IIT Madras launches new cybersecurity centre to boost research and innovation

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), has launched a new cybersecurity research centre known as ‘Centre for Cybersecurity, Trust and Reliability’ (CyStar) to boost fundamental and applied research driving innovations in the country, October 8. The centre will work for advancements in blockchain, security for AI models, cryptography, quantum security, and IoT security, the IIT Madras statement said.

CyStar was inaugurated in the presence of eminent academicians and industry representatives from India and abroad including – V Kamakoti, IIT Madras director; centre coordinators professor Shweta Agrawal; professor Chester Rebeiro and professor John Augustine, faculty, department of computer science and engineering at IIT Madras.

As per the IITM note, the mission of CyStar is to push the boundaries of cybersecurity through innovative research and education. By recognizing that cybersecurity demands a multi-disciplinary approach, the research team at CyStar is diverse encompassing a wide range of expertise.

Addressing the launch event, the IIT Madras director, said: “With the growth of cyber threats, not just for financial gains but also targeted sector-wise attacks on critical infrastructure, it is very important that we arrive at proactive cyber defence mechanisms to protect our Nation. In this context, such efforts are extremely crucial.”

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About IIT Madras’s CyStar

Cystar aims to collaborate with academia, industry and research institutions to equip students, professionals and researchers with the expertise needed to tackle today’s and tomorrow’s complex security challenges, thereby contributing to a safer digital world. The focus of the centre will extend across sectors, addressing critical security challenges in industries like finance, healthcare, automotive and electronics.

CyStar at IIT Madras will develop a comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy to address the emerging cybersecurity challenges driven by AI and the post-quantum era. This approach will focus on safeguarding critical national infrastructure, offering a holistic defence against these advanced technological threats.

CyStar coordinator professor Chester Rebeiro said: “CyStar aims to address critical cyber security challenges in the country through fundamental and applied research, outreach programs, and by fostering industry-academia relationships.”