India is facing a critical shortage of skilled cyber security professionals: VTU VC
The Hindu
Keynote address stresses urgent need for cybersecurity skills to support India's growth vision and $5 trillion economy goal.
Vice-Chancellor of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), S. Vidyashankar, has expressed concern over the country facing a critical shortage of skilled cyber security professionals.
Delivering the keynote address on ‘The Cybersecurity skill for Vikasit Bharat – Building Skills that Align with Nation’s Growth Vision’ at Cybershield Mysuru, a day-long conference on cybersecurity hosted by Cyberverse Foundation in Mysuru on Saturday, Dr. Vidyashankar pointed out that cyberattacks had increased by 300% in the past five years and emphasised an urgent need for strengthening cybersecurity skills to support India’s Vikasit Bharat 2047 vision and achieve the $5 trillion economy goal.
He said the VTU had signed an MoU with the government to train youth in cybersecurity skills and introduced curriculum changes to build more cyber warriors.
He urged the industry to step in and promote career opportunities in cybersecurity and raise awareness among the students. The academia and industry should collaborate and encourage more youth to pursue careers in cybersecurity and bridge the cybersecurity skill gap that is crucial to secure India’s digital future.
Chief Executive Officer of the Data Security Council of India (DSCI), Vinayak Godse, in his address, emphasised the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures to secure the digital ecosystem from rising cyber threats due to rapid digitisation.
While underlining the ongoing efforts to mitigate the harmful impact of cybercrimes on digital growth through awareness, Mr. Godse also pointed to the economic potential of the cybersecurity sector and said the industry had a potential to become a ₹40 to 50 billion market soon. “Now is the ideal time for investments in this rapidly expanding domain,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of partnerships in advancing cybersecurity initiatives, Mr. Godse said cybersecurity is not just a technological necessity but a collective responsibility – one that empowers individuals, businesses, and nations to thrive securely in the digital era.
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