India, US to enhance cyber security cooperation

India and the US have committed to robust cooperation on cyber issues to increase global cyber security and promote the digital economy.

They have identified a variety of opportunities for increased collaboration on cyber security capacity-building, cyber security research and development, combating cybercrime, international security, and Internet governance.

The two countries also intend to pursue an array of follow-on activities to bolster their cyber security partnership and achieve concrete outcomes, according to a joint statement issued after a two-day 2015 India-United States Cyber Dialogue here.

The Aug 11-12 whole-of-government Cyber Dialogue, fourth in the series, was led by the US Cybersecurity Coordinator and Special Assistant to the President Michael Daniel and by India's Deputy National Security Advisor Arvind Gupta.

The delegations discussed a range of cyber issues including cyber threats, enhanced cyber security information sharing, cyber incident management, cyber security cooperation in the context of 'Make in India', efforts to combat cybercrime, Internet governance issues, and norms of state behaviour in cyberspace.

In addition to the formal dialogue, the delegations met with representatives from the private sector to discuss issues related to cybersecurity and the digital economy, according to the joint statement.

The Indian delegation also met with Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco.

The next round of the Cyber Dialogue will be held in Delhi in 2016.

US-India Business Council has applauded the resumption of cybersecurity dialogue after a two year hiatus saying the talks focused on enhancing cooperation between governments and building partnerships with the private sector to protect critical infrastructure.

The leading business advocacy group composed of more than 300 top-tier US and Indian companies said senior business leaders shared their views on cyber challenges with senior Indian and US government officials.

"As the digital economy continues to develop, the interdependency between governments and businesses will grow," said USIBC president Mukesh Aghi.

"It is in the interest of all parties to continue to engage in dialogues that spur policy developments and economic growth."

Industry leaders from the US submitted policy recommendations to the US and Indian government emphasizing the need to protect cross border data flow, facilitate remote access, provide for strong encryption standards, and reduce cybersecurity threats through targeted public-private partnerships.