Singapore: India is undergoing rapid digital transformation and developing advanced technologies, but cyber experts have warned that the country is vulnerable to cyber attacks from its neighboring adversaries. They have also expressed concerns about the increasing cyber scams that target various sectors in India. They have called for more collaboration between Indian technologists and business executives to create a robust ecosystem to counter technology-driven threats.
The experts were speaking at the Singapore Cyber Week 2023, which was held from October 17 to 19. The event brought together cybersecurity professionals, policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to discuss the latest trends and challenges in cybersecurity.
According to a report by Check Point, a cyber security company, India faced an average of 2,157 cyber attacks per week for each organization in the last six months, compared to the global average of 1,139 attacks per organization. The report said that the three most affected sectors by such attacks in India were healthcare, education/research, and utilities. It also warned that other sectors such as retail, hospitality, manufacturing, and transportation should take swift steps to enhance their cyber security.
Ashish Thapar, vice president and head of cybersecurity for APAC at NTT Ltd., a technology services company, said that India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, which was passed in August, has boosted the confidence of multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in India. However, he said that they still have some concerns about the data security in India. He said that India should adopt international standards and best practices to protect its data and infrastructure from cyber threats.
He also said that India’s participation in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) and G20 forums is beneficial for building cyber security cooperation with other countries. However, he said that it is not enough to address the complex and evolving cyber challenges. He said that a new information-sharing agreement is reportedly being negotiated among the Quad members Australia, Japan, India, and the US. He said that this agreement will help the Quad countries to respond to critical infrastructure risks with cyber-resilience.