Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurates the Asia’s foremost Information Security Conference: Ground Zero Summit, 2015 (05-November, 2015).
Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurates the Asia’s foremost Information Security Conference: Ground Zero Summit, 2015
Cyber security to be ensured for the success of initiatives like ‘Digital India’; says Union Home Minister
The Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Asia’s foremost Information Security Conference: Ground Zero Summit 2015 here today. The theme for the Summit is Digital India – ‘Securing Digital India’ . The four-day summit is being organized to deliberate upon various issues related to cyber security challenges emerging due to the latest technological developments.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rajnath Singh said that cyber security is a big challenge these days and ‘cyber barriers’ need to be created to tackle it. He said that the physical boundaries are still relevant in the internet era, though their importance has declined. He said that there is free flow of information through internet and this information does not come under the control of Border Guards, Customs declaration and Immigration authorities etc. Thus, the exact identity and location of the criminals committing crime through internet cannot be known as they are masked, he added. He said that in this inter-connected world, these criminals can be different, but their purpose is one i.e. to put the country and countrymen in danger.
The Home Minister also said that cyber world is the fifth dimension of security along with the earlier dimensions of security i.e. land, air, water and space. The crimes related to cyber world can be multi-layered, multi-location, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-legal, that’s why it is difficult to investigate and reach to the criminal. He also expressed his concern over the increasing rate of cyber crime and related cases in the country. Shri Rajnath Singh said that the cases related to cyber crime have increased by 70% in the year 2014 as compared to the year 2013. There was an increase of about 64% in the year 2013 as compared to the year 2012, he added.
Shri Rajnath Singh said that ‘Cyber Terrorism’ is a big danger in the world along with cyber crime. Today, due to technology and internet, a person living in a remote area can have access to such information by which he can indulge in an act of terror, despite not being associated with any terror group. Such powers are also active in the cyber space which work in the direction of radicalization of youth in this direction. The Cyber security experts need to be alert specially towards the ‘online radicalization’, he said.
The Union Home Minister also said that cyber security needs to be ensured for the success of the initiatives taken by the Prime Minister, such as Digital India, Make in India and Smart Cities. He said that it is our duty that our critical infrastructure system should not collapse under any situation. This is also important that business continuity and disaster recovery plans are tested regularly and upgraded, he said.
Shri Rajnath Singh said that the Government has taken some initiatives in order to ensure cyber security such as forming a cyber policy i.e. a legislation on cyber space. The Government had also formed a committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Gulshan Rai, National Cyber Security Coordinator. On the basis of the recommendations of the committee, the Government has started making efforts to set up the “Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre” (I-4C). This will help in monitoring and capacity building of the cyber crimes and will also help the Law Enforcement Agencies in curtailing these crimes, he said.
Addressing the audience, Shri Alok Joshi, Chairman, National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) emphasised that for the success of ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make in India’ initiative, respective domain specialists should understand their individual responsibilities and come forward to strengthen India’s digital frontiers in a Public-Private Partnership mode. He also suggested that a National Cyber Registry should be created as a repository of IT professionals. The repository envisions identification of a talent pool and, through sustained efforts could assist professionals to enhance respective domain knowledge. He also said that the protection of our National Critical Information Infrastructure is another challenge for the country. Awareness in this regard, both technical as well as procedural, is the key to success, he said.
The summit is being organized by the Indian Infosec Consortium (ICC), a not-for-profit organization formed by leading cyber security professionals of the country. With the events like Ground Zero Summit and formation of National Cyber Registry, ICC wants to consolidate the cyber security resources in the country and protect its cyberspace. The summit is the collaborative platform in Asia for cyber security experts and researchers to address emerging cyber security challenges and demonstrate cutting-edge technologies. It is a platform in the region providing opportunities to establish and strengthen relationships between the cyber security community and corporate, PSUs, Government and its defense establishments.
The summit will have more than thirty sessions by cyber security professionals, showcase of indigenous cyber security products and technologies and Make in India Exhibition of Indian cyber security start-ups. The eminent experts to address the summit include Air Marshal S.B. Deo, Chief, Western Air Command, Dr. Gulshan Rai, National Cyber Security Coordinator and Dr. K.D. Nayak, DG, DRDO. The panel discussion will also be held on ‘Make in India for Makers in India’. There will also be demonstration and sessions on issues related to telecom security, securing critical infrastructure in Digital India, cyber security in hospitals. In addition, there will be discussions on various cyber crime case studies, trends and investigation challenges from the Law Enforcement perspective in India.