Communication Network – Internal Security Challenges

  • Communication networks are a part of Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) and are crucial for the connectivity of other critical infrastructure, viz. Energy;
  • Transportation (air, surface, rail & water); Banking & Finance; Telecommunication; Defence; Space & Satellite; Law enforcement, security & intelligence;
  • Sensitive Government Organisations; Public Health; Water supply; Critical manufacturing; E-Governance (Aadhar, IRCTC, Power Grid) etc. Threats to communication networks can be both through the network as well as to the network.
  • The cyber-attacks coordinated from remote locations have potential to compromise these communication networks and disrupt critical infrastructure which depends on them.
  • In India, where various threats are already present in the form of terrorism, insurgency, naxalism, hostile nations etc., the protection of communication network pose significant challenges to internal security.
  • Critical Infrastructure (CI) - “Those facilities, systems, or functions, whose incapacity or destruction would cause a debilitating impact on national security, governance, economy and social well-being of a nation.
  • In section 70 of IT Act 2000, Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) (CIT company have given special protection) is defined as: - The computer resource, the incapacitation or destruction of which, shall have debilitating impact on national security, economy, public health or safety.”
  • Cyber Attacks, Physical Attacks, Remote Control, Hostage Capture.
Human induced threats
  • Various actors may work as a threat to Communication network such as-
  • Insiders in the form of disgruntled employees or compromised/socially engineered (First Gain Trust, later attack) employees.
  • Economic, military or adversary nation states.
  • Criminal syndicates to terrorist outfits.
  • Types of threats - This includes all the attempts made by malicious actors to gain access to the system with the intent of causing a harm or damage.
  • The threat actors exploit the underlying vulnerabilities within the application software, control systems software, hardware or even the people to get access to the desired location in the network.

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