India Railways Cybersecurity: Airtel Protects 13,000+ Trains

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Introduction

Bharti Airtel’s B2B arm has secured a multi-year contract with the Indian Railway Security Operations Centre (IRSOC) to provide cybersecurity protection services for the Indian railway network, which operates over 13,000 trains daily.

Cybersecurity Contract Overview

Bharti Airtel’s B2B arm will design, develop, and implement a new multi-layered cybersecurity system for the digital infrastructure of Indian Railways. The system will provide continuous protection for IT infrastructure and will be operational around the clock. The agreement covers the protection of various types of data, including customer identities, payment information, ticketing records, train tracking data, freight details, and signalling databases.

Scope of Operations

The Indian Railways manages more than 13,000 trains each day, serves over 20 million passengers, and moves more than 1.5 billion tonnes of freight a year. Airtel Business will implement centralised security controls to protect the railway’s database, including digital operations used by approximately 160,000 employees across 26 locations. The technology stack will feature established technologies alongside ‘Make in India’ cybersecurity offerings. The security system will also incorporate AI and comply with regulatory requirements designed to safeguard essential infrastructure.

System Features

Airtel Secure will provide a “centralised security architecture” for compliance and visibility through a central dashboard. An “AI-driven Endpoint Detection and Response” will offer continuous monitoring and protection of all endpoints. The system will provide a unified interface and real-time monitoring for over 190,000 infrastructure assets, devices, and inventories. Network and access control measures such as firewalls and routers will form part of the integrated security architecture.

Industry Context

Dilip Kumar, Indian Railway Board executive director of information and publicity, stated that cybersecurity is of utmost importance due to the increased reliance on digital information and communication technologies. The IRSOC will provide a centralised Security Operations Centre to continuously monitor IR assets, detect and respond to cyber security threats efficiently, gather threat intelligence and ensure proper collaboration with National Cyber Security Agencies.

Conclusion

Bharti Airtel’s B2B arm has been awarded a contract to deliver cybersecurity protection services for the digital infrastructure of India’s railway network. The system will protect various types of data, including customer identities, payment information, ticketing records, train tracking data, freight details, and signalling databases.

Bharti Airtel

Global communications solutions provider.

Indian Railways

Operates over 13,000 trains daily, serving over 20 million passengers.

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