Scientists Should Adopt Smart Cyber Security Practices: G Vijayaraghavan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Scientists involved in research projects need to step up vigilance against cyber threats by adhering to smart and secure protocols to safeguard their work and scientific data , said G Vijayaraghavan, Founder CEO of Technopark and former member of Kerala State Planning Board.

Vijayaraghavan was delivering a lecture on ‘Cyber Security Vigilance in Biotechnology Research’ which was the concluding episode of a one-week long event organized at BRIC-Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) here to mark the Vigilance Awareness Week.

RGCB director Prof Chandrabhas Narayana presided over the event and Dr S Manjula, Chief Vigilance Officer, RGCB, delivered the vote of thanks.

“We are living in a world where cyber security is no longer the responsibility of the IT department alone. Every scientist should remain vigilant. The data collected for research purposes are valuable and should be protected not only for ourselves but for the privacy of the individuals or the groups from whom they are gathered ,” said Vijayaraghavan.

There were several instances where important data had been lost or stolen, some caused by industrial espionage and some of which state-driven, he said, citing examples of cyber attacks on pharma and biotechnology companies and research institutions during the covid time.

“RGCB being nation’s finest biotech research institution, makes it a potential target of cyberattacks and we should be aware of such security threats that can have harmful implications, “he noted.

Lapse in cyber security can lead to loss of data, endanger years of research work and theft of critical patents or findings, ultimately resulting in financial loss and missed opportunities, Vijayaraghavan said.

Digital hygiene, password management, regular software updation, implementing secure data back-up procedures and complying with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) are effective safeguards .

Also, collaborating with cyber security experts, using secure communication tools for internal and external communication and avoiding sharing of vital information through unsafe messaging or social media platforms are the ways through which one can protect oneself from potential cyber threats, he noted.

On advancements in cyber security sector, he said, AI and machine learning are going to play a major role in cyber security, genomic analysis and disease prediction. AI can process complex genomic data much better than the current facilities. It can be used for threat detection, predict the kind of security threats and how you can respond to that,” he said.

G Vijayaraghavan distributed awards to winners of various competitions conducted for RGCB staff and students as part of the ‘Vigilance Awareness Week’.