An intergovernmental organization is a formal body created by sovereign states to coordinate policy across national borders. Members are usually governments, and the group may issue standards, recommendations, frameworks, or joint statements that help align regulation, technical practice, and diplomacy.
In cyber security, intergovernmental organizations matter because attacks and defenses often cross jurisdictions. They can influence baseline controls for data protection, incident reporting, supply-chain security, and AI governance. Their guidance can shape how vendors log events, how states share threat intelligence, and what counts as acceptable risk. They are not the same as private standards groups: an intergovernmental organization carries political authority, so its rules can become compliance requirements or international expectations for secure systems.