Cyber security plays an important role in security and development of a nation. Enumerate the various cyber threats and challenges

Introduction :

Cyber Security refers to protecting cyber space including critical information infrastructure from attack, damage, misuse and economic espionage. Cyber is no more limited to security only, it is now linked with socio economics as well, which includes politics, industry, health, education and critical infrastructure.

Need of Cyber security:

1. Financial services, payments, health services, etc are all connected to digital mediums

2. To ensure critical infrastructure system do not collapse under any situation.

3. Various government initiatives like Digital India, Make in India etc.

4. Cyber-space remains a key area for innovation.

5. Online education in post covid world

6. Various business models are directly dependent on secure cyber system.

India remains vulnerable to cyber-espionage and cybercrime, with the growing adoption of the Internet and smart-phones, India has emerged as one of the favourite countries among cyber criminals.

Various Cyber threats includes,

1. Hacking and manipulation of data

2. Cyber harassment and stalking

3. Dissemination of malicious softwares to destroy the security system

4. Digital forgery

5. Cyber defamation

6. Online sale of illegal articles

7. Cyber terrorism

Steps need to be taken :

1. India should consider joining or leveraging existing frameworks like the Budapest Convention on                     Cybercrime.

2. Effective usage of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, Machine learning and quantum                     computing.

3. Cybersecurity as a specialised discipline becomes an integral component of any IT syllabus

4. Coordination among CERTs of different countries

5. Ensure that vulnerable sections of our society do not fall prey to the evil designs of cyber criminals.

6. A dedicated industry forum for cyber security should be set up to develop trusted indigenous solutions to         check cyber-attacks.

Way forward:

Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative, Cyber Swachhta Kendra, National Cyber security Coordination Centre are notable initiatives by the government of India. The need of the hour for Indian government is to develop core skills in cyber security, data integrity and data security fields while also setting stringent cyber security standards to protect banks and financial institutions.