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India’s cyber-security budget 'woefully inadequate': Experts

by Prasad Krishna — last modified Feb 09, 2015 01:20 AM
India's cyber-security budget was more than doubled last year. Yet, it is "woefully inadequate" in the wake of revelations made by US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden and increasing cyber-attacks on government infrastructure, according to experts.

The article by Jayadevan P.K. and Neha Alawadhi was published in the Economic Times on January 28, 2015. Sunil Abraham was quoted in this.

In

2014-15, the Department of IT has set aside Rs 116 crore for cyber security. The country has proposed to set up a national cyber coordination centre (NCCC) with a separate budget of Rs 1,000 crore. The coordination centre is still awaiting Cabinet clearance. "Allocation is woefully inadequate given Snowden's revelations - we need at least 10 times that amount," said Sunil Abraham, executive director at Center for Internet and Society.

According to the Computer Emergency Response Team-India (CERT-In), reported attacks on Indian websites have increased nearly five times in the past four years. Until mid-2014, CERT-In recorded more than 60,000 incidents.

Cyber security of government infrastructure faces multiple issues. It needs better hardware and software audits and implementation of proposed projects.

According to Sivarama Krishnan, executive director at consultancy firm PwC which works on various government projects, cyber security budgets might be spread across various government departments and the allocation has seen encouraging growth since the Narendra Modi government has come into power. "In real essence, the government spending in security has been growing," said Krishnan. "Every Digital India discussion ends with cyber security being talked about."

Experts also pointed out the need for a singular view of the government's cyber security infrastructure. "Various states are doing many things for cyber security. Once these kinds of islands are get set up, it would be worth seeing how the government is going to integrate all of them to convert into a productive vehicle," said Krishnan.

Experts also pointed out the need for a singular view of the government's cyber security infrastructure. "Various states are doing many things for cyber security. Once these kinds of islands are get set up, it would be worth seeing how the government is going to integrate all of them to convert into a productive vehicle," said Krishnan.

2014-15, the Department of IT has set aside Rs 116 crore for cyber security. The country has proposed to set up a national cyber coordination centre (NCCC) with a separate budget of Rs 1,000 crore. The coordination centre is still awaiting Cabinet clearance. "Allocation is woefully inadequate given Snowden's revelations - we need at least 10 times that amount," said Sunil Abraham, executive director at Center for Internet and Society.

According to the Computer Emergency Response Team-India (CERT-In), reported attacks on Indian websites have increased nearly five times in the past four years. Until mid-2014, CERT-In recorded more than 60,000 incidents.

Cyber security of government infrastructure faces multiple issues. It needs better hardware and software audits and implementation of proposed projects.

According to Sivarama Krishnan, executive director at consultancy firm PwC which works on various government projects, cyber security budgets might be spread across various government departments and the allocation has seen encouraging growth since the Narendra Modi government has come into power. "In real essence, the government spending in security has been growing," said Krishnan. "Every Digital India discussion ends with cyber security being talked about."

Experts also pointed out the need for a singular view of the government's cyber security infrastructure. "Various states are doing many things for cyber security. Once these kinds of islands are get set up, it would be worth seeing how the government is going to integrate all of them to convert into a productive vehicle," said Krishnan.

Experts also pointed out the need for a singular view of the government's cyber security infrastructure. "Various states are doing many things for cyber security. Once these kinds of islands are get set up, it would be worth seeing how the government is going to integrate all of them to convert into a productive vehicle," said Krishnan.