Sanjay Kumar Das
WBCS (Executive), MD, Webel, State Information Security Officer & Joint Secretary, Department of Information Technology & Electronics, West Bengal 

Technology blueprint for year ahead
Technology is an enabler and embracing emerging technologies pose challenges as well as opportunities to improve efficiency, efficacy and resilience.

Legacy approaches often stem from proven vulnerabilities. By adapting security retrofits to run them increases cost, maintenance responsibilities as well as adapting to changing environments and upgrades. Hence, smooth transition towards adaption of emerging technologies is cost effective in the long run and a secure way of addressing technological needs. 

On this backdrop, our agenda is focused on digital transition vis-à-vis transformation. While on the one hand, secured service delivery still remains the priority yet lesser turnaround time and cost efficiency of delivery have grown in importance. 

Latest technologies influencing growth 
Over the years, West Bengal has remained a pioneer in adapting emerging technologies. The Blockchain based Birth and Death Registration at Newtown Kolkata Development Authority in 2018 was one of the first successful implementations of emerging technology in public service delivery.

Setting up Cyber Security CoE and Industry 4.0 CoE are two important milestones in the State’s endeavour in supporting emerging technology interventions in public service delivery. 

The former ensures security in ICT infrastructure while the latter supports industry-public collaboration in AI/ML, Big Data & Analytics among others. The whole gamut of these efforts in embracing emerging technologies by the State was encouraged by framing of West Bangal State Broadband Policy and other  policies in 2020.

State has also adapted the latest technologies like Unmanned Surveillance by way of implementing Drone Policy for the user as well as manufacturers. To cope up with the Industry 5.0 State is also laying Optical Fibre Cable up to Gram Panchayet level to give better Information highway to the citizens and also creating 5G testbeds over Open Radio Access Network to introduce Quantum computing and Edge computing in the Citizen Service Delivery by the Government.

State is also seriously planning for promotion of VLSI Design and Semiconductor Industry and for the same Hardware Parks and Electronics Manufacturing Clusters were already created.    

Fortifying organization from cyber threats 
Whether one embraces emerging technologies to attain one’s digitisation and transformational goals, the security attack surface of an organisation is bound to increase in 4π directions. It is neither lateral nor vertical.

It increases in the mental domain of the sub-conscious too. Hence, to strengthen our organisational posture, we have taken three important aspects into consideration. Firstly, Trust Null – Review All. Secondly, Adapt Design Thinking – Follow Secure Coding Practice. And thirdly, Pursue Compliance – Conduct Incident Response Management Drills.

To mitigate the attack State is in the process of Creation
of the State Security Operation Centre/Network Operation Centre and continuously running Proof of Concepts of different solutions in various areas like packet filtering, encryption methodologies, Network Aggregation by engaging Start-ups. 

Reiterating the brand identity  
Government organisations have a brand value in continuum. Even then it is the pious responsibility of the Government to ensure that people can perceive the intent in the governance. In our establishment(s), conscious efforts are afoot to ensure that the service-delivery-time is reduced.

Technology is an essential enabler to cut down on spillage and improve efficiency. The Brand@Bengal is fast in adapting emerging technology to scale and deliver, securely and timely. 

Digital technologies aiding to win customer trust  
Customers comprise two different sets - citizens and organisations. IT enabled applications are primarily necessary for the citizens to avail services offered over the Internet while ICT driven applications empower organisations to ensure secure and timely delivery of these services along
with positive RoI.

Information Technology & Electronics Department
of West Bengal and its parastatal West Bengal Electronics Industry Development Corporation Limited (WBEIDCL) are diligent in creating robust ICT infrastructure coupled with capability generation of existing human resources and thereby ensuring security, efficiency and satisfaction in public service utilisation by the citizens.