Building Digital Defenses: Securing Cyberspace in South Asia

South Asia’s cybersecurity landscape faces significant challenges, including inadequate resources, fragmented policies, and a lack of regional cooperation, leaving the region vulnerable to cyber threats such as cybercrime, espionage, and attacks on critical infrastructure. Incidents like the 2016 Bangladesh Bank heist and the 2020 Mumbai power grid attack underscore the urgency for enhanced cyber defences. While countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have developed national strategies and CERTs, gaps in coordination, technical capacity, and public awareness persist. Geopolitical tensions further hinder collaboration, while non-state actors exploit these vulnerabilities. 

BIPSS Research Intern Alice Daversin suggested through this commentary that to address these issues, South Asia must prioritise capacity building through education, public-private partnerships, harmonised cybersecurity laws, and regional frameworks for trust and transparency. Learning from global models like the EU and ASEAN, the region can benefit from shared best practices and a unified approach to digital defense, strengthening resilience against evolving cyber threats.