A one-day national workshop on “Cyber Security in the Era of Emerging Technologies” was held today at CSIR–Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT), Bhubaneswar, bringing together experts from CSIR, CDAC & NIC to discuss the rapidly evolving security landscape shaped by AI, IoT, cloud, and quantum technologies. The programme was organized under the national project on developing best practices to counter cyber threats emerging from modern digital systems.

Dr. Satyajit Rath, Senior Principal Scientist & Head (CNIT), CSIR-IMMT, opened the event with a welcome address, emphasizing the growing national need for preparedness against sophisticated cyberattacks.

In his inaugural remarks, Dr. Ramanuj Narayan, Director, CSIR-IMMT, highlighted how emerging technologies—while transformative—also bring complex vulnerabilities that require coordinated research and robust cybersecurity frameworks.

Delivering the introductory address, Shri V.K. Sharma, Scientist G and Head (E&T), CDAC Noida & Centre Head, CDAC Mohali, underlined the importance of capacity building and knowledge sharing among scientific and technical communities.

The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Lakshmi Kalyani, Scientist F, CDAC Noida.

Experts Decode Cybersecurity Challenges Across Domains

The technical sessions featured five expert talks covering key domains of emerging technology:
Cyber Security’s Paradigm Shift in the Era of AI & Digital Warfare
Shri Niladri Bihari Mohanty, Joint Director–IT, NIC Bhubaneswar, discussed how artificial intelligence is reshaping cyberattack patterns and defense strategies.

Quantum: The New Security Paradigm
Dr. Satyajit Rath explored the implications of quantum computing on future encryption models and security protocols.

IoT: Threats, Challenges & Security Measures
Dr. Lakshmi Kalyani explained the growing vulnerabilities in interconnected IoT ecosystems and the need for robust device-level protection.

Artificial Intelligence – Boon & Threat
Dr Mary Jacintha and Ms. Chandni from CDAC Noida highlighted the dual nature of AI, including risks from deepfakes, data manipulation, and automated attacks.

Cloud Technology: Threats, Challenges & Countermeasures
Smt. Rekha Saraswat and Mr. Prateek Saraswat, CDAC Noida, jointly presented strategies to safeguard cloud infrastructures in an era of pervasive digital services.

Participants engaged in an open discussion with speakers, sharing concerns and insights on national cybersecurity readiness. The workshop concluded with feedback and networking among attendees.

The workshop underscored a strong national commitment to building cyber resilience as India moves deeper into AI-driven and cloud-enabled digital ecosystems. With rising cyber threats across sectors, experts at the event called for continuous upskilling, multi-institutional collaboration, and proactive adoption of global best practices.