PIB Summary- 23th May, 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

CDS Gen Anil Chauhan attends Exercise Cyber Suraksha – 2024

Context

The article reports on Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan’s participation in ‘Exercise Cyber Suraksha – 2024,’ highlighting its aim to strengthen India’s cyber defence capabilities.
The exercise, conducted by the Defence Cyber Agency, emphasizes collaboration and integration among military and national agencies.

Analysis of the news:

• Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan attended ‘Exercise Cyber Suraksha – 2024‘ on May 22, 2024, emphasising the need to bolster India’s cyber defence capabilities.
• The comprehensive cyber defence exercise, conducted by the Defence Cyber Agency from May 20-24, aims to enhance the Cyber Defence Capability of all cyber security organisations.
• The exercise focuses on fostering collaboration and integration among participants from various military and national organisations.
• CDS highlighted the importance of jointness among stakeholders in the cyber domain and praised the initiative for creating a collaborative environment to address emerging cyber threats.
• ‘Exercise Cyber Suraksha – 2024’ aims to empower participants by enhancing their cyber defence skills, sharing best practices, and working towards a unified cyber defence posture.
• It promotes jointmanship and synergy in planning and preparation of a Cyber Defence Framework, reaffirming the commitment of the Indian Armed Forces to safeguarding national security in the cyber domain.

Increasing Cyber Threats and National Security:

• Rapid Digitization: India’s rapid digital transformation has expanded attack surfaces, providing more opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities.
• Sophisticated Attacks: Cybercriminals are employing increasingly sophisticated techniques, including ransomware, phishing, and zero-day exploits, to target individuals, organisations, and critical infrastructure.
• State-Sponsored Cyber Warfare: Nation-states and state-sponsored actors engage in cyber warfare to steal sensitive information, disrupt critical infrastructure, and undermine national security.
• Insufficient Cybersecurity Measures: Inadequate cybersecurity measures, including weak passwords, outdated software, and lack of cybersecurity awareness, make individuals and organisations vulnerable to cyber threats.
• Emergence of New Technologies: The proliferation of emerging technologies such as IoT, AI, and 5G introduces new attack vectors and challenges for cybersecurity.

Implications for National Security:

• Critical Infrastructure Vulnerability: Cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, including power grids, transportation systems, and financial institutions, pose significant threats to national security and public safety.
• Data Breaches: Data breaches compromise sensitive information, including government secrets, military intelligence, and personal data, undermining national security and sovereignty.
• Economic Impact: Cyber Attacks disrupt economic activities, damage businesses, and erode public trust, impacting India’s economic growth and stability.
• Strategic Threat: Cyber threats pose strategic challenges, including espionage, sabotage, and influence operations, which can undermine India’s geopolitical interests and security.

Way Forward:

• Enhanced Cybersecurity: Strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure, policies, and practices to mitigate cyber threats and protect critical assets.
• Investment in Technology: Invest in advanced cybersecurity technologies, threat intelligence, and cyber defence capabilities to detect, prevent, and respond to cyberattacks effectively.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Foster collaboration between government, industry, academia, and civil society to share threat information, best practices, and resources for collective cybersecurity defence.
• Cybersecurity Awareness: Promote cybersecurity awareness and education programs to empower individuals, businesses, and government agencies to adopt secure practices and behaviours.
• International Cooperation: Strengthen international cooperation and partnerships to combat cyber threats, including information sharing, capacity building, and law enforcement collaboration.
• Legal and Regulatory Framework: Develop and enforce robust cybersecurity laws, regulations, and standards to hold cybercriminals accountable and deter cyberattacks.
• Resilience Building: Build resilience against cyber threats by implementing incident response plans, conducting regular cybersecurity audits, and enhancing cyber resilience strategies.
• Continuous Monitoring and Adaptation: Implement continuous monitoring and adaptive cybersecurity strategies to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats and vulnerabilities.

Steps Taken by the Indian government in this regard:

• National Cyber Security Policy: India launched the National Cyber Security Policy to enhance cybersecurity capabilities and protect critical infrastructure.
• CERT-In Establishment: The Indian government established the Computer Emergency Response Team-India (CERT-In) to coordinate responses to cyber threats and incidents.
• Cyber Swachhta Kendra: Introduced the Cyber Swachhta Kendra initiative to provide free tools and services for cybersecurity to citizens and organisations.
• Cyber Coordination Centre: Established the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to combat cybercrimes and strengthen cybersecurity measures.
• International Cooperation: Engaged in international partnerships and collaborations to address cyber threats through initiatives like the Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre (GCSCC).