All About Indian Defence Cyber Agency
Formation of Defence Cyber Agency (DCyA) be taken as an intermediate step towards the formation of a full-fledged Cyber Formation or Cyber Command over subsequent three years, while concurrently developing capabilities for full spectrum information warfare with cyber power as one of its major constituents.
Government has approved establishment of Defence Cyber Agency, under the aegis of Ministry of Defence. This agency is now fully functional. To mitigate cyber threats, all the three Services have established their respective Cyber Emergency Response Teams (CERT). Furthermore, the govt of India is formulating the National cyber security strategy, which is within the final stages of approval.
There are repeated attempts by various cyber threat actors to focus on our various sectors. However, measures are being taken to detect and deter these threats. Adequate safeguards are instituted within the sort of Cyber Audits, Physical Checks and Policy Guidelines to ensure a robust cyber posture of armed forces.
A ‘Formation’ is an organisation entity within the Indian Army like a Brigade, Division, Corps and Command. there is no organisation like an ‘Agency’. The raising of a Defence Cyber Agency is perhaps the lowest within the rung, not well understood, has limited resources and wouldn’t be during a position to convey ‘Deterrence’ as stated within the recommended Cyber Doctrine for the Indian armed forces.
Accordingly, the task force felt that while a Defence Cyber Agency may be a long awaited and a welcome measure, it must provide the base for an Indian Cyber Command which must be created within subsequent three years to effectively answer likely and emerging threats. Since one isn’t certain of the government’s likely decision, the report has expressions like ‘Formation/DCyA’. Formation conveys the organisational level of cyber power, (cyber brigade/division/corps/command) may be a familiar entity, and hence, well understood. Recommendations made within the report are equally valid to both, the Formation and Defence Cyber Agency.
Further, the terms convey the long-term applicability and validity of the report as the DCyA transforms to a Cyber Command. Formation of Defence Cyber Agency (DCyA) be taken as an intermediate step towards the formation of a full-fledged Cyber Formation or Cyber Command over subsequent three years, while concurrently developing capabilities for full spectrum information warfare with cyber power together of its major constituents.
Build capabilities of cyber power for our armed forces on Seven Pillars as illustrated below:
- Policy and strategy for development and employment of cyber power Indian armed forces doctrine for application of cyber power and knowledge operations Organisation for cyber deterrence, synergy, staffing and adaptation of cyber force
- Human resource, training and certification
- Technology, R&D, standards and integrity of data
- Integration and development of concepts for application of cyber power for effective cyber deterrence
- International engagement and legal framework