India Highlights Key Government’s Initiatives to Boost Cybersecurity
26 July 2024 at 06:49
The Indian Government has once again reiterated its key strategies to strengthen its cyber defense and safeguard its citizens in the digital space. India’s cybersecurity strategy includes spreading awareness on multiple agencies and acts in place to fight cybercrime along with helplines numbers for citizens to report digital frauds. These initiatives were highlighted in an official government press communication released on July 25, 2024.
In April this year, the government released a report that by December 2023, India had a whopping 936.16 million internet subscriptions, transforming it into one of the largest connected nations worldwide. Termed as 'Digital Nagriks', Indians are increasingly integrating the internet into their daily lives, relying on it for essential needs such as business transactions, education, financial activities, and accessing government services digitally.
Recognizing the critical importance of a secure digital environment, the Government of India has been implementing robust policies aimed at safeguarding its vast online community. These measures are designed to ensure a safe, trusted, and secure cyberspace amidst the growing prevalence of cyber threats and attacks in today's interconnected world.
Understanding CERT-In: India’s Backbone Agency of Cybersecurity
Established as the national agency for incident response, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) plays an imperative role in safeguarding India's cyber landscape. Operating a 24x7 incident response help desk, CERT-In ensures timely responses to reported cybersecurity incidents. The organization offers comprehensive Incident Prevention and Response services alongside Security Quality Management Services to enhance cybersecurity measures across the nation. CERT-In has registered several cases of cybercrimes during the last three years as depicted in this image. [caption id="attachment_84029" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Source: PIB India[/caption]CERT-In’s Efforts to Combat Cybercrime
CERT-In collaborates with service providers, regulators, and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) to track and disable phishing websites and investigate fraudulent activities.- CERT-In issues advisory to ministries outlining measures to strengthen cyber security for entities handling digital personal data, including sensitive information.
- CERT-In issues advisories through Reserve Bank of India, the country’s apex bank, for audits and implementation of security practices by entities issuing prepaid payment instruments.
- CERT-In operates an automated cyber threat exchange platform for sharing tailored alerts across sectors.
- CERT-In manages the Cyber Swachhta Kendra for detecting and removing malicious programs, providing cyber security tips.
- The platform has formulated a Cyber Crisis Management Plan for countering cyber-attacks across government and critical sectors.
- CERT-In conducts cybersecurity mock drills to assess the readiness of organizations; 92 drills conducted with participation from diverse sectors.
- CERT-In conducts training and workshops on specialized cyber security topics and offers a self-paced Cyber Security Foundation Course in collaboration with the National Institute of Securities Markets and C-DAC.
India’s Initiatives to Enhance Cybersecurity Awareness
The Indian government is empowering its citizens in the fight against cybercrime through the following initiatives:-
Cyber Crime Coordination Centre
-
Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System
-
Multifaceted Awareness Campaigns