Govt forms Cyber security Working Group to combat Hazards due to Internet

The serious consequences that are emerging due to internet, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dr. Veerappa Moily said, his ministry has just created a joint working-group under the leadership of Deputy National Security Advisors (DNSA) in cyber security field to take preventive and safeguard measures, at an ASSOCHAM-WICS event held in New Delhi yesterday

Dr. Veerappa Moily speech was delivered at an ASSOCHAM – WICS ‘IT and Cyber Security Summit & Exhibition on Oil & Gas Industry. “While detailing the action plan for the functioning of the joint working group, he mentioned about the policies to promote greater awareness among all stakeholders and encourage collaborative efforts to achieve the desired results.

Mr. Moily recommended that Indian Oil & Gas industry review their current process and procedures to achieve higher targets within the allocated resources. At the same time, they should ensure that their information infrastructure, digital data and communication networks are well protected from the prying eyes of business rivals, terrorist and other cyber criminals.

Dr Jim Noble, Former Chief IT Strategy Officer, BP, Chief Architect, Cyber Security Integrators (CSI) said, “every major company is facing significant compromise of its private data. In United States, almost every single one of fortune 100 companies has been materially compromised”. Therefore, board of directors, audit committees and the executives of their companies to make sure that they properly manage and these risks are properly mitigated, that’s the challenge, said Dr Jim Noble.

Replying the media questions, Dr Jim Noble said, “yes, there has been report, that US national security agency has admitted of their involvement in monitoring telephone calls of the government leaders. “I can’t comments on the ethics but there is no doubt that this has been happening”, said Nobel.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Jim Noble also highlighted that, “the government has responsibility to make sure that state secrets are properly managed and monitored for the national security purpose. So, it’s a very fine dividing line government has to judge.

Mr. Moily further said the oil and gas sector has also not remained untouched by ICT revolution, but some recent developments like big data analytics, cloud computing, easy availability of super–computing machines and high speed telecommunication facilities can bring about even more transformational changes in the oil and gas industry.

Others who also addressed the ASSOCHAM summit were Mr R.S. Butola, Chairman, Indian Oil Corporation, Mr G.C. Chaturvedi, Former Secretary (Petroleum & Natural Gas), Mr S. Venkatraman, Director (Business Development), GAIL, Dr. Vivek Lall, Joint Working Group (JWG) on Cyber Security led by the National Security Advisor, Mr. Babulal Jain, Chairman WICS and Mr D.S. Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM.