Ideaz

Introduction:

Technology all over the world is advancing at an incredible rate, and with it, so is India. Digitalisation in banking, e-commerce, healthcare, government services, and the extensive application of Artificial Intelligence, is something we are well aware of. Alongside this rapid growth, cybersecurity has rightly become a national priority, something so crucial and indispensable. India has made commendable strides through laws like the DPDP Act (Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023), the National Cybersecurity Policy, and the initiative of CERT-In. However, critical gaps still exist, and more specifically, in indigenous product development, leaving India dependent on technology produced by foreign countries.

The Issue:

India relies heavily on imported cybersecurity products whether it’s antivirus software, firewalls, cloud security services, encryption devices, or hardware security chips. Speaking of firewalls in particular, being the first line of defense, they are absolutely essential. Not only is it responsible for checking unauthorised access, it plays its role in controlling traffic flow, blocking cyber threats, and safeguarding sensitive data. India depends on foreign companies for firewalls, and these products are expensive due to the difference in currency value. They are not optimised for local needs, such as in compliance of the DPDP Act, local languages, or bandwidth realities. In fact, it may pose risks to National Security, leaving many vulnerabilities and damaging digital sovereignty.

The lack of indigenous products and their development is due to many reasons:

• High R&D cost
• Hardware Dependency
• Market Perception
• Lack of centralised incubation systems for digital security (contrary to Israel)

As for why it is unsafe to use foreign firewalls, and why this needs to be addressed:

• Backdoor/Espionage risks
• Geopolitical Dependence
• Supply Chain Attacks
• Risky Critical Infrastructure, such as government servers

The Solution:

The first step to developing and accelerating India’s growth in Cybersecurity, especially in something as essential as firewalls, is to pique interest. For example, conducting hackathons and challenges on designing indigenous firewalls, similar to India’s UPI and chip design push. SME incentives, cybersecurity incubators, and university partnerships are also a good start. Starting off with building locally created open-source firewall platforms, such as the already existing OPNsense, or designing lightweight cloud-managed firewalls for use at the SME/startup level, and producing relevant crucial hardware, could bring quite the change. This will also help the job market, generate employment, and leverage untapped potential. As a citizen of India, the nation's growth and the faith that is put into something as crucial as security, should always be a priority. Along with it, encouraging the use of Indian products and services, and striving to improve, support, and placing trust in our own people and development, will always be of utmost importance, for any kind of growth and technological revolutionisation.