The National Security Council Secretariat’s Office of National Cyber Security Coordinator is currently developing a National Cyber Security Strategy 2020 to bolster cyber awareness and cybersecurity. The focus of cybersecurity lies in safeguarding cyberspace and critical information infrastructure from attacks, damage, misuse, and economic espionage.
National Cyber Security Strategy 2020: Aims and Objectives
The 2020 strategy aims at promoting cyber awareness and strengthening cybersecurity through more thorough audits. Specifically selected cyber auditors will scrutinize the security features of organizations beyond the current legal requirements. Regular table-top cyber crisis management exercises are intended to highlight the constant threat of cyber attacks.
The Importance of Cyber Preparedness
The strategy proposes an index for cyber preparedness, regularly monitoring performance, and suggests a separate budget allocation for cybersecurity. It also recommends streamlining the roles and functions of different agencies possessing domain knowledge.
The Growing Need for Cybersecurity
Countries like the United States, China, Russia, Israel, and the United Kingdom have developed advanced cyber warfare capabilities, stressing the urgency for strategic cybersecurity measures. The increasing digitization of critical infrastructure—such as financial services, power plants, banks, manufacturing firms, and nuclear power stations—and the growing interconnectivity of online spaces are factors driving the demand for a robust cyber defense strategy.
Recent Surge in Cyber Attacks
India’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) reported nearly 700,000 cybersecurity incidents in just the first eight months of 2020. The surge in cyber attacks is evident in instances like the use of malware called ShadowPad by a Chinese group named Red Echo to target India’s power sector, and the SolarWinds hack that impacted America’s national critical infrastructure.
The Implications of Cybersecurity for Government, Individuals, and Businesses
Governments, individuals, and businesses can all fall prey to cyber attacks. Governments maintain sensitive data related to geographic landscapes, military assets, and citizens. Individuals share personal photos, videos, and information on social media platforms that could be misused. Companies store a wealth of data on their systems. A cyber attack could lead to the loss of competitive information or private data, damaging an organization’s reputation and public trust.
Existing Government Initiatives for Cybersecurity
India’s government has initiated several measures to enhance cybersecurity, such as the Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative, Cyber Swachhta Kendra, online cybercrime reporting portal, Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC), Information Technology Act, 2000 and National Cyber Policy, 2013.
The Way Forward
As the second-fastest digital adapter globally, India requires proactive measures to boost cybersecurity. Corporates and government departments need to identify gaps in their organizations, address these gaps, and create a layered security system. Operational coordination among different agencies and ministries and developing offensive capabilities for effective deterrence in cyberspace are equally essential.