Information and security in cyberspace: The influence of globalization on the intensification of risks and threats in the last decade

Abstract

This article provides a brief history of information security, with emphasis on cybersecurity threats and how these are influenced by globalization. A comparative analysis of three different sources is conducted to capture some patterns about this relationship: 1) ENISA reports on cyberthreats, 2) The Global Risks Report, on global threats and the 3) DHLGlobal Connectedness report for globalization indicators. To avoid dispersion, the analysis is circumscribed roughly to the last decade. This report points to an intensification of cyber threats in the last few years, while the globalization indicators suggest a slowdown in global interconnections. A number of hypotheses to explain these patterns are recommended for further research.