India Steps Up Cyber Defence: Global Experts Join Hands in IIT Patna to Fight Rising Ransomware Threats
On December 1, 2025, India took a significant step towards enhancing its cybersecurity preparedness by hosting the first international workshop focused exclusively on ransomware resilience. The event, named RESTORE-2025, took place at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Patna and was jointly organized by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) Patna, IIT Patna, and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney. This workshop was part of the IEEE BuildSEC’25 International Conference and centered around the theme “Ransomware and Its Counterstrategies.”
Workshop Objectives and Significance
The primary aim of RESTORE-2025 was to understand emerging trends in cyberattacks and explore effective strategies to protect India’s digital infrastructure. The workshop brought together leading experts from India and around the world to foster collaboration in combating the growing threat of ransomware.
Inaugural Session Highlights
The inaugural session featured several prominent speakers who underscored the urgent need for collective action against advanced cyber threats. Shri Abhinav Dixit, Centre Head at C-DAC Patna, emphasized that combating ransomware necessitates a collaborative approach involving researchers, government, and industry stakeholders. He stated, “RESTORE-2025 brings together real-world experience and research expertise in line with India’s national digital security priorities.”
Shri Aditya Kumar Sinha, Executive Director at C-DAC Mumbai, praised C-DAC Patna’s progress in developing indigenous cybersecurity technologies, including GHOST, Ganga Laksham, and EYES. He noted that workshops like RESTORE-2025 are crucial for predicting cyber threats before they escalate into crises.
Insights from Security Experts
Senior national security and defense experts shared their perspectives during the event. Commodore S. Vombatkere (Retd.) highlighted that the concept of cybersecurity is evolving. He stated that resilience is now about maintaining functionality and enabling rapid recovery after an attempted breach. Dr. P. K. Saxena, a former senior scientist at DRDO, pointed out that ransomware has emerged as a high-priority issue within India’s security framework, emphasizing the roles of IIT Patna and C-DAC Patna in enhancing the nation’s technical capabilities in cyber resilience.
Technological Safeguards and Cyber Ethics
Chief Guest and IIT Patna Director, Prof. T. N. Singh, stressed that technological safeguards alone are insufficient. He advocated for the need for cyber ethics and awareness among citizens to build confidence and mitigate fears related to online fraud. This holistic approach is essential for fostering a secure digital environment.
Technical Sessions and Research Presentations
The technical sessions at RESTORE-2025 showcased in-depth research and practical solutions to combat ransomware. A keynote address focused on India’s cyber vulnerabilities and defense policies, followed by demonstrations of the REDS (Rapid Emergency Detection System) by Dr. Reshmi T. R. and the indigenous cybersecurity platform EYES developed at C-DAC Patna.
Researchers from various esteemed institutions, including IIIT Hyderabad, IISc Bangalore, IIT Kharagpur, IIT BHU, and SETS Chennai, presented their findings on advanced machine-learning attacks, side-channel vulnerabilities, and innovative detection mechanisms aimed at mitigating ransomware damage.
Panel Discussion on Operational Challenges
A high-level panel discussion featured senior representatives from the Economic Offences Unit, CERT-In, the Forensic Science Laboratory, and NIC Bihar. They addressed critical operational challenges and policy requirements necessary for safeguarding government systems and national infrastructure against cyber threats.
Collaboration and Future Directions
The workshop saw extensive participation from academia, defense, and industry, highlighting the importance of collaboration in addressing cybersecurity challenges. Conveners including Prof. Preetam Kumar, Prof. Jimson Mathew, and Dr. Raju Halder, along with Registrar-cum-Dean Prof. A. K. Thakur and faculty members of IIT Patna, played a crucial role in the event’s success.
In his closing remarks, Cdr. Vivek Kumar Yadav (Retd.) from C-DAC Patna emphasized that India must continue to encourage indigenous innovation, strengthen institutional collaboration, and adopt a unified approach to combat ransomware, which is one of the fastest-growing cyber threats globally.
Conclusion
RESTORE-2025 concluded on a hopeful note, reinforcing the idea that defending India’s digital ecosystem cannot rely on isolated efforts. Experts unanimously agreed that a secure cyber future for the country will require teamwork, continuous research, public awareness, policy support, and the rapid development of homegrown cyber defense tools.
Note: The insights and discussions from RESTORE-2025 reflect the growing recognition of cybersecurity as an essential component of national security and economic stability.
