PR No – 136
8th August, 2024
New Delhi
AVM Rajiva Ranjan, VM, ACIDS-ICT, IDS HQ, Govt. of India urges the Industry and Academia to bring Atmanirbharta against cyber threats
Speaking today at the “Conference on Securing Strategic Domains- Challenges & Solutions” held at PHD House, New Delhi, AVM Rajiva Ranjan, VM, ACIDS-ICT, IDS HQ, Govt. of India discussed that the lesson we have learned from recent geopolitical escalations is the importance of information security and cyberspace protection. He mentioned that cyberspace is becoming extremely powerful and has turned into a virtual warfare zone today.
Mr. Ranjan further urged the industry and academia to bring Atmanirbharta to this and emphasized on R&D and training to further enhance awareness and said that awareness is crucial not only for the armed forces but also for securing one’s family. He further informed that an information domination report on the cyber domain will be released soon.
The effort is to synthesize all domains of warfare so that every soldier must become a cyberwarrior, he concluded.
Mr. B. Shanker Jaiswal, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police, Delhi Police, said there is a lot of dependence on technology today and the whole system has become integrated, for this- prevention, awareness, and mitigation are most important.
He described cyber threats as a borderless crime and emphasized that with more robust systems, skilled personnel are crucial. He further urged for creating synergy between three important stakeholders- government, industry, and academia. He added that AI and machine learning can help in recognizing patterns and providing a shield but warned of their potential threats.
Lastly, Mr. Jaiswal emphasized that a plan should be in place, rehearsed regularly and mock drills should be conducted to test the systems.
Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Rajesh Pant, Former National Cyber Security Coordinator, Prime Minister’s Office, GOI & Chairman, CSAI informed that the Government of India with cabinet approval, four years back has identified six critical sectors for this, namely power, telecom, transport, power like gas, etc., strategic sectors like nuclear, and government. And after COVID-19, the seventh sector which was introduced is health. Further giving the reference of the present geopolitical scenario, he stressed on stronger cybersecurity policies, government infrastructure, cybercrime management plans, and timely audits.
He added that a risk assessment carried out by PWC identified that cyber risk is at 49% and geopolitical risk is at 32%, totaling 81% of risk for business and industry. He stated that cyber threats are the biggest manmade risk for a nation and the solution for this is resilience to ensure business continuity. And for this, PPTC- People, Process, Technology, and Cooperation is essential as these can help create a resilient network in cyberspace.
Dr. Dhruv Pandit, Founder & CEO – Heritage CyberWorld LLP, said every sector is implementing tools and technology for business growth and when we discuss business, the main concerns are data and finance, which are also the primary targets for hackers. For cybersecurity, three terms are crucial- predict, prevent, and recover. He further emphasized using Made in India products and technology to avoid dependence on western technology and secure our data.
Mr. Dhruv further called cybersecurity the king of technology and discussed that it requires a proper roadmap plan. Another concern that he disccused is the lack of professionals in India, so we need cybersecurity yodhas to safeguard organizations, he added.
Mr. Lalit Kalra, Partner, EY LLP, while speaking on strategic domains and protecting strategic assets, gave reference to the recent Microsoft shutdown. He discussed that although it was not a cyberattack, but safeguarding our critical infrastructure against such odds is crucial.
He added, in cyber threats, three things get affected- confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although in the Microsoft incident, the former two were not compromised but it did impact availability. He added we are living in an information age where people and systems are being targeted for information hence it should be looked at from multiple angles to identify solutions. He further added that strategic domains will help us stay safe and create a pathway for the future with sheer commitment to excellence and collaboration among all stakeholders.
Dr. Jatinder Singh, Assistant Secretary General, PHDCCI, stated that cybersecurity has become a crucial cornerstone to safeguard the sovereignty of a country. Over time, cybersecurity manuals have become user friendly, and our regulatory framework is also conducive. He also discussed APTs and said that investment in technology and regular audits and assessments of critical infrastructure are important.
Dr. Nasir Jamal, Senior Secretary, PHDCCI moderated the Session, which was well attended by more than 100 delegates from the industry and academia.
Vote of thanks was given by Mr. Apurv Modi, Co-Chair, ICT, Telecom & Electronics Committee, PHDCCI where he discussed that the depth and breadth of knowledge shared today have been truly remarkable and have significantly contributed to our understanding of the complexities and challenges we face. These insights have not only highlighted the current challenges but have also paved the way for innovative solutions and strategies that we can implement to safeguard our strategic domains.
The Conference was sponsored by Heritage Cyberworld LLP and was supported by PHDCCI annual sponsors, DLF Ltd; Jindal Steel & Power; KLJ Group; Multani Pharmaceuticals Ltd; Marble City; MMG Group; Radico Khaitan Ltd; Uflex Ltd; Vestige; Eazy ERP Technologies; JK Tyre & Industries Ltd; Sagar Group of Industries; Superior Industries Limited; Samsung India Electronics; Oswal Greentech; Apeejay Stya Group; Blossom Kochhar Beauty Products Pvt Ltd; DCM Shriram; R E Rogers; Trident Group; Ajit Industries Pvt Ltd; Bhagwati Plastic and Pipes Industries; Central Coalfields Ltd; DD Pharmaceutical Ltd.; Hindware Sanitary; Jindal Steel; Modern Automobiles; P S BEDI & Co.
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Warm Regards,
Media Division
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry