Cyber Security Exercise “Synergy”

Posted By
10Pointer
Categories
World Affairs
Published
2nd Sep, 2022

Context

Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) in collaboration with the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore successfully designed and conducted the Cyber Security Exercise “Synergy” for 13 Countries.

About

Synergy is a Cyber Security Exercise.
It is successfully designed & conducted by CERT-In in collaboration with Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA).
It was a part of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative- Resilience Working Group.
- Ransomware is a malware designed to deny a user or organization access to files on their computer.
The Group is being led by India under the leadership of National Security Council Secretariat.
Theme: “Building Network Resiliency to Counter Ransomware Attacks”.
The exercise scenario was derived from real life cyber incidents, in which a domestic level (limited impact) ransomware incident escalates to a global cyber security crisis.
Each State participated as a National Crisis Management Team having composition from different government agencies including National CERTs/CSIRTs, Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA), Communication & IT/ICT Ministry and Security agencies.

Ransomware

Ransomware is a malware designed to deny a user or organization access to files on their computer.
By encrypting these files and demanding a ransom payment for the decryption key, cyber attackers place organizations in a position where paying the ransom is the easiest and cheapest way to regain access to their files.

Major Government Initiatives for Cyber Security

CERT-In: It is an organisation of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology with the objective of securing Indian cyberspace.
Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative: It is an initiative from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) that aims at creating a robust cybersecurity ecosystem in India.
- This program was in association with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD).
National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre: NCIIPC is a central government establishment, formed to protect critical information of our country, which has an enormous impact on national security, economic growth, or public healthcare.
- This was amended as per the provisions of section 70A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000.
Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): The MHA launched this I4C Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre program to combat cybercrime in the country, through a coordinated and efficient method.
Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre) is an installation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Information Technology Act, 2000: IT Act of 2000 came into effect in India on 09 June 2000.
- IT Act states in its preamble that the purpose of the legislation is to provide legal recognition to electronic transactions.
National Cyber Security Strategy 2020: A National Cyber Security Strategy 2020 is still under development at the Indian government cyber security department National Security Council Secretariat by the Office of the National Cyber Security Coordinator.