Thursday 30 August 2012

Chandigarh Considering Cyber Security Model Of UK

Chandigarh has been exploring the cyber security aspects for long. Not very late, Chandigarh proposed power reform programme to be implemented soon. It was proposed to use automated systems through IT intervention for sustained collection of accurate baseline data and automation of some electricity functions. However, the proposal failed to consider the aspects pertaining to cyber security of automated power grids of India.  

For some strange reasons Indian government has been ignoring the cyber security implementations in India. These include cyber security of power sector of India and cyber protection of SCADA systems in India. In these circumstances, the ambitious restructured accelerated power development and reform programme (R-APDRP) of UT electricity department of Chandigarh was too ambitious to be successfully implemented.

Recently, the websites of Chandigarh housing board and estate office were defaced despite UT having a full-fledged IT department. Reacting to these defacements, it has been decided to replicate the cyber security model of UK. It has also been declared that Chandigarh will have its own information security state policy to tackle cyber crimes and it will be drafted by October.

According to Praveen Dalal, leading techno legal expert of Asia and managing partner of ICT law firm Perry4Law, replication and super imposing of foreign cyber security models in India would be counter productive in the long run and they should be avoided.

It is good that Chandigarh has shown interest in cyber security but its efforts should not be misguided and based upon wrong principles, models and premises. Let us hope Chandigarh in general and Indian government in particular would consult Indian techno legal experts while drafting such cyber security model.