National Cybersecurity Strategies and Citizen Trust in Digital Government

Abstract

The digitalization of public services has transformed governance by enabling efficient service delivery, citizen engagement, and data-driven decision making. However, this transition exposes governments to significant cyber risks, ranging from data breaches and ransomware attacks to service disruptions. National cybersecurity strategies (NCS) are designed to mitigate these risks, but their effectiveness depends on citizen trust. Trust is essential for adoption of digital government services, voluntary compliance with online policies, and civic participation. This paper examines the relationship between national cybersecurity strategies and citizen trust, analyzing strategic frameworks, policy measures, and implementation challenges. A conceptual framework is proposed linking policy rigor, transparency, and proactive communication to trust outcomes. The study concludes that citizen trust is both an indicator and a driver of effective national cybersecurity strategy implementation. 

KEYWORDS: National Cybersecurity Strategy, Citizen Trust, Digital Government, Cyber Risk, Public Services