology. Pakistan is in urgent need of an organized and comprehensive defense approach, beyond technical solutions alone, since there have been more than 1,500 government-targeted attacks in year 2024. The ISM model initially identify twelve major measures, and it is hierarchically organized with the base of it being the foundational factors, including a ‘National Cyber Security Strategy’ and ‘Cyber Security Governance Framework’. These factors drive measures including ‘managing Incident Response Coordination’ and ‘Cyber Security Auditing’. MICMAC analysis also categorizes measures based on driving power and dependence and the result is Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) as one of the most important interventions. International collaboration and sharing of threat intelligence becomes an imperative enabler. It is the first study to use ISM-MICMAC to cybersecurity governance in Pakistan, which provides practitioners and policymakers with a prioritized actionable roadmap. The study helps to efficiently distribute the resources on improving the national digital infrastructure by elucidating interdependencies between the strategic and operational responses to emerging cyber threats. The results can be used to make scholarly and practical contributions to cybersecurity resilience in developing economies where the issues are similar.
Keywords: Cybersecurity; Pakistan; ISM-MICMAC; Governance; International Cooperation; National Websites; Cyber Threats; Policy Prioritization.
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