Need to scale up capacity to fight cyber crime: Chidambaram

New Delhi, Apr 30: Law enforcement agencies need to quickly scale up capacity to fight cyber crime as dimensions of security problem increase manifold in the online space, Home Minister P Chidambaram said on Monday.

“We have taken numerous steps to protect the physical infrastructure...I think all that we have done to protect the infrastructure in the physical space seems to be a lighter task than when we face threats that have been outlined in the cyber space,” Chidambaram said while launching a report on cyber security prepared by software industry body Nasscom.

He said the dimension of the security problem “grows manifold in crimes on cyber space” with offences such as identity theft, hacking, financial fraud, child pornography and corporate espionage.

“From a national security point of view, this is an important report and law enforcement agencies should quickly scale up their capacity to deal with these new crimes,” Chidambaram said.

The report, 'Securing Our Cyber Frontiers', by Nasscom and Data Security Council of India (DSCI) suggested setting up a national structure for cyber security, which would clearly define the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders.

It has also recommended establishing a National Threat Intelligence Centre, which would integrate all existing information sources.

Chidambaram said some of the recommendations overlap with several ongoing initiatives of the government.

“Discussions have been held and we are on advanced stage of creating a national structure for cyber security. We are also thinking of setting up a National Threat Intelligence Centre.

“Needless to say capacities have to be built in the various law enforcement agencies in cyber crime investigations and cyber forensics. We have to build lawful interception capabilities,” he added.

Nasscom also recommended creating and maintaining an inventory of critical information infrastructure.

The work is underway to “prepare inventory critical information infrastructure...testing labs for accreditation of ICT products are also being set up,” the minister said.

“Cyber space is a national asset...the way forward is obviously to work together. While the government and government agencies will remain principal players, the undeniable fact is that there are millions of private sector players and the challenge to cyber security can not be met unless they work together,” he added.

Other recommendations by Nasscom include designing and implementing a competency framework and setting up a Centre of Excellence for best practice in cyber security.

Besides, it has suggested establishing a cyber command within the defence forces.

“The cyber command should be equipped with defensive and offensive cyber weapons and manpower trained in cyber warfare,” the report said.

PTI