A Closer Look at India’s Cybersecurity Ecosystem
- An estimated 500 million Indian netizens access the internet from multiple devices, indicating a high level of digital exposure.
- Contrary to its 44% market share in the U.S, Apple's share in India is less than 1%, reflecting the diverse digital landscape in the country.
Four Major Threats to India’s Cyber Infrastructure
- Espionage: Unauthorized access to systems to steal valuable information.
- Cybercrimes: Digital activities with severe legal implications such as online fraud.
- Attacks: Actions aimed at disrupting services or systems temporarily.
- War: Large-scale, organized digital attacks on the nation’s crucial cyber networks.
Government Initiatives to Combat Cyber Threats in India
- Indian officials have effectively tackled internal cybercrime while addressing major breaches individually.
- In 2014, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) established the role of National Cyber Security Coordinator.
- Domestic organizations in India have their own in-house problem-solving units.
- Indian armed forces have dedicated setups to counter cyber invasions.
Characteristics of an Ideal National Cyber Security Agency
- It should be staffed with permanent and semi-permanent personnel trained in both defensive and offensive cyber operations.
- The proposed National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) should have a well-equipped operational headquarters.
- The agency should seamlessly integrate its policy functions and operations.
- The NCSA should have a comprehensive vision statement that outlines the nation’s cyber strategy.
Indian Agencies Involved in Cyber Operations
- The National Technical Research Organisation
- The National Intelligence Grid
- The National Information Board
- The Ministries of Defence, Home, External Affairs, and IT
Strategies to Enhance India's Cybersecurity
- The government should adopt a dual strategy in the immediate future.
- First, it should advocate for global standardization of cyberspace control.
- Second, it should revise recruitment policies to attract and train a new generation of cybersecurity specialists.
