Cyber attacks on critical infrastructure: Is India ready?

Last week, a major cyber attack crippled one of the largest pipelines in the United States, Colonial Pipeline, which carries about 45% of all fuel consumed on the country’s East Coast. The attack on Colonial Pipeline fits the broader trend witnessed in recent years of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure which require to be operational at all times such as traffic systems, banks, power grids, oil pipelines and nuclear reactors. India’s Computer Emergency Response Team and National Critical Infrastructure Protection Centre have noted several such attacks on India’s critical infrastructure. Last year, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval mentioned that attacks targeting defence and critical infrastructure had surged during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Given the mutual distrust and vulnerability of public and private sector, any solution involves sharing responsibility through a public-private partnership for critical infrastructure protection.