Govt. of India to upgrade its entire communications systems spy-proof
The Centre has decided to go in for upgradation and overhauling of its entire communications systems following the threat of its telephone systems getting compromised.
Both internal and external communication systems are either being replaced or upgraded, including hotlines with the other countries.
The Restricted Access Exchange is being replaced with another system that will be much densely encrypted. In a recently concluded meeting the National Security Advisor (NSA) has directed the Defence and Research Development Organisation (DRDO) to encrypt Indias hotlines with all other countries.
Top sources in the Union Home Ministry told DNA the encryption-based RAX system, which is being used for secure communication only within the central government offices, has shown various lacunae, including getting jammed at times and thus is being replaced with better technology. Though it is an encryption-based system it is not foolproof and often fails leading to gaps in the communication. Moreover, it is limited to only Central government offices.
It is being replaced by a more expandable and modern system that will enable Central governments official to maintain direct and secure communication with the chief secretaries, Directors General of Police and even officials of Indian embassies, the source said.
In the wake of cyber attacks on government websites, the NSA meeting on September 28 concluded in cases of both leased and ISDN lines with other countries, the sturdiness of encryption system holds the key to security of communications. Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is a set of communications standards for simultaneous digital transmission of voice, video, data, and other network services over the traditional circuits of the public switched telephone network.
However, due to the technical constraints, the meeting decided to adopt leased lines solution for hotlines with other countries and use both IP and bulk encryption for the security of the leased lines.
As DRDO has capabilities of Internet Protocol and bulk encryption it has been asked to make the same readily available if the IP-based system were to be used for such hotline communication.
To make the communication more secure, the meeting called for using the line/system owned and maintained by the party originating the call for any particular communication.
Wary govt to make hotlines with other countries spy-proof - India - DNA
The Centre has decided to go in for upgradation and overhauling of its entire communications systems following the threat of its telephone systems getting compromised.
Both internal and external communication systems are either being replaced or upgraded, including hotlines with the other countries.
The Restricted Access Exchange is being replaced with another system that will be much densely encrypted. In a recently concluded meeting the National Security Advisor (NSA) has directed the Defence and Research Development Organisation (DRDO) to encrypt Indias hotlines with all other countries.
Top sources in the Union Home Ministry told DNA the encryption-based RAX system, which is being used for secure communication only within the central government offices, has shown various lacunae, including getting jammed at times and thus is being replaced with better technology. Though it is an encryption-based system it is not foolproof and often fails leading to gaps in the communication. Moreover, it is limited to only Central government offices.
It is being replaced by a more expandable and modern system that will enable Central governments official to maintain direct and secure communication with the chief secretaries, Directors General of Police and even officials of Indian embassies, the source said.
In the wake of cyber attacks on government websites, the NSA meeting on September 28 concluded in cases of both leased and ISDN lines with other countries, the sturdiness of encryption system holds the key to security of communications. Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is a set of communications standards for simultaneous digital transmission of voice, video, data, and other network services over the traditional circuits of the public switched telephone network.
However, due to the technical constraints, the meeting decided to adopt leased lines solution for hotlines with other countries and use both IP and bulk encryption for the security of the leased lines.
As DRDO has capabilities of Internet Protocol and bulk encryption it has been asked to make the same readily available if the IP-based system were to be used for such hotline communication.
To make the communication more secure, the meeting called for using the line/system owned and maintained by the party originating the call for any particular communication.
Wary govt to make hotlines with other countries spy-proof - India - DNA
