Amidst a world that is becoming more interconnected by the day, where data moves unrestricted and digital technologies are ingrained in every aspect of society, safeguarding personal information has emerged as a crucial issue. Acknowledging the necessity to confront these challenges directly, the Indian government introduced the Digital Data Protection Bill 2023. The Bill 
was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday and was passed in the Lok Sabha on August 7. 

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According to the government, the Bill seeks to create a strong foundation for data protection, privacy, and security. The Bill now requires the assent of the President of India Draupadi Murmu. As the nation gears up for this pivotal moment, industry leaders from diverse sectors have opined that the Data Protection Bill 2023 will help in maintaining the fundamental foundation of digital society.

Dr Sanjay Katkar - Jt. Managing Director of Quick Heal Technologies Ltd - feels that Businesses must take this responsibility seriously and proactively adhere to the bill's requirements.

“This significant step showcases our government's unwavering commitment to safeguarding personally identifiable information (PII) in this digital age. It emphasizes responsible data collection, secure backup, and lawful disposal practices for businesses, it is vital to ensure its effective implementation with proper compliance and regulations. This includes strong measures to enforce penalties for non-compliance. Businesses must take this responsibility seriously and proactively adhere to the bill's requirements,” Katkar said.

According to Raj Sivaraju, President, APAC, Arete, the Bill will empower businesses to build robust cybersecurity infrastructures.

"With a constant emphasis on privacy and data rights, this law advocates for the protection of individuals' personal information. By establishing rigorous regulations for data handling, the bill reinforces data protection measures, empowering businesses to build robust cybersecurity infrastructures. The bill's impact on the cybersecurity sector is profound. It fosters a culture of vigilance, pushing companies to invest in cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies, threat detection, and incident response capabilities. This, in turn, thwarts cyberattacks, reducing the risk of data breaches, and ensuring data integrity. Moreover, the bill inspires research and innovation in the cybersecurity realm, driving advancements that keep pace with evolving cyber threats," Sivaraju added.

Speaking about data protection, Parag Khurana - Country Manager, Barracuda Networks (India) Pvt Ltd - said that many users underestimate the importance of backup and recovery services for securing their cloud data, relying solely on their cloud service providers for protection. The need for comprehensive data protection is paramount as recent research by the company found that 73 per cent of Indian organisations experienced a successful ransomware attack in 2022. 

"We appreciate the developments surrounding the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill. Its focus on capturing consumer rights to data protection as fundamental rights and introducing light and easy-to-comply obligations for data fiduciaries indicates a step towards balancing data protection and fostering innovation. While we await further details on the implementation, we are optimistic about the potential impact of this bill on businesses and data processing in India," Khurana said.