Role of Ethical Hackers For National Security, the event organized by Information Security Response Team Nepal (npCert) in association with the Center For Cyber Security Research and Innovation (CSRI) was successfully completed yesterday on 3rd June 2020.
Various experts like Joint Secretary of Ministry of Communication & IT, DIG at Nepal Police Dr. Rajib Subba, CEO at Baburam Aryal, Information Security Officer at Siddhartha Bank Limited Saroj Kafle, Founder Board Member at Information Security Response Team Nepal (npCert) Dr. Dilli Prasad Sharma, Deputy Director at Nepal Telecommunications Authority (Vice President at Center For Cyber Security Research and Innovation) Roja Kiran Basukala and IT Assitant Director at Nepal Information Technology Center Ramesh Pokharel were involved in this open discussion with a topic about national security and how cybersecurity can be better implemented in our country.
The event was moderated by Kumar Pudasainee, Vice President of npCert
They jointly talked on the topics about cybersecurity and cyber defense. They also reflected back on some recent hacks and defacing of Nepali government websites by Indian hackers.
They discussed the weak system of cyber defense of the nation and our country needs a more strengthen security system of website and applications. They suggested that the concerned authorities and experts should collaborate and come together jointly for powerful cyber defense.
What are the thoughts of Experts regarding Cyber Defense?
“Anil Kumar Dutta, Joint Secretary at the MoCIT, said the government has given priority to cybersecurity in this year’s budget. Dutta said that the ministry would coordinate towards developing a cyber-infrastructure and setting up a security center along with a forensic lab.”
He further added that he will move ahead with implementation by arranging various CERTS in collaboration with government agencies and security experts.
He admitted that the lack of preparation for cybersecurity and defense in Nepal. Now it’s a high time they should collaborate and move forward in co-operation.
Several other participants express their thoughts on cyber defense. It is made clear that cyber defense and cybersecurity are complete a different thing one should understand.
Cybersecurity is related to the security and state of being free from attacks and threats while cyber defense refers to the state of defending or resisting cyber attacks.
What should be done for CyberSecurity according to the Experts?
- The government should invest in cybersecurity by expanding the necessary infrastructure, labs, security centers, and forensic labs.
- Similarly, collaboration among experts is necessary to prepare thousands of skilled manpower every year.
- The government should prioritize related courses in colleges and universities for this purpose.
- The formation and management of CERTS or cybersecurity response team in different areas under the supervision of a high-level committee should be a priority.
- The nation needs to be ready with task forces keeping in view the possibility of a cyberwar.
- The government should bring policies to punish the attackers and motivate the contributors or cybersecurity experts by rewarding them.
- A regular audit of the websites is needed.
- There should be a balance between security, data privacy, and innovation to move forward with the digital Nepal framework.
If you have missed the event, Here is the Live Video.
Conclusion
This discussion was worth with lots of important topics like cybersecurity and cyber defense of the nation. It’s important that the government take the recent cyberattacks as a serious issue and understand the suggestions made by Cyber experts. In this discussion experts also suggested the importance of digital literacy and campaigns in our country.
