Question : CYBER SECURITY CAPABILITIES

(a) whether the Government has finalised an elaborate cyber security infrastructure and proposed National Cyber Security Co-ordinator (NCSC) to act as the main edifice for securing cyber system;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the term of reference of NCSC;

(c) whether the Government proposes to train cyber warriors to meet the shortfall of cyber experts in the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard;

(e) whether the Government proposes to engage private sector and seek help from foreign countries having superior technology to enhance cyber security capabilities in the country; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the efforts made in this regard so far?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI MILIND DEORA)

(a) and (b): Government, in consultation with all stake-holders, has initiated action to establish a framework for cyber security that includes institutional structures with clear demarcation of responsibilities between various agencies and departments as well as mechanisms to ensure coordination of cyber security activities in the country.

(c) and (d): Government is aware of the need to augment the pool of cyber security professionals in the country to meet the requirements of cyber security. The report of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on engagement with private sector on cyber security, released on 15 October 2012, envisages the need for concerted affort in public private partnership mode to meet the demand for cyber security professionals and equip them to efficiently meet the challenges of Cyber Security.

(e) and (f): Dealing with cyber security in an effective manner requires joint efforts and close collaboration between the Government and the private sector. The Public-Private model as recommended by the Joint Working Group encompasses the aspects of capacity building in the area of cyber security, development of cyber security standards and assurance mechanisms, augmentation of testing and certification facilities for Information Technology products in partnership with private sector to harness the skills and capabilities available with them.

Strengthening international cooperation to effectively deal with cyber security issues has been one of the main focus areas of the Government. As such, this aspect is being dealt with by way of security cooperation arrangements in the form of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team and its overseas counterpart agencies that are willing to work together and share information in a timely manner for preventing cyber crime and cyber attacks as well as collaborating for providing swift response to such incidents.