Guidance required for cyberspace security

Individuals and companies alike are becoming increasingly dependent upon the use of the internet for their daily activities. Cyberspace has become the standard means of communication and information transfer worldwide, with users ranging from people accessing social networking websites to companies using email to coordinate their global activities.

At the same time, there are few limitations on the accessibility of information in cyberspace, and this poses a serious threat to security. Incidences of corruption, theft of sensitive information and fraud in cyberspace have escalated in line with the immense increase in the ease of accessibility and volume of information exchanged online.

In India the protection and regulation of electronic information is governed under the Information Technology Act, 2000. The IT Act was recently amended by the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008, notified on 5 February, which added new provisions for data protection and for enhancing cyber security throughout the country.

Priti Suri is the proprietor of PSA where Ashutosh Chandola is an associate.