Brought to you by
Promotional content

Guard up – Why we need to talk about data security

As we get exceedingly reliant on digital information, our vulnerability to cyber attacks increases.

By: HT Brand Studio

Guard up – Why we need to talk about data security

Source: Pixabay

We live in an age when everyone is going online, and everything is becoming digital. Almost half of the world's population is on the internet, and India alone has about 400 million netizens. Up until now, cyber security was seen as a concern for backroom IT guys, and not for individuals. Not anymore. We are online to surf, shop, pay, and share information, making us vulnerable to numerous threats. Experts say that data is under risk from various people in cyberspace, namely - cyber criminals, hackers, hacktivists (a portmanteau of hack and activism, these are people who are politically or socially motivated), cyber terrorists, and nation states.

Cyber crime has been called one of the biggest risks to data and security. A report by Mckinsey says, "Despite years of effort, and tens of billions of dollars spent annually, the global economy is still not sufficiently protected against cyber attacks—and it is getting worse. The risk of cyber attacks could slow the pace of technology and business innovation with as much as $3 trillion in aggregate impact."

Guard up – Why we need to talk about data security

Source: Pexels

The cyber scenario in developing countries

Developing nations which are in the throes of a technological revolution are catching up on modern technology, but the infrastructure for cyber security and cyber laws are either archaic or non-existent. Countries like India are bringing millions of people online, but the security infrastructure is just not ready.

Figures on cyber crime are startling. "The likely annual cost to the global economy from cybercrime is more than $400 billion," says a study. UNESCO says that the increased threat of cyber attacks puts critical infrastructure, like the information systems of hospitals, air traffic control facilities, factories, police and military, of developing nations at risk.

For emerging digital economies, another risk is that hacking attacks and online fraud can deter people from using e-commerce or e-payments. Added to that is the fact that Indian data protection laws are inadequate and only address some security, and privacy issues. Meanwhile cyber crime in the country is on a rise: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) said in its 2016 report, that 11,592 cases of cyber crime were registered in India in 2015. We need to work fast on building a security infrastructure to insulate the billion strong population from cyber threats.

Guard up – Why we need to talk about data security

Source: Pexels

The road ahead

As a first step, India needs a national level programme for cyber security and a budget for implementation. We need to develop standards and guidelines, and build capacity for laws and enforcement.

Second, public and private institutions must identify what their information assets are and which ones need protection. Cyber experts have to be employed to understand the threat landscape and take a risk-based approach to identify impact. They will have to understand the functioning of departments and businesses, and prioritize information assets in need of protection.

Organisations have to invest in building cyber defence systems and build capacity to analyse threats according to the kind of information they possess. Srinivasan CR, Senior Vice President, Global Product Management & Data Centre Services, Tata Communications, says "To alleviate pressures on the IT department and ensure a smooth transition to the cloud at a pace that best suits the organisation, it is beneficial to choose a fully managed private cloud solution. When combined with an integrated security framework, a fully managed private cloud gives enterprises secure, reliable access to data no matter what, and protects intellectual property by constantly monitoring data entering and leaving the network across all devices."

For instance, Tata Communications' IZO™ platform is a flexible, one-stop cloud enablement platform that helps enterprises navigate complexity for more agile business performance. It offers enterprises the best of both worlds: the security and reliability of a private network, and the unparalleled reach and cost-effectiveness of the public Internet.

Guard up – Why we need to talk about data security

Source: Pexels

Third, we need to be in a constant state of preparedness. Defence mechanisms need to be tested continuously to improve incident response. The Sony hack of 2014 for instance is a big lesson on the lack of preparedness. As per reports, when the cyber-attack was launched, employees who logged on to the network were subjected to the sound of gunfire, scrolling threats, and skulls flashing on their computer screens. Hackers stole the company's data before destroying it and released batches of data including unfinished movie scripts, emails, salary information and more than 47,000 Social Security numbers on public file-sharing sites, writes Fortune magazine.

The fourth step is to educate users, usually the weakest point for any institution. Users are known to click on links that they should not click on, or choose insecure passwords. It has become essential to help users understand the personal and business risks they pose by not using secure measures.

It also needs to be ensured that there are no breeding grounds for cyber criminals. "Hacking and cyber-crime originates in the anonymous underbelly of the internet, addressing negativity in these subcultures, and encouraging impressionable minds to stay away from dangerous influences, will be recognized as increasingly important," the Boston Global Forum says in its report - Cybersecurity 2016.

With increasing internet population, enterprises as well as individuals are prone to the cyber risks. As a country, the biggest challenge to implement data security is to acknowledge that this is an issue for both the government and private sector. At an organisational level it has to be understood as a management issue and not just a tech issue. Cyber risk has to be made part of enterprise-wide risk-management processes and it's pivotal that everyone prepares for a new generation of cyber crimes.

Topics

We are part of the very fabric of India and have helped build India's infrastructure

articles
Jul 12, 2017 17:18 IST

Digital Transformation - What Lies Ahead

One of the chief highlights at the Mint Digital Decoded Conference was the exclusive view into the upcoming innovations being developed and hosted by...

