The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) has launched a new cybersecurity centre to boost fundamental and applied research that drives innovations in the country. It will work towards pioneering advancements in blockchain, security for artificial intelligence (AI) models, cryptography, quantum security, and IoT security.

The ‘Centre for Cybersecurity, Trust and Reliability’ (CyStar) was inaugurated on 8^th Oct 2024 in the presence of Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras; Centre Coordinators- Prof. Shweta Agrawal, Prof. Chester Rebeiro and Prof. John Augustine, Faculty, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Madras.

The mission of CyStar is to push the boundaries of cybersecurity through innovative research and education. Recognising that cybersecurity demands a multi-disciplinary approach, the research team at CyStar is diverse, encompassing a wide range of expertise.

The Centre will collaborate globally and locally with academia, industry and research institutions, equipping 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. Its’ focus would extend across sectors, addressing critical security challenges in industries like finance, healthcare, automotive and electronics.

The key Research, Industry and Government partners of CyStar include the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Ministry of Education, Vitesco Technologies, Kaspersky, IDBI Bank, LG India, Saptang Labs, Algorand, Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research and National Security Coordination Secretariat among others.

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.