There is a large push to digitize business operations in India, which has resulted in an environment that is rife with cyber security advancements. India’s state of cyber security shares a lot with the global market, especially when it comes to looking for ways to better protect organization data against sophisticated cyber attacks. Here are several of the most important future trends in cyber security in India.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in India Cyber Security
India organizations are not able to protect themselves against sophisticated cyber attacks that use complex methods to gain access to accounts, data, and other sensitive information. The traditional firewall and anti-malware packages can only stop attack methods that they recognize. They’re not able to hinder hackers who are using zero day attacks and similar techniques.
Rather than trying to create strict definitions of attack types to look for, India cyber security solutions are starting to look at artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies for a better way of approaching this problem.
AI and ML technology can “learn” the markers of cyber attacks and can build off of that knowledge. They don’t need a fully defined entry to stop a hacker that is using a new method. These solutions reference the information and data they have available to see if the activity meets the criteria of concerning behavior. By using a more flexible approach, the cyber security solution is better able to recognize new types of cyber attacks and limit the damage that can happen in the midst of a zero day attack. As AI and ML systems learn, they become even better suited to figure out the red flags that accompany attacks.
User Data Privacy
Internet users are becoming more and more aware of their online privacy, or lack thereof. It’s become a significant concern for many people, and they are actively looking for ways to protect their personal information. For many people, their online activity falls under the areas that they would like to keep private. As it is currently, the government is able to spy on India citizens when they’re online, and many advertisers keep robust profiles of individual users. On top of that, hackers can intercept packets on networks and use this data for malicious purposes.
Technology such as virtual private networks (VPN) encrypt user data so that they are better protected from these online hazards. Better control over personal data collection and storage also make it so that businesses appropriately use personal data for its intended purpose, rather than just collecting as much as they can. How and where the data is stored are two other areas that the current state of India cyber security is looking to address and improve upon. Our advise it to trust companies who has good track record in providing privacy services like local fast India VPN‘s that allow users to regain control over their browsing experience and data. In a world that continues to increase the amount of data that’s collected, a VPN is an essential tool for every business and individual in India to have on hand.
The Perils of the Internet of Things
The concept of every device connecting to the Internet to work together is an attractive one, but it’s not without its perils. The cyber security implications of the Internet of Things has a wide reaching impact in India, as these devices continue to make their way into homes and businesses.
One significant area that gets focused on in the Internet of Things cyber security is creating standardized security protocols that are easy to implement. The idea is that when it’s easier to build robust cyber security into these devices without cutting into the development time, that it’s more likely manufacturers will adopt them. There are several cyber security platforms available for the Internet of Things.
Cloud-based Cyber Security
Cloud computing is another area that requires a new way of looking at cyber security. There are many benefits from using cloud-based platforms for both businesses and individuals. Companies get access to technology resources that they may not have been able to develop in-house. This benefit is especially great for small and medium size businesses, which now are able to use enterprise-level resources to grow their companies.
Since cloud service providers are responsible for setting up and maintaining the physical hardware and software at their own location, that takes a lot of the burden off of the organizations and individuals wanting to use the platforms. All they need to do is connect to this resource through an Internet connected device, and they’re able to use the functionality.
Connecting to a remote resource creates a lot of cyber security complications. The first is that the company is now responsible for maintaining security for resources that require public Internet connections, rather than keeping all infrastructure protected within the company’s perimeter.
The data that gets sent to the cloud provider has to pass through the public Internet before reaching its destination, which opens it up to interception and other risks. Encryption and other methods are required to better protect companies and individuals that rely on cloud-based resources, and the cyber security landscape in India is shifting to accommodate this commonplace reality.
Cyber Security Centric Organizations Become Commonplace
Cyber security was not a primary focus of many company cultures in India in the past, but the impact of cyber attacks and the rise of more sophisticated attack methods has made it one of the biggest priorities for many companies.
One reason why it’s important for India businesses to adopt cyber security as part of the company culture comes down to social engineering. Many hackers don’t have to work all that hard to get access to sensitive systems – they just need to know the weak links to talk to to get access to critical accounts. When employees in the workforce don’t know the basics of cyber security, that creates many points of vulnerabilities in complex cyber security environments.
When cyber security is an essential element of the company’s culture, on the other hand, everyone knows role appropriate knowledge of cyber security and what to do if they suspect that they are getting targeted for an attack.
By taking out the opportunity to use social engineering as a way to break into systems, hackers have a much harder time getting access to sensitive data in Indian businesses.
The Blockchain for Identity Management
Some organizations are looking at the blockchain, which is a technology that is best known for its use in the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. However, the blockchain is basically a public ledger that does not have a single point of failure. Multiple systems would need to be compromised before the information on the ledger could be altered, which makes it a useful tool for identity management solutions.
Currently, the blockchain isn’t in widespread use in India for this purpose, but there are many startups that are experimenting with different implementations to help support the ever changing cybersecurity landscape in the country.
Protection from Disgruntled Employees
When employees get fired from companies, the organization needs to have a robust plan in place to avoid disgruntled workers from compromising the systems. The IT security team and the company’s leadership needs to work together to create policies that prevent high-risk activities from occurring following a person’s termination.
Data breaches that are caused intentionally or unintentionally from within are one of the biggest sources of data breaches globally, so it’s important for India companies to continue to work on creating a set of rules and procedures to mitigate this risk.
Adjusting to Complex Cyber Security Requirements
The current cyber security landscape in India is far more complex than when the digital transformation first began. Instead of having a set infrastructure within the company’s control that uses perimeter defenses, cyber security specialists now need to have a robust plan for protecting systems from external and internal attackers.
Additions such as Internet of Things devices and cloud-based systems require cyber security specialists in India to be aware of all of the risks that are present, and find ways to stop hackers from taking advantage of vulnerable attack surfaces throughout the organization.
Adopting Zero Trust Cyber Security Environments
One way that IT security teams are approaching these complex environments is through zero trust environments. Zero trust means that there is not implicit user trust, even when the user or the resource accessing the network is internal. Instead, everything is set up with authentication throughout the organization, the lowest number of permissions required for a particular role, and a proactive approach for user account management.
The cyber security landscape in India is adjusting to a range of changes, especially as more organizations move to full digital transformations. Cyber security threats from abroad and domestically require the IT security teams to stay on top of their game and use every method possible to better protect their organizations. As AI and ML based threat detection solutions become commonplace, and more India companies adopt a cyber security minded company culture, it will help these organizations decrease the number of incidents that they encounter.
