Defense Ministry statement on Cyber Security

Defense Ministry statement on Cyber Security

There has been no report or instance of any cyber breach of secured networks of the Armed Forces over the past three years. However, there have been some instances of cyber attacks of internet connected computers of other establishments under Ministry of Defence.

The Armed Forces have air gapped and exclusive secure networks. These are separated from civil and public networks. Management of these exclusive networks including ensuring cyber security, is carried out by the respective Armed Forces.

It is common practice for hackers / spies of Intelligence agencies to hack computer systems to gain intelligence about target countries. There have been cyber attacks on some isolated internet connections of Defence Personnel. 

However, all computers employed for official work by the Defence forces are comprehensively isolated from the internet to obviate any breach. There has been no known or reported case of Intelligence agencies trying to steal our defence secrets through the use of Computer Storage Media.

The preventive measures being taken by Armed Forces include:

• Maintaining physically segregated exclusive networks by the Armed Forces.

• Establishment of Cyber Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) to take care of any threats.

• Institution of safeguards in form of audits, physical checks and policy guidelines.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Harish Chandra Alias Harish Dwivedi in Lok Sabha

- PTI