Economic security and digitalization: challenges and Russia's path to sustainable development

The article analyzes the impact of digitalization on the economic security of the Russian Federation in the context of accelerating digital transformation and geopolitical tensions. The key areas of digitalization are considered: the development of digital infrastructure, the introduction of artificial intelligence and automation of business processes. The main threats identified are the growth of cyber-attacks (in 2024, their number increased by 15% according to Rosstat [7]), technological dependence on foreign suppliers (the share of foreign software in the private sector is 45% [9]) and digital inequality between regions (the gap between Moscow and Chukotka reaches 40% [6]). Based on official statistics, it is emphasized that investments in the digital economy in 2024 amounted to 5,500 billion rubles (4% of GDP) [7], however, this is accompanied by an increase in cybercrime. Under the conditions of sanctions pressure (more than 16,000 restrictions by 2025 [10]), the need to develop technological sovereignty is emphasized, including the transition to domestic solutions such as Elbrus processors and Linux-based software, which reduced the share of imported software in the public sector from 70% in 2020 to 40% in 2024-m [8]. Special attention is paid to regional aspects: Internet penetration in Moscow reaches 95%, while in rural areas of Siberia it is less than 60% [6], which poses risks to economic sustainability. In conclusion, recommendations are proposed for the formation of a digital transformation strategy: strengthening cybersecurity through the creation of national protection systems, support for domestic IT startups and targeted investments to reduce the digital divide. The goal is to minimize threats and ensure the sustainable growth of Russia's digital economy, potentially increasing its contribution to GDP to 10% by 2030 [12].