India Needs Innovative Approaches to Combat Cyber Threats: UIDAI Official
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Synopsis
India is urged to adopt innovative strategies to defend against cyberattacks, with a focus on nurturing young talent, according to UIDAI's S M D Jeelani. The newly inaugurated Cybersecurity Centre at DSU aims to train students with critical cybersecurity skills to safeguard the nation's digital infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- Innovative strategies are essential for cybersecurity.
- The Cybersecurity Centre at DSU will train students.
- India is the second most targeted nation for cyberattacks.
- Collaboration between industry and academia is crucial.
- The initiative aligns with the government's goals for national development.
Bengaluru, March 5 (NationPress) India must create creative solutions and foster emerging talent to safeguard its digital framework, as it has become the second most targeted nation for cyberattacks, trailing only the United States, as stated by S M D Jeelani, the Director of Operations at the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
During the inauguration of SISA's Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence Lab at Dayananda Sagar University (DSU), Jeelani emphasized, "The lab is a vital development in cultivating a new generation of cyber leaders who can provide innovative solutions and knowledge to secure our digital ecosystem."
This initiative aims to equip students with industry-relevant cybersecurity skills, preparing them to tackle emerging threats.
Dharshan Shanthamurthy, CEO of SISA, views the lab as a collaborative space that encourages student innovation and contributes to the evolution of the global cybersecurity landscape.
"We believe the influence of this initiative will reach well beyond the classroom, fostering innovation and enhancing the global cybersecurity domain," he stated.
This initiative aligns with the Indian government's objectives for national progress, particularly through its integration into the central internship program conceptualized by Prime Minister Modi.
The center will act as a platform to support the central government's internship program announced during the Union Budget 2025 and will play a crucial role in realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, Shanthamurthy added.
India has been identified as the second most targeted country for cyberattacks globally, with 95 Indian entities facing data theft incidents in 2024, as reported by the cyber intelligence firm CloudSEK.
According to the company's Threat Landscape Report 2024, which is based on data collection from the dark web, the United States was the most targeted nation, with 140 attacks due to its economic influence and digital infrastructure, followed by India.
"Threat actors affected various sectors in India, with the finance and banking sectors experiencing the highest number of incidents at 20. This was succeeded by the government sector with 13 victims, telecommunications with 12, and the healthcare, pharma, and education sectors with 10 and 9 victims, respectively," the report highlighted.
"Lockbit was the most active ransomware group in India, responsible for over 20 incidents, followed by Killsec with more than 15 targets. Ransomhub ransomware accounted for over 12 incidents in the country," the report detailed.
