Monday 21 March 2011

National Cyber Security In India

Cyber security of India is ailing from various drawbacks. As a result India has not been able to fully capatilise the benefits of cyber security. There is no doubt about the proposition that cyber security in India must be improved urgently.

Although everybody talks about improving cyber security in India yet none provides the formula to do so. The safest and surest formula to strengthen Indian cyber security is to formulate an effective and robust cyber security strategy and policy of India.

India has another very compelling reason to ensure robust and resilient cyber security. The critical national infrastructure of India cannot be safeguarded from cyber attacks if India has a weak cyber security infrastructure, inform Praveen Dalal, managing partner of Perry4Law. With more and more public services now delivered though Internet, e-governance and computer systems, it is pertinent to ensure their integrity and security, suggests Dalal.

In fact, Indian government has released the draft electronic delivery of services bill 2011 that would ensure effective electronic delivery of services in India once it becomes an applicable law. However, the proposed mandatory delivery of electronic services would face many problems including cyber security problems.

If the essential public services are made electronic without ensuring robust cyber security, it would be a nightmare for India, warns Dalal. The government must ensure a strong cyber security for the infrastructure providing electronic delivery of services to Indian citizens, suggests Dalal.

National cyber security of India has to cover a long distance before we can call ourselves a reasonably cyber safe nation. India must increase cyber security readiness with adaptive threat management. Further, India must also ensure cyber due diligence compliances and cyber security audits, incidence response and threat analysis, first responder’s utilisation and other similar practices to ensure efficient cyber security practices.