DEITY starts process for cyber security centres, training

The Department of Electronics and IT has initiated the process for setting up of two critical cyber security centres and launching programme for human resource development in the emerging field.
The Cabinet eight months ago had cleared the National Cyber Security policy, which aims creating 5 lakh cyber security experts in five years.
"Initiatives were stalled for 2-3 months because of financial issues. Cyber security being a critical issue, we are now taking it as priority and started process for approval from competent authorities," DEITY Secretary J Satyanarayana told PTI.
He said the department is ready with design of Botnet malware cleaning centre, National Cyber Coordination Centre and human resource skill development for handling cyber security issues.

As per the plan, the Botnet cleaning centre will be able to identify computer or any other device connected with Internet in the country which is infected by virus or any other malware.
"Botnet centre will alert user in the country and help him removing the malware from its system," an official said.

The National Cyber Coordination Centre will screen threats at macro level and coordinate with security agencies to handle cyber threats that can adversely impact country's security.
However, security experts feel development of talents is very important to handle cyber threats.
"I doubt if government has skill sets which is capable of handling of such large threats but I am happy that they have at least started. It was long awaited and things will improve once these centres are in place," Cyber security firm Lucideus CEO Saket Modi said.

Besides this DEITY has sought nod for starting programme for skill development which is expected to cost Rs 500 crore and government will bear a part of this cost.
"We need change in mindset of government. Most of the cyber security researchers are teenagers and they are not aware of repercussions under IT Act. The law is too harsh for them. We need to channelise these talents for national security before they stray away as cyber criminal," Cyber Security Analyst at Infosec Constitution Jiten Jain said.
Jain said IT Act should be amended to facilitate development of cyber security experts as most of the thing that

they do for learning can be crime under existing law.
"Present IT Act needs to be mild for development of talents otherwise the curriculum for training will not be competitive," Jain said.