India, US to Bolster Cyber Security Partnership, Combat Crime

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Faced with evolving cyber challenges, India and the US have decided to join hands in combating cyber crime and bolster their cyber security partnership in various strategic spheres to achieve “concrete outcomes”.

“Cybersecurity is fundamentally a team endeavour, and it is essential that international partners like India and the US work together closely, along with industry and civil society, to raise our cyber defences in both the short and long term, to disrupt and interrupt malicious actors in cyberspace, and to improve our ability to respond to and recover from cyber threats,” Michael Daniel, Special Assistant to the President and Cybersecurity Coordinator, said.

Daniel said he is especially encouraged by India’s recent statements of support for the multi-stakeholder model of Internet governance.

The US, he said, looks forward to a collaborative partnership with Indian colleagues and partners from industry and civil society to ensure that the Internet continues to be an open, interoperable, global platform that enables international trade and commerce, strengthens international security, and fosters free expression and innovation.

“We are hopeful that the governments and industries from both the countries can work together to chart the way forward for a successful US-India partnership in responding to the evolving cyber challenges,” said Arvind Gupta, the Deputy National Security Advisor.

The Indian and the US delegations discussed a range of cyber issues including cyber threats, enhanced cybersecurity information sharing, cyber incident management, cybersecurity cooperation in the context of ‘Make in India’, efforts to combat cyber crime, Internet governance issues, and norms of state behaviour in cyberspace, a joint statement said.

The two delegations identified a variety of opportunities for increased collaboration on cyber security capacity- building, cyber security research and development, combating cyber crime, international security, and Internet governance and “intend to pursue an array of follow-on activities to bolster their cyber security partnership and achieve concrete outcomes”, it said.

In addition to the formal dialogue, the delegations met with representatives from the private sector to discuss issues related to cybersecurity and the digital economy.

Industry leaders from the US submitted policy recommendations to the two governments, emphasising the need to protect cross border data flow, facilitate remote access, provide for strong encryption standards and reduce cybersecurity threats through targeted public-private partnerships.

“Information and communications technologies and services (ICT) enable innovations that provide economic, social, and cultural benefits to citizens, businesses, and governments around the world,” said Angela McKay, director, Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy for Microsoft.

“Those same players must also collaborate to enhance cybersecurity, and Microsoft supports the commitment that the US and Indian Governments have made to work together on this priority,” he said.

The government’s programmes to promote cybersecurity and assure national security are closely tied to the systems and infrastructure which business operates, said Joe Alhadeff, chair of the Council’s Digital Economy Committee.

“Consultation with business as early in the process as possible can help assure that such programmes are implemented effectively while avoiding needless burdens or unintended consequences to innovation and business operations.

Such collaboration is essential to fulfilling the Prime Minister’s ambitious programmes for India’s continued economic growth and societal inclusion,” he said. In addition to the formal Dialogue, the delegations met with representatives from the private sector to discuss issues related to cybersecurity and the digital economy.

The Indian delegation also met with Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco. The two countries decided to hold the next round of the Cyber Dialogue in Delhi in 2016.
India, US to Bolster Cyber Security Partnership, Combat Crime | idrw.org