The Centre has formulated a Crisis Management Plan to counter cyber attacks and cyber terrorism meant for implementation by all ministries and departments of central and state governments.
The government decided to prepare this new plan after being alarmed by a report of the University of Toronto titled ‘Shadows in the Cloud’. The report elucidates a complex ecosystem of cyber espionage that systematically compromised even sophisticated computer network systems in India.
The issue of cyber espionage and crimes is likely to come before Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The ministry of communications is gearing up for the discussion.
Minister of state for communications Sachin Pilot is likely to face the House.
The existing computer security guidelines issued by the government state that no sensitive information is to be stored on the computer systems which are connected to the internet.
Organisations possessing critical information have been advised to implement information security management practices based on ISO 27001. Ministries and departments have been advised to update IT systems and carry out regular audits to ensure an error-free system.
The Computer Emergency Response Team has already empanelled a number of penetration-testing professionals through a stringent mechanism of selection to carry out the audits.
Meanwhile, the government has no proposal yet for establishing a specific police force to deal with cyber crimes in the country.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has a specific unit that deals with cyber crime cases falling under the jurisdiction of the Union territories, minister of state for home affairs Ajay Maken said.
