Battle-Ready for the Fifth Dimension :

Assessing India’s Cyber-Defence Preparedness

Abstract

This article provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the cyber war and cyber defence capabilities being developed by various great powers and situates India’s own developments in this field within the larger context of emerging threats and modernisation of warfare. The author ascribes the Stuxnet worm of 2010 to be a big eye opener which helped place India’s cyber security systems on a war footing. He also depicts a future cyber war scenario in which web-based weapons are integrated into conventional armouries to achieve the perfect fifth dimension of warfare. The article also describes how experts and analysts of strategic affairs who are outside the secretive government establishments dealing with cyber war can contribute to meaningful reforms, institutions and changes that can facilitate multilateral responses in the form of a global cyber security regime.