#image_title
In a move that marks a promising step towards securing India's digital future, Kaspersky and IIT Bombay have announced a partnership to foster the development of cybersecurity educational and research projects.
Under the agreement, both Kaspersky and IIT Bombay will collaborate to promote cybersecurity education and research, aiming to bolster India's cybersecurity workforce. The partnership entails exchanging knowledge and expertise, developing educational materials, and organising events to raise cybersecurity awareness. To further motivate the student community, the collaboration will also entail sponsoring awards and book prizes for students keen on pursuing cybersecurity as a career.
During the officiating ceremony, Adrian Hia, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky, stressed the importance of the initiative: “As India further strengthens its position as the world’s technology and innovation hub, the number of cybersecurity positions will also increase. Our partnership with IIT Bombay aims to enhance cybersecurity education and research in India. This partnership will go on to help produce higher calibre cybersecurity experts in India and contribute to a more secure digital world," he said.
Professor Milind Atrey, Dean R&D of IIT Bombay, also welcomed the partnership and emphasised the need to equip the younger generation with necessary cybersecurity knowledge and skills.
In an exclusive Digit interview, Jaydeep Singh, General Manager of Kaspersky India, shed more light on the partnership. He clarified that the MoU with IIT Bombay is not a one-off event but a clear manifestation of Kaspersky's commitment to fortifying cybersecurity in India and around the globe. "It's something that we are looking at more and more proactively, more and more resources will be aligned to these academic partnerships going forward," Singh stated.
The MoU signing with IIT Bombay also had a representative from Kaspersky's GReAT team – security professionals at the very heart of Kaspersky, providing the company leadership in anti-malware research and innovation, and curiosity to the discovery and analysis of cyberthreats – demonstrating Kaspersky’s commitment behind the academic partnership, Singh highlighted.
When asked about Kaspersky's involvement with the Indian government in light of recent cyberattacks, like the AIIMS ransomware attack and more, Singh asserted that the company is focused on sharing knowledge wherever they can – not just with private companies but also with government agencies, whenever the occasion arises.
“I think the government is aware of the enormity of cyber threats out there, no doubt about it. From a Kaspersky perspective, what we're really looking at is imparting a lot of knowledge on basic cybersecurity practices and security hygiene. And we are doing this by leveraging a lot of our knowledge and training our customers, our partners including some of the government departments,” Singh emphasised. He mentioned that Kaspersky is extending services like security audits and threat intelligence reports, aimed at increasing the country's resilience against such attacks.
This alliance between Kaspersky and IIT Bombay is a good sign for jointly evolving the field of cybersecurity education, not only in India but across the globe, by harnessing the strength of academia and industry in a cohesive manner.