Why cybersecurity should be India’s foremost priority

NEW DELHI: Reports this week have suggested a cyberattack in September on the Kudankulam nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu. This has been subsequently denied by government officials, even as an audit confirmed that an ‘incident’ had indeed occurred, but not on the main operations of the plant. In such a context, GoI’s scheduled release of the National Cybersecurity Strategy 2020 in January-February next year becomes all the more important.

The Cybersecurity Policy of 2013 is open and technology neutral. But it needs upgradation. The digital economy today comprises 14-15% of India’s total economy, and is targeted to reach 20% by 2024. India has more than 120 recognised ‘data centres’ and clouds.