Indian Cybersecurity Academic Network (ICAN)
Cybersecurity and encryption form the bedrock of national security in today’s digital era. To address the rising scale and sophistication of threats, the Indian Cybersecurity Academic Network (ICAN) has been launched as a collaborative academic effort across IITs, IISc, and other premier institutes. At its core, ICAN seeks to build capacity, and strengthen research by preparing faculty from all over India, who will in turn help mould the next generation of cybersecurity leaders for India.
Cybersecurity and encryption technology are no longer optional — they are foundational to the nation’s security and resilience. From the individual user to large corporates to government systems, the need for robust digital defences has never been more urgent.
With threats growing in scale and sophistication, there is an obligation on independent academic groups to step up and prepare the next line of defence. Faculty at IITs, IISc, and other premier institutes in India possess the capability and expertise to take the lead, and the Indian Cybersecurity Academic Network (ICAN) initiative aims to channel this strength into a sustained national effort.
One of the key pillars of ICAN will be capacity building through education. The initiative envisions intensive 10-day to 2-week courses for teachers from tier-2 colleges, conducted every summer and winter in rotation across different institutes. Each program will host around 40 faculty members, providing them with advanced training in cybersecurity.
When these teachers return to their institutions, they will bring back not just knowledge but also the ability to inspire and train their own students more effectively. Over time, this is expected to generate a stronger pipeline of talented students, some of whom will go on to pursue doctoral research at IITs, IISc, or IIITs, bolstering the research ecosystem in the field.
Aims and Objectives Beyond Education
Beyond academia, ICAN aims to work closely with industry. One proposed initiative is a short online on-boarding course of around 15 hours, designed for employees of start-ups and MSMEs. This course, co-created with industry, will cover practical security practices that organizations must follow from day one, ensuring that security becomes a cultural foundation rather than an afterthought. This practical, scalable approach has the potential to significantly improve cyber hygiene across India’s fast-growing digital economy.
At the same time, ICAN will act as a hub for defining grand challenges and research directions that India should tackle within defined timeframes. By helping secure funding for these priorities and engaging start-ups to take up some of these problems, ICAN seeks to create a vibrant innovation ecosystem around cybersecurity. Another focus will be on strengthening India’s cybersecurity service industry, ensuring it can effectively serve domestic corporates, institutes, and governments, while also becoming a global provider of high-quality security services.
Finally, ICAN will play a key role in shaping policy. By bringing together experts from academia, industry, and government, the initiative will help identify and recommend the most desirable policies for India’s cybersecurity future. From education and R&D to industry support and governance, ICAN represents a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach to building a secure and resilient digital India.
