FEB 19, 2025
Currently, India is standing at the precipice of a digital transition due to advancement in technologies and due to government support. Technologies such as 5G, AI, blockchain, and quantum computing will cumulatively define the nature of digital economy in the country by 2025. But like with these enhancements, comes the set of problems that need to be solved, especially as far as security is concerned. And now it is time to review five types of innovations to change India and the corresponding cybersecurity threats.
The introduction of 5G networks in India as a ready prospect for connectivity improvements such as speed enhancement, reduced latency and improved IoT support. It will help creating smart cities, self-driving cars, and Industries 4.0. However, the benefits come with risks:
When you have tens of millions of these devices connected to the internet, problems with smart home appliances and wearable devices can be created.
There are new issues to be addressed when it comes to protecting the facilities of virtualized networks and edge computing.
The relationship with diverse suppliers raises the concerns with compromised equipment and backdoors.
India must have stronger standards on encryption and privacy as it tries to deal with questions of spectrum and high costs of deploying 5G.
Healthcare has remained an area that has a lot to benefit from the impending revolution in AI in that it is likely to enhance diagnostics, robotic surgeries, and individual treatment. However, as healthcare becomes more digitized, it becomes a prime target for cybercriminals:
Delicate patient information may be compromised if a system is not well protected.
Reportedly, hackers can obstruct the access to vital systems and contend for monetary rewards for its reopening.
These datasets can in turn be manipulated to produce incorrect AI decisions thus endangering the lives of patients.
The outline of a strong cybersecurity regime is dependent and essential to maintain the confidentiality of the patient's data in addition to the proper implementation of AI associated to the healthcare industries.
Blockchain technology brings a transparency, security and effective approach in handling financial business, supplies chain, voting systems, etc. However, its adoption brings new risks:
Some exchanges and wallets continue to open themselves to cyber criminals –in turn being at the risk of losing money.
Many self-executing contracts have built-in bugs, flaws, and…vulnerabilities that can undermine them and contribute to exploitation as well as the loss of large amounts of money.
Money laundering is another disadvantage of using the blockchain since its user data is obscure, demanding peculiar compliance systems.
But for India to make full use of the technology, there is a dearth of workers who have the knowledge about how blockchain works and there should be standard legal structures that dictate how this new-kind-of-technology can be implemented.
In the realm of cryptography, drug discovery as well as system modeling, quantum computing appears to be a revolutionary development. India has already planned to become a leader in drone technology, photo voltaic cells, artificial intelligence, Internet of things, etc through projects such as the National Mission on Quantum Technologies. However, the transition poses challenges:
Some of the current encryption systems can be threatened even by quantum attacks.
The idea is the quantum power as such adversaries can encrypt the data and steal it now and decrypt with the classic power later.
Some of the supporting systems which include, traditional systems will have to be migrated to quantum resistance structures.
This new age requires India to address quantum concerns and make post-quantum cryptographic algorithms its go-to technology.
AI is revolutionizing governance: improving, tax collection, disaster response and strengthening social welfare delivery. However, challenges remain:
Unfavorable design of AI systems may create inequities and discrimination within customer experiences.
Similarly, the public data if somehow manipulated could lead to poor decision making from l and AI models.
Technology may be out of reach in rural areas and this will contribute to AI inequity.
Therefore AI systems require certain form of transparency, ethical values and ought to be designed with the supervision of human beings.
While India adopts all these innovations, strong cybersecurity policies are crucial. The future threat can be faced by the National Cyber Security Strategy of the government and cooperation between the stakeholders of both the sectors. Public awareness of particular skills, job training and skill certification and setting of regulatory mechanisms will also be required investments.
If the latest technologies are implemented in sync with security as well as ethical considerations, the Indian dream of coming up as a digital power can come true without compromising on security.