Cybersecurity Requires Constant Vigilance and Security-by-Design: MeitY Secretary

Cybersecurity Requires Constant Vigilance and Security-by-Design: MeitY Secretary

Speaking at the Cybersecurity 360 Summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Mr S Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, said that cybersecurity requires constant vigilance and organisations cannot afford to take it lightly. He emphasised that industry must spend an optimum amount of resources on cybersecurity, ensure security by design, support domestic cybersecurity products, and report cyber incidents to CERT-In to strengthen collective defence and information sharing.

The Cybersecurity 360 Summit organised by Confederation of Indian Industry emphasised the critical necessity of building resilience within the digital ecosystem, particularly as technological integration scales across all sectors of the economy. The Summit was organised in partnership with the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology and CERT-In and brought together experts, policymakers and industry leaders to address the evolving complexities of the global cyber threat landscape. The deliberations aimed to provide a comprehensive roadmap for securing national and economic interests in an increasingly interconnected world.

Mr S Krishnan highlighted that cybersecurity cannot be taken lightly and an optimum amount of resources need to be allocated by all stakeholders for cybersecurity. He further mentioned that when the government spends on IT, on any IT budget, at least 15% should go towards cybersecurity. He also urged industry stakeholders to report all cyber incidents to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) to facilitate collective defence and information sharing.

A central theme of the Summit was the requirement for a 360-degree response to modern cyber threats. This framework identifies four foundational pillars: technology, governance, crime and geopolitics.

Dr Amit Sharma, Additional Director General and Advisor, Department of Defence, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, in his address highlighted that the race for Artificial General Intelligence represents a significant geopolitical shift, necessitating a proactive national roadmap for frontier model development. He mentioned that DRDO has already issued an RFI, under its technology development programme, for the creation of foundational models, purely in the research domain. He also cautioned that the advent of quantum computing would render classical cryptographic systems obsolete, making the transition to post-quantum cryptography a national priority.

Ambassador Asoke Kumar Mukerji, former Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, discussed the evolution of international cyber norms and the impact of geopolitical hedging on digital development. He mentioned that the adoption of the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime in December 2024 provides a framework for law enforcement cooperation, although trust remains a significant barrier in international digital governance. He advocated for a proactive national position that leverages technology to achieve the 2047 goal of a Developed India.

Dr Gulshan Rai, Chairman of the CII Cybersecurity Task Force and former National Cyber Security Coordinator, outlined the four pillars of a 360-degree cyber response: technology, governance, crime and geopolitics. He mentioned that the increasing complexity of communication protocols, such as 5G and 6G, has expanded the attack surface for both large enterprises and small and medium enterprises. He further mentioned that the Summit serves as the launchpad for the CII 360-degree security programme, which aims to enhance capacity building and provide strategic guidance to smaller firms.

Mr Neehar Pathare, Co-Chairman of the CII Cyber Security Task Force and Managing Director, CEO and CIO of 63SATS Cybertech, reinforced the need for an integrated zero-trust model. He stated that the transition from passive defence to active, intelligent cyber-resilience is essential for protecting high-value terrestrial and space-based assets.

The deliberations at the Summit established a consensus on the necessity of public-private partnerships to navigate the complexities of the evolving global threat landscape. Participants emphasised that an integrated approach to technology, policy and international cooperation remains essential for securing India's digital future.

3rd July 2026
New Delhi