Current Affairs 2022: Data Security Guidelines

One of the guidelines issued also states that any restricted piece of information can be shared on the Internet using a network, which has a commercial Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit mechanism.

Date Security Guidelines

What are the Data Security Guidelines?

In the latest guidelines issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Data Security in February 2022, it is stated that disclosing any kind of confidential information or documents by the ministry officials via the Internet is strictly prohibited. The officials have been told to refrain from using any digital assistant device such as Apple’s HomePod and Amazon’s Echo, as well as switching off a digital assistant like Alexa and Siri that is present in their smartphones and/or smartwatches in the office. The officials also need to deposit their respective smartphones outside the meeting room during discussions on top-secret topics.

Why are the Data Security Guidelines Issued?

These new guidelines have been issued by the Government after it was found out that several officials were using private messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram to pass on confidential pieces of information. And this practice is considered to breach the National Information Security Policy Guidelines in the form of Departmental Security Instructions. 

I&B Ministry's View on Data Security 

The Ministry has instructed that any classified and top-secret document must be disclosed only in a closed network, and only via a leased line of connectivity, where there is a deployment of the Scientific Analysis Group (SAG) grade encryption mechanism. And the SAG operates under the body called the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). One of the guidelines issued also states that any restricted piece of information can be shared on the Internet using a network which has a commercial Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit mechanism. The Ministry has endorsed using an email facility or an instant messaging platform that is backed by the government such as the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing’s Samvad and the National Informatics Centre’s Sandesh for sharing any top-secret document or information. The Government has also strongly advised that the stratification of secret information must not be demoted to “confidential” in order to share it over the Internet. 

The officials who come under the “work from home” category have been recommended to use security-bolstered electronic devices only, such as laptops and desktops, that are connected to the officially designated servers via a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and firewall setup. Any confidential information is prohibited from sharing in the work-from-home environment, the Ministry further states. When it comes to the virtual office system, the Ministry has said that robust firewalls and whitelisting of IP addresses are yet to be installed in significant numbers. The e-office server could be retrieved via a VPN for strengthened security. Coming to the video conferencing for official reasons, the resources that are offered by the government agencies only need to be used. 

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