Cyber Security Challenges In India

Cyber security issues in India have added a new variety of challenges for India. Till now cyber security in India and its challenges and problems are well known and India has also realised that urgent attention in this direction is needed. For instance, the cyber security challenges for the smart grids in India were realised during the recent power outrage in India.

This is just the beginning of the cyber security journey of India. Critical infrastructure protection in India is not undertaken in the manner required. Even we have no critical ICT infrastructure protection policy of India  that can provide norms and best practices for critical infrastructure protection in India.

On top of it, stealth and sophisticated malware like Stuxnet, Flame, Shamoon and Duqu have already proved that critical infrastructures around the world like power grids, nuclear facilities, satellites, defense networks, governmental informatics infrastructures, etc are vulnerable to both known and unknown cyber attacks.

There are many concepts that were not even acknowledged by India a few years back. For instance, concepts like cyber warfare against India and its defenses, cyber terrorism against India and its defences and solutions, cyber security in India and its challenges and problems, cyber espionage against India and its challenges, solutions and defences, etc were never considered to be a threat by India.

Now it is well known that these concepts are not just theoretical concepts but actual and potential threats to any nation. India has also realised this bitter truth that also without much loss of crucial information and data.

Of course, strategic computers at Indian defence forces, governmental departments, etc were successfully breached and compromised. In many cases, India was not even aware of such compromise and there may be incidences where such compromise are still present and are undetected.

As on date we have neither a strong cyber law nor effective cyber security capabilities in India. Further, if we analyse the cyber security reflections the trend is really troublesome. The cyber law, cyber crimes and cyber security trends by Perry4Law and Perry4Law Techno Legal Base (PTLB) have shown the loopholes of Indian cyber security capabilities.

We at Perry4Law and PTLB strongly recommend that Indian government must stress really hard upon developing both defensive and offensive cyber security capabilities. The sooner it is done the better it would be for the national security of India in general and cyber security of India in particular.

Cyber Terrorism Against India And Its Defences And Solutions

Cyber terrorism in India is not a new concept. However, for long concepts like cyber warfare, cyber terrorism, etc were not taken seriously by Indian government. Naturally, cyber security in India also could not flourish. The cyber security capabilities of India also could not develop in such circumstances.

Techno legal experts of India have been warning against growing incidences of cyber attacks, cyber crimes, cyber espionages, etc against India. Further, the fact that critical infrastructure protection in India is needed has also been reiterated from time to time.

Sophisticated malware like Stuxnet and Duqu have already proved that critical infrastructures around the world like power grids, nuclear facilities, satellites, defense networks, governmental informatics infrastructures, etc are vulnerable to diverse range of cyber attacks. The truth is that cyber attacks are affecting Indian critical infrastructure and we are not even aware of the same.

The cyber law, cyber crimes and cyber security trends by Perry4Law and Perry4Law Techno Legal Base (PTLB) have shown the loopholes of Indian cyber security capabilities. It is high time to plug in these loopholes and deficiencies of Indian cyber security capabilities.

Menaces like cyber terrorism and cyber warfare cannot be effectively tackled till we have both offensive and defensive cyber security capabilities. Further, cyber crisis management plan of India must be urgently formulated and effectively implemented so that cyber terrorism can be prevented in India.  

These anti cyber terrorism solutions must be implemented by India as soon as possible. Cyber security skills development in India must also be ensured so that we have a skilled cyber security workforce in India.

Critical Infrastructure Protection In India Is Needed

Critical Infrastructure is backbone of any Nation and if they are targeted then loss of tremendous nature can occur. It is also not necessary that critical infrastructure is attacked through physical presence at the place of critical infrastructure.

These days’ critical infrastructures are managed by information and communication technology (ICT). For instance, the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems are the new cyber attack battlefield for cyber criminals and rouge nations. In these circumstances, protection of critical infrastructure of India is of utmost importance.

Critical infrastructure protection (CIP) in India is an integral part of cyber security of India and the same must be a part of cyber security policy of India as well. Similarly, critical ICT infrastructure protection in India is also urgently required.

Malware like Stuxnet and Duqu have already proved that critical infrastructures like power grids, nuclear facilities, satellites, defense networks, governmental informatics infrastructures, etc are vulnerable to sophisticated cyber attacks. The truth is that cyber attacks are affecting Indian critical infrastructure.

We have no dedicated and implementable critical ICT infrastructure protection policy of India. Even we have no implementable cyber crisis management plan of India as on date. Although constitution of a national critical information infrastructure protection centre (NCIPC) of India has been suggested yet its constitution may still take decades. Till then the critical infrastructure protection (CIP) and homeland security (HS) of India would remain in doldrums.

It is high time to consider the cyber security reflections and work towards strengthening of cyber security of India. Further, issues of cyber warfare against India and its defenses must also be considered as cyber warfare against India is no more a fiction but a reality. Perry4Law and Perry4Law Techno Legal Base (PTLB) hope that Indian government would consider these recommendations as soon as possible and act accordingly.