Every October, the world pauses to talk about one thing that affects everyone who’s ever touched the internet — cybersecurity. This year, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) India joined that conversation by hosting a cyber security awareness webinar that focused on one key idea: resilience begins with awareness.

The session, held on October 24, 2025, brought together more than 250 participants — officers from DoT field units, telecom service providers, and internet service providers — to discuss how the telecom industry can stay ahead of fast-growing digital threats.

The Human Element in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity isn’t only about technology. It’s about people — and that message came through strongly in the discussions. Director General Telecom, Ms. Sunita Chandra, reminded participants that protecting digital infrastructure isn’t the job of one department or one company. It’s a shared effort.

She spoke about the Telecom-CSIRT setup, a first-responder network within the DoT that helps coordinate responses to telecom-related incidents across the country. Her message was simple: security begins with awareness and collaboration.

Phishing: Still the Most Common Threat

Cyber expert Dr. Rohit Gautam pointed out that phishing remains the top cause of security breaches. According to his data, it contributes to almost 90% of all global cyber incidents.
He also shared that human-centric attacks like phishing, vishing, and deepfake-enabled frauds now cost the world over USD 9.5 trillion every year.

Dr. Gautam’s advice was clear — even the best technology can fail if people don’t stay alert. Every employee, every user, and every organization needs to understand how phishing works and how to spot the red flags.

Governance and Risk Go Hand in Hand

When we think about cybersecurity, governance and compliance often sound dull. But as Mr. Abhijit Tripathy explained, they’re the backbone of any secure system.
He described governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) as the framework that ties together people, processes, and technology. Without it, no security plan can last long.

It’s not enough to install security tools or conduct audits once a year. True resilience means building habits — knowing who’s responsible, how incidents are reported, and how recovery happens.

AI-Driven Threats and Fake Apps

Another expert, Mr. Sampat Ray, focused on something newer — AI-enabled malware and fake mobile apps. These are smarter, faster, and harder to detect. He shared how attackers now use AI-generated messages or deepfake voices to trick people into revealing personal information. Even professionals are falling for these scams because they sound and look real.

His tips were straightforward:

• Download apps only from verified sources.
  
• Check app permissions before installing.
  
• Don’t click on unknown links or attachments.
  
• Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible.
  

Why Awareness Matters More Than Ever

The discussions at the webinar made one thing clear — cybersecurity is everyone’s job. Whether it’s a government office, telecom company, or an everyday user, awareness is the strongest defense.

India’s telecom infrastructure is expanding fast, and with it comes new risk. Events like these aren’t just formalities; they’re part of a larger push to make India’s digital ecosystem safer and more resilient.

Final Thoughts

The cyber security awareness initiative by DoT wasn’t about lectures or presentations. It was a reminder that security begins with habits — staying alert, verifying information, and learning how modern threats evolve. Technology will keep changing, but awareness will always be the first and most effective shield.