Leadership Fundamentals for Cybersecurity in Public Policy and Administration

“The barrier to entry for the creation of cyber weapons has never been lower. With recent advancements in generative artificial intelligence, dynamic attacks capable of adapting and surpassing the current best-in-class cybersecurity defenses are accessible even to amateurs. The weakest link in cybersecurity is human action, which is increasingly becoming easier to manipulate as data manipulation and synthetic data creation becomes ever more available with these new AI technologies. Since the Global South has a more limited ability to invest in cybersecurity defense as a result of having lower GDP, the proliferation of easy to use and publicly available mechanisms to manipulate, control, and attack critical systems poses an outsized risk to these countries. Leadership Fundamentals for Cybersecurity in Public Policy and Administration provides thorough and compelling tools for navigating the inevitable storm of societal threats, change, and implications brought about by an entirely new generation of cyber-attacks, making it especially poignant in what is sure to become a major international concern.” David Tepper, Principal Architect, Microsoft “Cybersecurity is not just a technical problem, but a strategic challenge for leaders in the 21st century, particularly in the Global South. This book provides a comprehensive and insightful guide for those leaders who want to understand the risks, opportunities and issues arising from the increasing reliance on cyberspace. The author draws on historical backgrounds, current examples and emerging trends to introduce terms and concepts not normally associated with cybersecurity leadership. He also offers practical advice on how to develop and implement cyber policies that are relevant and responsible for the protection of citizens' privacy, information and data. This book is more than an introduction, it is a must-read for anyone who wants to be a leader in the cyber domain in the 21st century.” Ernie Ferraresso, Director, Cyber Florida: The Florida Center for Cybersecurity “Leadership Fundamentals for Cybersecurity in Public Policy and Administration is an indispensable guide for navigating the complexities of cybersecurity in the public sector in today's digital age. Authored by a reasoned and forward thinking son of the Global South, this book provides invaluable insights and practical strategies for leaders in public administration to effectively safeguard sensitive information and critical infrastructure. With a focus on proactive risk management and organizational resilience, this comprehensive resource equips leaders with the essential tools to combat cyber threats and protect the public's trust. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a newcomer to the field, this book is essential reading for anyone tasked with leading cybersecurity efforts in the public sector. This masterpiece is both timely and relevant and will undoubtedly be referenced for a very long time to come.” Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Godphey O Sterling, Director, Cyber Incident Response Team Division, Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team, National Security Operations Centre, Office of the Prime Minister, Jamaica “In this book, Professor Johnson embarks on a brilliantly illuminating odyssey discussing the unique challenges at the intersection of cybersecurity and public administration in the Global South. The carefully crafted chapters of this book include interesting historical anecdotes, pertinent and convincing statistical data, and potential solution strategies for complex problems at the interface of society and cybersecurity. Professor Johnson’s brilliant volume is an excellent asset for the leaders of the cyber realm, including policymakers, government officials, scholars, students, and other practitioners in the Global South. As cybersecurity is a global challenge with no national boundaries, Professor Johnson’s book is a must-read for those outside the Global South who need to understand the cybersecurity landscape in the Global South.” Sumit Jha, Professor of Computer Science, Florida International University “Donavon Johnson aptly calls the Global South to action across cybersecurity and critical infrastructure vulnerabilities. Hemispheric leaders have a small window to recognize deficiencies, educate citizens, and update cyber laws to defend their national treasure against an invisible adversary. Researched, detailed, informative, this book means Latin America and the Caribbean are waking up; every leader needs to read this book! Colonel James Hamilton, USAF, DSL*; Author of “Employing Strategic Cyber Competition in Latin America: A Senior Cyber Leader Mission” in Journal of the Americas *”The views expressed are my own and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Air Force, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.” “Donavon Johnson goes to great lengths to make a very important point, and one that seems to be sidelined most of the time for the more worrisome Cyber-attack defensive measures. As humans we tend to first, defend and protect what we have (DATA), then we move away from the sources of problem (Private Networks), but finally we tend to then push to solve the problem (Cyber and AI Policy), and this is what Donovan highlights clearly. Policy prevents! Congratulations on a very well put together book! It should be required reading for Cyber professionals and Executives alike!” Gary M. Goldfarb, Chief Strategy Officer, Interport Group of Companies