Cybersecurity Strategy in Developing Nations: A Jamaica Case Study

Developing nations have been slow to develop and implement cybersecurity strategies despite a growing threat to governance and public security arising from an increased dependency on Internet-connected systems in the developing world and rising cybercrime. Using a neorealist theoretical framework that draws from Gilpin and Waltz, this qualitative case study examined how the government and private sector in Jamaica viewed the state of cybersecurity in the country, and how the country was currently developing policy to respond to cyber threats. Employing Yin's recommended analysis process of iterative and repetitive review of case materials, the documents and interviews of key public and private sector individuals were used to identify key themes on Jamaica's current cybersecurity readiness. A similar process compared the multiple international cybersecurity recommendations and other national strategies to identify emerging best practices. The study's principal findings were that Jamaica had initiated the process of developing a cybersecurity strategy, but the gap analysis indicated the country still needed to adopt several of the recommended international best practices. The study includes recommendations for the Government of Jamaica to adopt in order implement a high quality national cybersecurity strategy aligned with the emerging international best practices. The implications for positive social change from the implementation of such a strategy will be improved national cyber governance that will contribute to making Jamaica a more a more attractive business partner for offshore service delivery, and associated Internet-related opportunities which will assist the nation in its goals of job creation and economic growth.