NIELIT opens second national conference on cybersecurity, digital forensics & intelligence in Guwahati - Syllad

Syllad | The Rising Meghalaya November 19, 2025 WhatsApp Share Share Tweet Pin Against the backdrop of an escalating wave of cyber-attacks—many originating from hostile foreign actors—cybersecurity experts on Wednesday stressed the urgent need for AI-driven defence mechanisms, modern investigation tools, and stronger public awareness to safeguard India’s digital ecosystem. Speaking at the second national conference on Cybersecurity, Digital Forensics and Intelligence, organised by the National Institute of Electronics, Information & Technology (NIELIT) at Gauhati University, experts highlighted those fragmented processes, outdated investigation methods, and limited remote capabilities continue to impede timely cybercrime resolution. With the right AI tools and adequate skilling, they said, investigations could be significantly accelerated. Microsoft’s Head of Public Sector, Keshri Kumar Asthana, underscored the alarming rise in cybercrime, citing that India lost Rs 22,845 crore to cyber fraud in 2024, marking a 205.6% increase from the previous year. Over 36 lakh financial fraud cases were reported in 2024, while cyber incidents recorded by CERT-In rose to 20.5 lakh, up from 15.9 lakh in 2023. “The average cost of a data breach in India in 2025 has touched Rs 22 crore, the highest yet, driven largely by governance and security gaps. Nearly 83% of organisations suffer repeated data breaches,” Asthana said. He added that cyber intrusions remain costly because they are detected too late. “Attackers think in graphs, not in linear patterns—and our defence mechanisms must evolve to counter that.” Sandesh Jadhav, Global Data Privacy Officer at Wipro, cautioned users about their digital footprint: “You are being watched continuously.” Shreekrishna Ashutosh from Cellebrite noted that 50% of agencies consistently report case backlogs, while 60% of investigators rely on outdated tools. “On average, investigators spend 69 hours reviewing digital evidence per case,” he noted. Asthana further stressed that with 90% of criminal cases now involving digital evidence—and 98% of prosecutors considering such evidence crucial—digital forensics has become indispensable to modern justice systems. Two-Day Event Brings Together National Stakeholders The conference is being organised by NIELIT Assam & Nagaland, under the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with Assam Police and Gauhati University, and supported by the Department of IT, Government of Assam, and the United Service Institution of India. This year’s theme, “Cyber Secure Bharat: Fortifying India’s Digital Future,” reflects a national push toward strengthening cyber resilience. The inaugural ceremony was attended by senior government officials, law enforcement leaders, academia, and industry experts, including L. Lanuwabang, Director of NIELIT Assam & Nagaland; K.S. Gopinath Narayan, Principal Secretary (IT), Assam; Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University; Surendra Kumar, ADGP Assam; Keshri Kumar Asthana of Microsoft; and Sandesh Jadhav of Wipro. “Cyber Secure Bharat is a National Mission” Delivering the welcome address, L. Lanuwabang highlighted the expansion of the conference footprint from Kohima to Guwahati, enabling deeper participation from across the Northeast. He called for advanced cyber training, improved digital forensic laboratories, and coordinated multi-agency collaboration to secure the region’s digital future. “Cyber Secure Bharat is not merely a theme; it is a national mission. A secure India forms the backbone of a strong digital future,” he said, emphasising the importance of bringing together global organisations, law enforcement, defence establishments, academia, and industry to address emerging threats. This year’s edition features 30+ distinguished speakers and over 300 delegates representing government departments, police organisations, the judiciary, academia, and industry—demonstrating the Northeast’s growing commitment to cybersecurity and digital resilience. The inaugural session concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Santanu Borgohain, Additional Director, NIELIT Guwahati. Day two will continue with technical sessions, panel discussions, OEM presentations, and expert-led talks on emerging threats, cybercrime trends, digital investigation techniques, and national cyber resilience strategies. Continue Reading Experts warn India must rapidly scale up cyber-defence investment as national conference concludes in Guwahati NIELIT launches bioinformatics courses aligned with BioE3 Policy at International Biomanufacturing Summit in Guwahati NIELIT Job Fair 2026 draws massive response from job seekers