'Digital Geneva Convention’ On the Cards?

The US Federal cybersecurity market is estimated to grow from $18 billion in 2017 to $22 billion by 2022. Cyberattacks have recently been occurring at the highest levels of global governments, and possibly stemming from the very same sources. This affects the whole world, not just leaders and politicians. This issue is the crux of Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) president Brad Smith’s speech, “Protecting and Defending against Cyberthreats in Uncertain Times”. He presented at RSA Conference, whose mission is to connect and empower the world with expert advice on staying ahead of cyber threats. 
A blog post accompanied the talk and here he outlines the need for a ‘Digital Geneva Convention’, in response to the rise in state-sponsored cyber attacks. The Fourth Geneva Convention protects civilians in times of war and Smith is clearly drawing parallels with a war fought on a new, virtual front. In this analogy, technology companies are now the Red Cross, “the internet’s first responders”.

The problem

In 2015 government experts at the United Nations recommended cybersecurity norms “aimed at promoting an open, secure, stable, accessible and peaceful ICT environment”. These, however, haven’t been in effect and Smith calls on leaders to implement these measures. Smith points to the following examples as acts of aggression occurring within a vacuum of international policy.

The proposal

1. No targeting of tech companies, private sector, or critical infrastructure
2. Assist private sector efforts against cyber attacks
3. Report vulnerabilities to vendors, instead of leaking them to the press or selling them online
4. Exercise restraint in developing cyber weapons
5. Commit to nonproliferation activities
6. Limit offensive operation and do not aid governments in such activity

Microsoft are spending $1 billion every year in the security field and Smith hopes that others will follow suit. He wants to protect customers on the internet, and by extension, investors. Companies and investments can be undone by a cyber attack so investors would do well to invest in cybersecurity companies, as well as investing in other technology companies, who hopefully have big security budgets.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Emma Harwood, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.