The journey of making India truly Digital India has begun. However, we should endeavour to make it ‘Cyber Secure’ Digital India, writes Yudhishthira Sapru, Senior IT Consultant for State e-governance Mission Team (SeMT), Chandigarh, for Elets News Network (ENN).
Is the cyber security threat real? I am sure most of us would answer affirmatively but do not realise the real danger especially in the context of government organisations. To put things into the right perspective here is a statement: “Water treatment plant hacked, chemical mix changed for tap supplies”. Is this really feasible? The answer is yes and why now after all we do have IT systems in a water treatment plant and where there is an IT system it is hackable.
In fact, during one targeted ransom ware attack exercise, the researchers were able to shut down the valves, adjust chlorine levels and also falsify readings of a simulated water treatment plant. Even if some people feel that this was a simulated exercise, those having a minimal knowledge of computers would appreciate that such a situation is not distant.
And with respect to India, are we prepared for such a situation? While India embarks upon a new journey of Digital India with coming together of ‘Smart Cities’, Internet of Things (IOT), Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, smart mobiles, Cloud Computing, social media, the cyber threat is manifold. As compared to the scenario some 10 years ago, where we had a hacker or group of hackers bringing down a system, today we now hear incidents which are motivated or even sponsored by State actors. A country like India which is among the fasted growing economies in the world readily catches the attention. And the threats are growing exponentially. Hon’ble Prime Minister of India has aptly termed it as a ‘bloodless war’ the threat of which looms over the whole globe.
Keeping aside the hullabaloo around Aadhaar and privacy concerns, do we really feel that Aadhaar repository is agnostic to any cyber-attack. I am sure the Government of India would have accorded its highest priority and resources to securing the one billion plus biometric data.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Zero Emission Mobility Is The Way Forward
The road ahead for improving the present scenario of the transport sector is to make way for electric vehicles and ensure zero emission, says Abhay Damle, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, as he puts spotlight on the challenges faced in introducing green mobility solutions and measures taken by the government to mitigate those, in an interview with Souvik Goswami and K C Mishra of Elets New Network (ENN).
Using Innovation, How Pilibhit DM Ensured Record Voting In LS Poll
A record 67.2 percent voting was achieved in Pilibhit in Phase-III of the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections, making it the top district in Uttar Pradesh to have registered maximum voter turnout.
Mizoram Beckons Investors Via Business Summit
The North East is the fastest growing part of India today, with the Government of India laying special emphasis and having a focussed approach of putting this part of India in the spotlight of growth and development.
Bringing Social Change Through NEDP
Though NEDP has been implemented by the State only recently and its activities are still confined to a few selected fields, its achievement in the social sector is encouraging. There still exist a great scope for expansion in terms of coverage and extent.
‘OUR MAIN FOCUS IS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF EDUCATION'
Starting from June 2019, a massive campaign will be launched to increase class attendance in schools, as in each class quality of education depends on the knowledge from the previous class. This will be a non-financial intervention that would be taken up by involving parents, NGOs, media, self-help groups (SHGs), says Dr B Janardhan Reddy, Secretary, School and Higher Education Department, Government of Telangana, in an interview with Sudheer Goutham B of Elets News Network (ENN).
NEDP Intervention In Agriculture And Allied Sector
Agriculture and Allied Sector has been identified as one of the most important key growth drivers under the National Economic Development Plan (NEDP).
Smart Cities Catalysing Development Across Uttar Pradesh
With the State government led by Yogi Adityanath determined to transform Uttar Pradesh (UP), Smart Cities Mission is emerging as a ray of hope to realise this dream. As intensive use of smart solutions to develop smarter and sustainable cities in the country is gaining pace, UP is marching ahead in sinc with the time, observe Arpit Gupta and Ahmad Shariq Khan of Elets News Network (ENN).
The City Of Culture On Course To Becoming Truly 'Smart'
Thanks to a number of path-breaking initiatives under implementation, the historic City of Lucknow is marching ahead to soon become a truly ‘Smart’ city, says Anil Garg, Divisional Commissioner, Lucknow and Chairman, Lucknow Smart City Limited, in conversation with Arpit Gupta of Elets News Network (ENN).
El Salvador Looking At India To Partner For Growth
Pharmaceuticals is among the top exports from India to El Salvador, where local population has almost similar disease profile as Indians and has made a huge impact in making healthcare more affordable in his country, says Ariel Andrade Galindo, El Salvador’s Ambassador to India, in conversation with Vivek Ratnakar of Elets News Network (ENN).
Documenting India's Digital Evolution
With the governance in India steadily acquiring an improved version of administration and service delivery, the change in the system has been expedited by the power of digitisation.