Technology
Jun 21, 2017 15:18 IST

"Innovative technology is at the heart of the fourth industrial revolution," says Vinod Kumar – MD, Tata Communications

Digital transformation is no longer a choice for most companies, as the emergence of new technologies continues to disrupt established business...

Technology
Unified Communications will lead the way to a collaborative future
Jun 19, 2017 15:18 IST

"We live in an era where data is the new oil"— Highlights from the Mint Digital Decoded conference

It's time for Indian companies to embrace unified communications if they want to stay abreast with the increasing needs of employees, customers, and their own business.

Cloud Computing
Unified Communications will lead the way to a collaborative future
Jun 12, 2017 15:18 IST

Unified Communications will lead the way to a collaborative future

: It's time for Indian companies to embrace unified communications if they want to stay abreast with the increasing needs of employees...

Unified Communications
First -- The Art of Managing Hybrid Cloud Security
Jun 09, 2017 16:18 IST

First -- The Art of Managing Hybrid Cloud Security

Data is growing at an unfathomable speed. Managing such massive volumes and variety of data is a huge challenge for any organisation..

Cloud Computing
Staying Ahead in A Vulnerable World
May 03, 2017 11:30 IST

Staying Ahead in A Vulnerable World

With an estimated economic impact of $400bn in 2016, it's no wonder that cyber security continues to be a core concern across the world.

cyber security
Guard up – Why we need to talk about data security
Apr 20, 2017 11:30 IST

Guard up – Why we need to talk about data security

As we get exceedingly reliant on digital information, our vulnerability to cyber attacks increases.

cyber security
Internet, cloud and mobility: Driving education innovation in India
Apr 12, 2017 11:30 IST

Internet, cloud and mobility: Driving education innovation in India

Until recently, many students in India grew up rummaging through books in libraries or seeking out the neighbourhood tuition teacher.

technology
From cash to cashless – the India story
Apr 10, 2017 11:30 IST

From cash to cashless – the India story

Our transition into a robust digital ecosystem can only be envisioned on the back of a solid telecommunications network.

Internet of Things
Smart cities – ushering India into the future
Apr 04, 2017 11:30 IST

Smart cities – ushering India into the future

The concept of smart city is experiencing a major revival in the country these days, with the government of India working towards creating 100 smart cities across the nation.

Internet of Things
The modern Indian workplace – how technology is changing work culture
Mar 31, 2017 16:05 IST

The modern Indian workplace – how technology is changing work culture

Enormous technological forces are radically altering the way we work. Disruptive innovations are creating new kinds of companies and business models every day...

technology
The Great Indian Entertainment Revolution
Jan 16, 2017 16:05 IST

The Great Indian Entertainment Revolution

The new face of the consumer is here. There is an excess of mass media and an array of platforms on which to experience it, leading to radical shifts in the consumption of entertainment.

Entertainment
Smartphone Connectivity Drives Social Change & Rural Empowerment
Jan 16, 2017 16:05 IST

Smartphone Connectivity Drives Social Change & Rural Empowerment

India is experiencing a digital revolution. The telecom sector is redefining technological transformation in India, with greater reach and penetration...

Cloud Computing
Dec 15, 2016 13:16 IST

Internet of Things: Virtual solutions to drive development in India

The inherent drive for innovation that the people of India possess could be the key to rapidly develop the nation using the latest technology in 'machine conversation': the Internet of Things.

Internet of Things
Dec 15, 2016 13:16 IST

The Next Big Leap: eGovernance pushes for transparency and efficiency

With the Government of India starting work on Digital India 2.0 project, we talk of how technology and the private sector will be leveraged in pulling...

E-Governance
Dec 15, 2016 13:16 IST

Next-generation Roaming and the Changing Face of the Telecom Industry

As pressure on consistent data services grows with LTE, operators need to look at better integration within local circles and overseas travel.

Data Roaming
Dec 15, 2016 13:16 IST

Beat information asymmetry with the latest in communication technologies

Tata Communications' and Skype for Business Unified Communication package helps businesses optimise as they spread geographically

Unified Communications
Dec 15, 2016 13:16 IST

The next 50 billion: will smart things break the Internet?

Did you know that there are around 1 billion WhatsApp users and more than 80 million Netflix users in the world, and that an average person spends around 4 hours on their mobile device every day? Figures...

Internet of Things
Dec 15, 2016 13:16 IST

Cloud computing: specialisation not generalisation

Some of you may have read UCLA Professor Jared Diamond's 1997 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Guns, Germs, and Steel. In it, Diamond answers a question from Yali, his aboriginal New Guinean...

Cloud Computing
Dec 15, 2016 13:16 IST

The emerging middle

The digital, borderless economy is levelling the playing field between emerging and developed markets, accelerating innovation across industries and businesses of all sizes. The numbers speak for...

Digital Economy
The above content has not been created by any Mint journalist or editorial teams
More From Livemint

How to withstand a cyberattack

Collaboration: The key to the future workplace

The 10 commandments of digital transformation

Robots are after our jobs: what can we do?

Peek into the digital future