New Delhi: According to new research by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a prominent think tank that conducted a qualitative assessment of cyber power in 15 nations, placed India's offensive cyber capabilities under tier 3, calling them "Pakistan-focused" and "regionally effective," not directed toward China.
“The military confrontation with China in the disputed Ladakh border area in June 2020, followed by a sharp increase in Chinese activity against Indian networks has heightened Indian concerns about cyber security, not least in systems supplied by China,” said the report.
Japan, Iran, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and North Korea are among the countries ranked third. The tier denotes countries that have strengths or potential strengths in some of the categories but significant weaknesses in others.
While US is the only country in tier 1 for its world-leading strengths in all categories, tier 2 has countries like Australia, Canada, China, France, Israel, Russia, and the United Kingdom for its world-leading strengths in “some” categories.
Greg Austin, who leads the IISS programme and is a key contributor to the report's development, said “India has some cyber-intelligence and offensive cyber capabilities, but they are regionally focused, principally on Pakistan. It is currently aiming to compensate for its weaknesses by building new capability with the help of key international partners – including the US, the UK, and France – and by looking to concerted international action to develop norms of restraint.”
According to the report, a flourishing start-up culture and a big talent pool are among the assets of the Indian digital economy and though the nation has a solid regional cyber-intelligence reach, it depends on partners for broader understanding, particularly the United States.
When asked about India's path forward, Austin said that political will and how the country organises its intelligence institutions is the key. One of the "leapfrog opportunities" for governments to improve their cyber power effectiveness, he said, is "how they align themselves with other governments."