Offensive And Defensive Cyber Security Capabilities Of India

There are many glaring cyber security problems of India and challenges and the chief among them is to protect the critical infrastructure of India that is dependent upon information technology. Cyber security issues in India like cyber warfare, cyber terrorism, cyber espionage, critical infrastructure protection, etc cannot be ignored by Indian government any more.

The cyber security reflections of India have not shown a good picture about India. We have no dedicated cyber security laws in India as well. Indian critical infrastructures are vulnerable to cyber attacks and we must ensure sufficient cyber security for the same. We at Perry4Law Techno Legal Base (PTLB) are managing some very effective techno legal cyber security in initiatives in India.

These include cyber security research and development centre of India (CSRDCI), national cyber security database of India (NCSDI), cyber forensics research centre of India, cyber crime investigation centre of India, cyber security centre of India, etc. These initiatives intend to strengthen the cyber security capabilities of India and resolve the cyber security issues and problems in India.  

Maintaining cyber security at the international level is a tedious task. This is so because cyberspace does not recognizes any boundary and cyber attacks can be launched from any part of the world. While cyber attacks upon various computer systems and computer resources are cause of concern yet cyber attacks upon critical infrastructures is of grave concern.

Meanwhile, India is increasingly facing cyber attacks and cyber threats from foreign nationals. Cyber terrorism against India, cyber warfare against India, cyber espionage against India and cyber attacks against India has already increased a lot. Even the cyber law trends of India 2012 by various sources have also projected an increased rate of cyber crimes in India and cyber attacks against India in the year 2012.

The biggest cyber threat against India is originating in the form of cyber attacks upon Indian critical infrastructures. Critical infrastructure protection in India requires a well formulated policy. Presently we have no critical infrastructure protection policy of India. Further, critical ICT (Information and Communication Technology) infrastructure protection in India  is one area that requires special attention of Indian government.

In the present interconnected world, cyber security capabilities of India must be urgently developed. In fact, Indian critical infrastructure and cyber security challenges and issues have assumed so much significance that Indian government declared the establishment of National Critical Information Protection Centre (NCIPC) of India. It intends to ensure critical infrastructure protection and critical ICT infrastructure protection in India. 

This is a good beginning and we at PTLB welcome this initiative of Indian government. At the same time we would keep on strengthening the techno legal cyber security capabilities of India from time to time.  

Indian Cyber Security Problems, Issues and Challenges Management

Cyber security initiatives of India have started gaining momentum. However, cyber security initiatives in India in India are still deficient on many aspects. After all, managing India’s cyber security problems, issues and challenges is not an easy task. In these circumstances establishment of the national cyber security database of India (NCSDI) assumes great cyber security significance. The cyber security research and development centre of India (CSRDCI) is also a timely initiative.

Undoubtedly, there are many cyber security issues of India that have still been left unattended. The cyber security issues and challenges in India require urgent attention of Indian government as we have already delayed this process.

India is facing cyber threats from cyber terrorism, cyber warfare, cyber espionage, etc and we must develop both offensive and defensive cyber security capabilities in India. India is also facing continuous and serious cyber threats that have been endangering the critical infrastructures of India. In these circumstances, there is an urgent need to strengthen critical infrastructure protection in India. We cannot achieve this task without ensuring cyber security skills development in India.

Concerns regarding insufficient cyber security in India have been raised for long but the Indian government remained indifferent to cyber security of India for long. However, some committed and dedicated private players have been playing a pro active role in strengthening the cyber security of India.

We at Perry4Law, Perry4Law Techno Legal Base (PTLB) and Perry4Law Techno Legal ICT Training Centre (PTLITC) have launched exclusive techno legal Cyber Forensics Research Centre Of India, Cyber Security Research Centre Of India And Cyber Crimes Investigation Centre Of India (CCICI) To Strengthen Indian Cyber Security And Cyber Forensics Capabilities.

Another major lacuna in the cyber security field is absence of implementable cyber security policy of India. Till various cyber security declarations and promises are actually implemented, they are of no use. As on date we have no implementable national cyber security policy of India.

Even basic level techno legal frameworks are missing in India. For instance, we have no dedicated cyber security laws in India. We also do not have dedicated encryption laws and regulations in India. Even Legal Framework For Mandatory E-Governance In India And Legal Framework For Cloud Computing In India are missing. The Mandatory E-Delivery Of Services In India is also missing.

India has to cover a long road in order to make its cyber security effective. It is high time to move beyond declarations and promises as they would not serve any purpose in the present times.

Indian National Cyber Security Database

This post talks about the latest techno legal cyber security initiative by Perry4Law Techno Legal Base (PTLB). The initiative is known as National Cyber Security Database of India (NCSDI) and it is a unique techno legal cyber security initiative.

In a much needed development, PTLB has constituted the first ever techno legal national cyber security database of India (NCSDI). This is a significant development that can go a long way on strengthening of cyber security of India.

The NCSDI is a part and parcel of much larger and more specialised initiative of PTLB. It is part of the exclusive techno legal cyber security research centre of India (CSRCI) managed by PTLB.

