Syllabus Section: Internal Security (GS Paper III)

Importance: UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains

Why in News?

Recently, during online Davos Agenda summit, World Economic Forum’s ‘Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2022’ has been released.

About :

Global Cybersecurity Outlook:

• The Global Cybersecurity Outlook is an annual report
• It highlighting the trends and progression as organizations begin to shift from a cyber-defensive posture to a stronger cyber-resilience position.
•  Its goal is to provide insights and solutions to build stronger ecosystems from which organizations can benefit, learn from and move into this highly connected and digital future with confidence.

Highlights of Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2022:

• The accelerating pace of digitalisation, fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to a record-breaking year for cybercrime with ransomware attacks rising 151% in 2021, and an average of 270 cyberattacks per organisation being faced.
•  While many factors are driving cybersecurity policies forward, but 81% of respondents believe that digital transformation is the main driver in improving cyber resilience.
• The WEF said the global digital economy had surged on the back of the COVID-19 pandemic, but so had cybercrime.
• There is a perception gap between business executives who think their firms are secure and security leaders who disagree.
• Some 92% of executives surveyed agreed cyber resilience was integrated into risk-management strategies, but only 55% of cyber leaders agreed.
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are seen as a key threat to supply chains, partner networks and ecosystems.  88% of respondents indicate that they are concerned about cyber resilience of SMEs in their ecosystem.
• This report uses a retrospective analysis of recent years to share the knowledge and concerns of cyber leaders with one goal: helping decision-makers prepare for the next generation of cyberattacks.

The need for improved Cybersecurity

• The country is in dire need of a data protection law, with cybercriminals increasingly weaponising data as a tool against national security in the post-pandemic era.
• In the post-pandemic period, hackers are increasingly weaponizing data as a tactic against national security.
• The rise of digital payments has also increased complex cybercrime. The government urgently needs data protection legislation.
• The sensitive information and fragmented approach that prevailed in handling the threat is becoming prime targets for cyber attacks.
• There are emerging threats from new technologies such as drones, ransomware, Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
• The role of nation-states in such cyberattacks also needs to be considered.
• The lockdown has witnessed a deeper adoption of interconnected devices and hybrid work environments. It has increased our dependence on technology, rendering us digitally more vulnerable than ever before.

Measures taken by the government to improve the Cyber Security

• National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) 
• National cyber coordination centre (NCCC)
• Cyber and Information Security (CIS) Division 
• Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative 
• Information Technology Act, 2000 (amended in 2008)

Source: The Hindu