Tanushree Basuroy
Research expert covering India
Cyber security in India - statistics & facts
With a significant internet population and increasing digitization in the government, the need for cybersecurity has also intensified. Apart from the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 that broadly dealt with cybersecurity, cybercrime, and data protection, India had no laws against cyber-attacks and espionage. The National Cyber Security Policy came into effect in India that year as a result of Edward Snowden’s leak of the NSA surveillance.
Despite its digital vision, India saw a drastic increase in the number of cyber-attacks and security breaches over the last few years, with a large share of Indians experiencing cyber crime. The disturbing magnitude of cybersecurity-related cases had become a cause of concern for corporates, investors, and society as a whole. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of cyber-crimes reported across India almost doubled, making the country one of the biggest victims of high-tech crime. Moreover, with the almost immediate shift to remote work as a result of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, many organizations were forced to fast-track digital transformation, ultimately leading to a higher number of cyber-crime-related incidents.
The country ranked tenth in 2020 for global cybersecurity, a significant improvement compared to the previous year from 47. This ranking was based on legal and technical measures, along with capacity-building and organizational processes. The government’s strategy for online security was in the form of the national Cyber Security Policy from 2013, long due for an update which was still to be announced as of late 2022.
The sheer number of internet users, including children and teenagers in India demand an efficient system to deal with cyber crime. The rise of social media connectivity and digital payments proves that cybersecurity is no more a choice but a necessity. While the inherent vulnerabilities cannot be eliminated, understanding technology gaps, and allocating the right resources at the right places can go a long way in solving the problem, creating jobs, and empowering people along the way.
What is cyber security?
The idea of cybersecurity has long revolved around protecting data, making it the most central and consistent element in the entire digital ecosystem. Understanding data has become a pivotal aspect of understanding customers for any business. As a result, countless sectors, including finance and healthcare, have shifted to digital platforms. While this helps make processes easier and more convenient, it also exposed the risks of data – of both the consumer and the company. Cyber crime in India increased significantly over the years, recording exponential numbers for data theft alone.Despite its digital vision, India saw a drastic increase in the number of cyber-attacks and security breaches over the last few years, with a large share of Indians experiencing cyber crime. The disturbing magnitude of cybersecurity-related cases had become a cause of concern for corporates, investors, and society as a whole. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of cyber-crimes reported across India almost doubled, making the country one of the biggest victims of high-tech crime. Moreover, with the almost immediate shift to remote work as a result of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, many organizations were forced to fast-track digital transformation, ultimately leading to a higher number of cyber-crime-related incidents.
How is India fighting cyber crime?
India has undertaken several steps to contain the effects of cyber threat. The cybersecurity market across the country was valued at nearly 140 billion rupees, estimated to double by 2025. Indian organizations have become more aware of the risks, leading to larger investments and expenditure towards protection and encryption. India’s banking, financial, and insurance market, one of the most vulnerable sectors, planned to spend over 800 million U.S dollars on cybersecurity by 2022.The country ranked tenth in 2020 for global cybersecurity, a significant improvement compared to the previous year from 47. This ranking was based on legal and technical measures, along with capacity-building and organizational processes. The government’s strategy for online security was in the form of the national Cyber Security Policy from 2013, long due for an update which was still to be announced as of late 2022.
The sheer number of internet users, including children and teenagers in India demand an efficient system to deal with cyber crime. The rise of social media connectivity and digital payments proves that cybersecurity is no more a choice but a necessity. While the inherent vulnerabilities cannot be eliminated, understanding technology gaps, and allocating the right resources at the right places can go a long way in solving the problem, creating jobs, and empowering people along the way.
