Within the past six months, the National Cybersecurity Coordinator noted that 58% of malicious files in the cyber realm, including information stealers and ransomware, were transmitted via the internet
The new National Cybersecurity Coordinator, Lt Gen MU Nair, speaking at the seventh edition of the India Mobile Congress, has set a goal for the Indian government: by 2027, they aim to ensure that every device connected to a network comes from a trusted source.
Nair mentioned that the National Security Directive on the Telecommunication Sector (NSDTS), initiated in 2021, will expand in scope to ensure that all devices connected to a network, be it hardware or software, come from a trusted source and are considered trusted products.
The specifics on how the government will assess the trustworthiness of these devices remain unclear at this point.The NSDTS, introduced in 2021, is designed to categorise telecom products and their origins into ‘trusted’ and ‘non-trusted’ classifications.
Nair, who was speaking at a panel discussion on the inaugural day of the seventh edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC), said, “The scope of National Security Directive on Telecommunication Sector (NSDTS) will increase over the next few years where we will ensure that every device that is connected to a network whether hardware or software used, are all from a trusted source and is a trusted product.”
“We propose to have the device be connected to a network or in a will be either from a trusted source or a trusted product by about 2027,” he added. However, the methodology through which the government will conclude whether a device is trusted or not is not clear.
The NCSC, operating under the National Security Council Secretariat, collaborates with various central-level agencies on matters concerning national and critically important cybersecurity issues.
Nair’s comments align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on cybersecurity as a crucial area for the country. Modi has called for increased self-reliance in cybersecurity hardware and software at the India Mobile Congress.
Nair also highlighted that India’s reported average number of cybersecurity incidents in the last six months is significantly higher than the global average. During this period, India reported 2,168 incidents compared to the global figure of 1,164.
Additionally, Nair mentioned that 58% of malicious cyber files, including information stealers and ransomware, have been transmitted through the web in the last six months.
This initiative demonstrates India’s proactive approach to bolstering cybersecurity measures in the face of increasing cyber threats globally. However, the precise methodology for determining the trustworthiness of devices remains undisclosed at present.
