Nation And Cyber Security

Sibal cautions against cyber threats

Friday, September 23, 2011

By Priyanka Roy Chowdhury With growing IT needs, concern over cyber security has been escalating in recent times and SMEs, in particular, are perceived to be vulnerable against its menace. The Union minister of ICT, Kapil Sibal has recently said while delivering keynote address in the opening session of the Summit on Information and Network Security for Emerging Markets recently at Helsinki that there should be an equilibrium obtained between parameters of ‘privacy of individuals’ and ‘genuine security concerns of state’, with regard to dealing with cyber security. Voicing concernsMr Sibal revealed that cyber attacks nowadays are launched not only by individuals but also rival corporate houses and rouge states. He stressed that even a single malicious malware could halt operational activities not only at nuclear plants but financial institutions also, which are globally interconnected. Specifying reasons behind it, the minister said that wide scale expansions in IT networks, coupled with various linked developments taking place in present days have escalated increased dependency on network platforms, which as a forum itself is facing several diverse threats, more fatal than terror attacks. These aspects have created quite some challenges as far as information security is concerned. India is on a roll as far as network expansion is concerned and would be connecting 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats over the next 3 years through National Optical Fibre, alongside implementing NeGP (National e-Governance Plan) aimed to empower citizens. Expansion of network and people’s dependency on network platforms would compel the nation to address issues related to security. Mr Sibal also highlighted the fact that India needs latest advancement in technologies in order to test labs for network security and laid his appeal to the global community to collaborate and improve global protocols in security of information and network. International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Global Security Agenda as well as Budapest Convention are two of the most significant international initiatives taken by global community in concern to information security till now. Mr Sibal assured India’s stand to contribute and cooperate with international community over cyber security concerns. In fact, security concerns are plaguing India’s emerging SME sector largely. For most SMEs, IT infrastructure comprises of basic outlays which have been proven ineffective in the face of rising cyber attacks. With SMEs now pursuing growth by deployment of increased IT infrastructure, their need for guarding themselves against cyber attacks has also intensified. Ajay Goel, managing director - India and SAARC, Symantec, advises SMEs, “Install a mail and Web security solution that blocks spam and email threats to protect sensitive information. By this measure, SMEs can be protected from the challenges posed by cyber attacks.” Mr Sibal also underlined various challenges presented to ‘Emerging Markets’ which are by all means intensely complex as they strive to provide basic amenities to their citizens, in face of server handicaps in physical infrastructure. According to him, these developing economies need to ‘leapfrog’ with the support of new technologies like data networks in order to provide services to people instead of being crippled by the wait for physical infrastructure to catch up with international level. SOURCE:http://www.bizxchange.in/u47/S-16P-16A-20110923201109231136103129d23924aT-16N-/IT-Zone-Feature-Article.html