The NCSDI would consist of techno legal cyber security experts of India who should be enrolled with PTLB in this regard. Those interested in enrolling with NCSDI must read the enrolment criteria for the same.

NCSDI intents to fight against cyber threats and cyber attacks in India including cyber terrorism against India, cyber warfare against India, cyber espionage against India, critical infrastructure protection in India, managing India’s cyber security problems, issues and challenges, etc.

NCSDI would also be an essential part of various cyber security initiatives and projects of Indian government and private cyber security players of India and abroad.

NCSDI is a very ambitious and much needed initiative of PTLB that deserved support and collaboration of Indian government and various cyber security stakeholders. Let us see how NCSDI and CSRDI would strengthen the cyber security environment of India.

Source: Cyber Laws In India

Cyber Security Issues And Challenges In India

Cyber Security in India is one area that has to be given top priority by Indian government. The Cyber Security reflections in India prove this point. There are many policy related issues that Indian government must urgently take care of.

For instance, Cyber Warfare Against India and its Defenses, Critical Infrastructure Protection in India, Cyber Terrorism Against India and its Defences and Solutions, Cyber Espionage Against India And Its Challenges, Solutions And Defences, etc must be urgently considered by Indian government. 

A special focus upon Cyber Security for Power Energy and Utilities in India must be given. Power Grids Cyber Security in India and its Challenges has emerged as special area of concern and India is clearly not in a position to defend its power infrastructure.

There are numerous Cyber Security Challenges in India that are still unredressed. Further, India's Cyber Security Challenges are unique to Indian conditions and they require local treatment and solutions. Cyber Security Issues in India require a dedicated effort on the part of Indian stakeholders. Even the Cyber Security Firms, Companies and Consultants in India Must be Pro Active.

Cyber Security in India and its challenges and Problems require urgent attention of Indian government. We have already wasted enough time in this regard and it is high time for India to do some actual groundwork as conducting of conferences and seminars would not bring any favourable change towards establishment of cyber security capabilities of India.

Cyber Security In India: Its Challenges And Problems

Cyber Security in India is gaining importance day by day. However, the same is not a result of any Cyber Security Policy of India but due to the problems that India is facing. India has for long ignored Cyber Security aspect and this has caused tremendous loss to it. Now Cyber Security Problems of India have reached a stage where if immediate action is not taken, it may cause irreversible and irreparable loss to India.

The chief problem that India is facing from cyber front pertains to threats emanating form Cyber Warfare field. Cyber Warfare against India and its Defences is one area that requires special attention of our Policy Makers. We need a dedicated work force to take care of this sensitive and crucial field.

Another concern that is repeatedly conveyed to Indian Government is that Critical Infrastructure Protection in India is needed. As on date India is not vulnerable to Cyber Attacks targeting Critical Infrastructure of India. However, this is not because India has advance Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Mechanism at place but because India has outdated and ancient Infrastructure at place. The moment modern and ICT enabled Infrastructure would be used by India to support its Critical Infrastructure, the problems of India would increase manifolds.

For instance, the recent power failure of India has raised concerns not only in India but also World wide. Although the power outrage was claimed to be caused due to Defective Power Infrastructure, yet even in modern Power Infrastructure such a situation can occur. Cyber Security of automated Power Grids of India has not been contemplated by Indian Government so far.

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.

Another area that must be on “Priority List” of Indian Government pertains to Cyber Terrorism. Cyber Terrorism against India and its Defences and Solutions has not been developed by India so far. This must be done now to prevent any further loss due to activities of Cyber Terrorists against India.

We must develop Cyber Security Capabilities of India as soon as possible. Further, we must also keep in mind the Importance of Cyber Forensics for India. Keeping this in mind, development of suitable Cyber Forensic Investigation Solutions in India are needed to Prevent and Defend various types of Cyber Attacks.

The list is endless and this article is not intended to cover all the aspects of Cyber security Problems of India. However, the top three Cyber Security Problems of India have been discussed by me. I would discuss more in this regard in my subsequent articles.

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.

Cyber Security In India

Cyber security in India has been increasingly seen as prerequisite to protect Indian cyberspace. However, it never remained a priority for Indian government and it always received an indifferent treatment.

Cyber security issues in India cannot be ignored in India any more. Even the Indian government has realised this bitter truth. However, this realisation has still not made much difference towards India’s approach to secure its cyberspace in general and critical infrastructure protection in particular.

The scenario has become more complicated when state actors have also joined the cyber attack scenario. In many cases cyber attacks are launched by state sponsored attackers. Such cyber attacks are more stealth and deadly in nature. At times such attacks also remain undetected for years.

The traditional methodology of securing computers by installing anti virus, firewalls and anti malware tools are also ineffective in such a situation. Although ensuring cyber security in absolute terms is next to impossible yet with patience and adequate cyber security skills development, India can develop cyber security capabilities.

There are many missing links that are hindering in the development of cyber security capabilities in India. Not only India must formulate suitable cyber security policy but India must also actually implement the same.