DailyPost 669
CYBER SURAKSHIT BHARAT
Guaranteeing security has remained an uphill task for governments, even in best of the times. The transition from one mode of civilization to the other, has always been a painful, however good the planning. Cyber is a different world; the rules of the game are radically different. Digital India is fast becoming a reality, smart cities will have a complete digital backbone, banking seems going digital the fastest. So is the case with procurement, govt. & otherwise. Complete digital living might not be far off. At the backend of these services, a robust governmental digital infrastructure is a must. Robustness has two components of operations & security.
The recent hack of SingHealth, inclusive of Singapore PM’s details, speaks volumes of the times we are in for. A whole new Cyber Security Regime has to happen. Security should be the default mode in all our systems. It is easier said than done. Security as a design element is the goal. The present global best standards ought to be known. It should become mandatory for all critical information infrastructure to be declared as protected systems, through a well established technical protocol; globally the best. A Base Document on Protected Systems Cyber Security Standards can be a good beginning.
Cyber Security Audit should be legally mandated. With all other audits in place, the very same systems can be manipulated the Hacking Way. Such systems increase the threat vector, while not being part of the digital infrastructure. A point of sale machine / infrastructure was manipulated by gaining entry through the air-conditioning system. Are we ready to fathom out the complexity of the digital systems. Only then the journey of securing it, can be initiated.
Security is a mindset issue. Israel has proved it to world. More so in Cyber Security. Not felt, not seen by most, it might sound to be a ghost story, even to the potential victim. To make a transformational change,highest quality cyber security professionals, have to be in the vanguard.
ONLY CYBER SECURE DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE CAN PROPEL PEACE, EASE & PROSPERITY.
Sanjay Sahay