Cyber policy to factor in threat from state actors

Cyber operations by state actors and the abuse of social media for “narrative warfare” are some of the particular threats likely to be recognised by the government in the National Cyber Security Strategy, 2021 (NCSS 2021), a policy paper that could also make it mandatory for any business or government department with a significant IT interface to set up a cyber safety cell.

These will be part of a long-awaited overhaul in how India sees and approaches dangers in the digital domain. India’s current posture stems from the National Cyber Security Policy of 2013, which officials and experts say has become outdated in the face of a threat landscape that affects national security, governance and critical infrastructure, communications, and business more deeply than ever.

“It is an all-encompassing document,” said a key official who worked on the paper, asking not to be named. “It addresses all our shortcomings, how to look at infrastructure development and updates the last policy which was relevant at that point of time.’’