NEW DELHI: A comprehensive cyber security exercise, organised by the Defence Cyber Agency (DCA) under the aegis of the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, commenced on Monday.
This exercise, named ‘Cyber Suraksha’, which concludes on 27 June 2025, will be a “multi-phased exercise,” the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
It is “a proactive step towards bolstering cyber resilience at the national level, and encompasses the conduct of targeted training sessions, evaluation and an engaging capsule for leadership,” the MoD said.
Over 100 participants from national-level agencies and stakeholders from defence domains are taking part in the event.
The exercise is designed to simulate real-world cyber threats, reinforce secure practices, and test the analytical and defensive cyber skills of participants in a high-paced, gamified environment.
Along with ‘Cyber Suraksha’, the Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) conclave for leadership has also been dovetailed, thereby integrating the technical aspects with leadership roles.
The CISOs conclave includes talks by eminent speakers and will culminate in an immersive table-top exercise.
As per the MoD, “Combining structured learning with dynamic hands-on challenge environments will empower participants to act decisively in the face of cyber threats.”
The Defence Cyber Agency plans to conduct such exercises on a regular basis to maintain a state of readiness and cultivate a security-first culture across all levels.
It was the Naresh Chandra Task Force which, in 2012, recommended the creation of a cyber command, an aerospace command, and a Special Operations Command. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced its formation in 2018.
The Defence Cyber Agency was created in 2018 to handle cyber security threats and warfare, with Rear Admiral Mohit Gupta as its first Additional Director General (ADG). It is based in Delhi.
The creation of the Defence Cyber Agency and other such commands is part of a major transformation and modernisation of the country’s war-fighting structures to address evolving technological threats.
Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff is the nodal organisation of the Ministry of Defence for jointmanship, integrating policy, doctrine, warfighting, and procurement.