In the last three years, nine lakh Indian websites were hacked into. Of these, 544 were government sites, including the Prime Minister’s Office, the National Security Advisor, the Defense Ministry, and the Central Bureau of Intelligence, with most of these attacks allegedly originating from China and Pakistan. A survey by McAfee found India among the nations least able to defend themselves against cyber attacks.
The government of India acknowledges its lack of tools and skills to deal with such threats on its own. The National Security Council Secretariat, in a report released on October 15, has proposed to involve the private sector in issues relating to cyber threats and security at the national level.
Given the increased militarization of cyber space, how swiftly and effectively will a permanent mechanism for a public-private partnership in cyber security come through in India? What measures should India undertake to keep abreast with the constantly evolving security challenges?
On November 23, Gateway House hosted Latha Reddy, Deputy National Security Advisor & Secretary, National Security Council Secretariat, to discuss the prospects for public-private partnerships in India’s cyber security.
Latha Reddy is the former Indian ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, and Portugal. A career diplomat, she joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1975.
Gateway House meetings are for members and special invitees only, and they are off-the-record and not-for-attribution. If you are interested in becoming a member, click here for more details.