To protect information and prevent cyber attacks, the Indian government on Tuesday released the National Cyber Security Policy 2013 in order to safeguard critical data of the country.
Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology (IT), said in a press statement “information empowers, and in order to empower people with information, we need to secure the data.” He also flagged the need to distinguish between data types, which needs protection from the ones that does not.
The policy document outlines a road-map to create a framework for comprehensive and collective response to deal with the issue of cyber security at all levels within the country. While at the same time, it recognizes the need for strategies that to be adopted both at the national level as well as international level.
The policy aims at facilitating creation of secure computing environment; enabling adequate trust and confidence in electronic transactions; and guiding stakeholders’ actions for protection of cyber space.
As the Internet world lacks any geographical barriers, cyber threats exist from multiple angles; the policy came right in time to protect country’s economically critical assets like defense system, power infrastructure, nuclear plants, and telecommunications system.
Sibal pointed out that the challenge lies in the operationalization of this policy, stating that the government, through incentives and subsidies would need to support Small and Medium Enterprises for accessing the technology to make their systems safe. He also called on businesses to set aside finances for keeping themselves safe in cyber space.
The National Cyber Security Policy was prepared in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, user entities, and public.
