DR. GULSHAN RAI,
INDIA'S FIRST NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY COORDINATOR,
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Today’s era is totally different from earlier. Digitization is scaling up. Every sector is digitization, implementing applications and different kinds of technologies in place. We are observing transformation in digital technology, not digital transformation.
AI has become the underlying fabric of every technology. Every technology implemented for any application has a layer, whether it is AI or quantum computing. We are creating and implementing very complex technology with multiple interfaces and layers together. Hence, the threat surface has increased. Handling these areas requires
a 360-degree approach with four pillars - governance, technology, crime, and diplomacy. Governance includes regulations, legislation, and legal frameworks. Technology focuses on secure implementation. Crime covers the evolving spectrum of cyber threats, while diplomacy has become increasingly important as geopolitics now plays a critical role in cybersecurity.
AI operates across four layers: hardware infrastructure, AI models and tools, data, and applications. Building a trustworthy AI ecosystem requires expertise, collaboration, and ethical standards across all these layers. No single country is self-sufficient across the entire AI stack. The same challenge exists with quantum computing. Legacy and modern systems will coexist. That is why RSA algorithms can be easily broken today. The ultimate result is the demand for equipment and manpower that can configure these systems will rise. AI, post- quantum, and other new technologies will soon reach MSMEs and SMEs. This will create manpower requirements and increase overall market strength. The future is bright, but it depends on how we prepare ourselves.
